Parents' Guide to

Alaskan Steel Men

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Rough-around-the-edges guys work hard, curse lots.

TV Discovery Channel Reality TV 2013
Alaskan Steel Men Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

Mr.Allshouse
Mr.Allshouse Adult
October 19, 2013
age 14+

Great show if you go in knowing what to expect.

Welders are a pretty rough bunch. (I am one) The folks that work in Alaska are a pretty rough bunch. Combine the two and you have a recipe for a truly rough crowd. With this being said, I think this is an excellent show. With so many shows on TV that glamorize things like breaking the law (Amish Mafia, Moonshiners) utter stupidity ( Jersey Shore, Honey Booboo), or moral debasement (the Kardasians, Real Housewives) this is a show that is about a group of very hard working men making an honest living doing a trade that is very useful. In one episode a captain of a fishing boat called on the services of the team to come weld his boat. They loaded up their gear in a plane and flew out to the boat to get the work done. That wasn't a cheap venture. This show should teach older children that a good trade can be very valuable.
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What's the Story?

ALASKAN STEEL MEN is a reality series about a team of welders in Kodiak, Alaska. The series stars Dennis Butts, owner of Quality Marine Alaska, who is called to repair things like oil tankers, power plants, oil refineries, canneries, and large fishing boats on a moment's notice. Joining his team are his right hand man Scottie, former U.S. Marine Cooper, underwater diver Duke, and George, who Dennis considers the brains behind the operation. Probationary welders (a.k.a. the Greenhorns) Dean and Jameson are learning on the job. Butts' wife Theresa acts as account manager and debt collector. Every job is different, but each brings with it its share of hazardous situations that could lead to deadly results if the work isn't done right.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Alaskan Steel Men offers an interesting look at the dangerous jobs of Alaskan welders and pipe fitters, who must travel to and work in remote locations that are extremely cold, and that requires them to climb treacherous pipes, dive in freezing waters, and work with potentially explosive machinery. It also shows how their work plays a major role in keeping industries like fishing, canning, and petroleum going.

It's not the most action-packed show, and some events are dramatized for the cameras. But the various repair calls the crew makes, which range from sinking ships to failing power grids, are interesting. Meanwhile, the crew is rough, but likable. Reality fans who like this sort of thing will probably find it entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the variety of important jobs that people do, but that get little recognition. Do TV shows like this one offer realistic views of what these jobs are really like? Or are they dramatized for the sake of entertainment?

  • What kinds of reality shows are most popular? What are the current trends in reality television? Who makes the choices about what kinds of reality TV to produce?

TV Details

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