It’s becoming more and more likely that families across America can turn on their televisions at any given time and see Louisiana.
Four new bayou-based programs have premiered this month: “Cajun Pawn Stars,” “Bayou Billionaires,” “Ragin’ Cajuns” and “Caged.” They join other hit series like “Swamp People” and “Sons of Guns” that revolve around life in the Pelican State.
Psychology graduate student Leslie Butler attributes the spike in interest in Cajun culture to the fact that Louisiana has been a big part of the national conversation for several years.
“Louisiana got a lot of attention for Hurricane Katrina, and that attention hasn’t really left the area,” Butler said.
She said she felt the new shows spring from the runaway success of the History Channel’s “Swamp People,” which premiered in August 2010 and has been gaining popularity ever since. Its second-season finale garnered 5.5 million viewers, making it the most viewed show on cable television that night, according to Nielsen ratings.
Alecia Long, associate history professor, teaches a class in Louisiana history and credits the state’s newfound popularity to its creative and resilient people.
“We have a lot to be proud of in terms of culture,” Long said.
Claire LaBarbera, coast and environmental studies freshman, said she fears Louisianians are being pigeonholed in a way similar to how New Jerseyans were perceived after MTV’s “Jersey Shore” achieved national notoriety.
“It feeds stereotypes that we are all conservative rednecks,” LaBarbera said. “Those shows only present a minority of our people and shouldn’t be seen as representative of Louisiana.”
Louisiana provides another important incentive to production companies besides its colorful people and vibrant atmosphere – tax incentives.
According to a report prepared by the Louisiana Economic Development Office of Entertainment Industry Development, Louisiana has had five consecutive years of economic growth in the film and music industry.
The report also recognizes Louisiana as ranked third in film and television production nationwide behind only California and New York.
LaBarbera said more bayou-based television shows are inevitable with the success of Louisiana-based reality TV.
“I’d like to see a show that follows new generations of people in Louisiana,” LaBarbera said. “And not in po-dunk rural towns.”
 
—-
Contact Josh Naquin at [email protected]