'Dog' to Marry on 'Bounty Hunter' - Duane Chapman and Beth Smith.

[Elvira]

I apologize for posting this, but for some reason I had to laugh at
the thought.

03/20/2006

A/P HONOLULU - It's the Year of the Dog — for three years running. Duane "Dog" Chapman and his tattooed crew return Tuesday for the third-season premiere of the hit reality show, "Dog the Bounty Hunter" (A&E, 9 p.m. EST

Season three will feature everything from celebrity ride-alongs to Chapman finally getting married to his longtime sidekick and business partner, Beth Smith.

The guest list for the May 20 wedding is as intriguing as Chapman's blond mullet. Guests include Hulk Hogan, Danny Bonaduce and Wynonna Judd.

"I'm marrying my common-law wife, Beth, the Christian way, with a preacher and all that," Chapman said.

Chapman and Smith have two children together and have been together for 16 years. Chapman said he proposed last year in Vegas after a few drinks. And he doesn't drink.

"He was a hard catch," said Smith. "That's why I say he's my biggest and best catch."

In jeans, silver-tipped cowboy boots and a leather jacket on a steamy 75-degree night in Waikiki, Chapman reflected on the surprising success of the show and his journey to becoming the self-proclaimed world's best bounty hunter.

The Marlboro-puffing Chapman has become Hawaii's most famous fugitive finder on TV since Magnum and Steve McGarrett.

Tour buses now stop at his bail-bond shop in Honolulu.

The series is A&E's highest-rated ever.

But fame does have its drawbacks. Chapman can no longer lounge at the beach, or go shopping without being asked for photos and autographs. The 53-year-old Chapman, however, said attention is nothing new for him.

"Not to sound like I'm bragging, but I was like a legend in my own mind anyway," he said.

It just takes a few seconds with Chapman to figure out his best weapon is neither his biceps nor the pepper spray canisters the size of fire extinguishers he totes around. It's his surprising sincerity, uncanny intuition and his mouth.

Chapman speaks with the compassion of a preacher, the bravado of a pro wrestler and persuasiveness of a snake-oil salesman.

"I think a lot of people judge him on how he dresses, by the way he looks," said Smith, a big-haired platinum blond, wearing a low-cut black tank top. "People who had a poor opinion of him before they meet him completely have a 100-percent turnaround when he shows his heart and how loving he is."

Chapman, whose tan, weathered face looks like it's seen its share of bar fights, agreed.

"I've always had that look. I'm the guy, your first impression is, 'Uh oh, call the police,'" he said.

Chapman grew up in Denver, the oldest of four sons. His father, a Navy welder, was physically abusive, he said. His mother was a minister.

"My father is the reason I am the way I am today," Chapman said. "He's why I acted up and he's why I prayed to be the opposite of him. We made up before he died but I vowed to never raise my kids like how he raised me."

By 15, Chapman had joined a biker gang and was entering a world of crime. After a string of robbery arrests, Chapman was convicted of being an accessory to murder and sentenced to five years in prison.

Chapman said he had no part in the killing, saying he was outside when a fellow gang member went into a house to buy marijuana.

"He got into it with a guy. Boom! We heard a shot. When he came out, his hand was bloody and I thought he had been shot," Chapman said.

It turned out, the dealer was shot.

In prison, he promised to turn his life around, and honed his understanding of the criminal mind.

"I was in there with killers, the worst in the world, brother. This was 70s, Texas," Chapman said.

Dog got his nickname from the gang.

"I was very loyal. I'm man's best friend. I always showed up for the fight. I took care of my brothers," he said. "I'm Native American so it's in my blood to always want brothers and friends. I'm a good brotherhood guy."

And, added the devout Christian and father of a dozen children, "Dog is God spelled backward."

Chapman claims more than 6,000 captures without firing a single bullet. But the one that made him the baddest bounty hunter in the galaxy (next to Boba Fett) was the 2003 apprehension in Mexico of serial rapist and Max Factor heir Andrew Luster.

"The title was on the line. Every bounty hunter was saying, 'We're going to catch him. We're the best,'" Chapman said.

But it wasn't just bragging rights that prompted Chapman to pursue Luster. He felt "obligated," he said, after meeting two of the women that Luster drugged and raped.

"They said, 'You're our only hope, Dog. Please,'" Chapman said.

Chapman never received any bounty for the capture of Luster, who is three years into a 124-year sentence.

"We weren't by that judge, but were we paid? Oh, yeah. Over and over again, brother," he said.

Chapman's contract for the third season was worth a reported $2.6 million.

Smith said that with the busy filming schedule they haven't had the time to enjoy money.

"We don't even realize it's there. We just know every month on the first, we don't have to go, 'Oh my God, how are we going to make the rent?'" Smith said.

Chapman, who, despite his larger than life persona stands only 5-foot-7 — or 5-10 in cowboy boots and with his hair sprayed up — called bounty hunting his "destiny."

What would he be doing if he wasn't a bounty hunter?

"Robbing banks," he whispered.
news.yahoo.com

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060320/...N5bnN1YmNhdA--

[Grimmlok]

charming people... truly sophisticated and cultured.

[Bellatheball]

Bobba Fett?

I have to say I'm oddly intrigued by his show. He is fairly eloquent and generally seems like a decent guy. They are freaking hilarious though. Just enough white trash to make it worth watching.

[Aurora]

I didnt know they werent married?

[Elvira]

^ ^ ^
That’s what my son said. He likes to watch this show.

[Elisa]

Bobba Fett?

I have to say I'm oddly intrigued by his show. He is fairly eloquent and generally seems like a decent guy. They are freaking hilarious though. Just enough white trash to make it worth watching.

I didn't want to be the first to admit that I, too, find them intriguing. God forbid I ever do something unlawful and a bounty is on my head, I hope I have them after me! They're so damn respectful.

[CherryDarling]

I never knew that he and Beth weren't married...

And yes, I watch this show too.

[slurikaine]

He has a dozen children!!!! Holy crap that's alot of child support!!!

[A*O]

I like them too. He's a real diamond in the rough and she's hilarious. Gawd bless 'em.

[spinmonkey]

I admire the way the Chapman's are able to show that not all christians are stuffy, perfect little robots, with no sense of humor. I love seeing people with a rebellious attitude use it for the good and betterment of others. I like people who stand up for what they believe in. I try to live my life the same way. Knowing so many people watch Dog proves that a lot of people can relate to the Chapman's.

I knew they were not married, and they just seem to belong together, so I guess a wedding seems logical. The daughter Cecily seems like a sensitive kid to me, and I'm thinking maybe the kids are asking them to marry, I wish them a long and happy life together.

P. S.
I have to kind of laugh every time I watch, because Dog always starts out making this big show about how he is going to do things, but in the end, Beth is really running the show, and he ends up all sheepish ... works beautifully with them, just like myself and Mr. Spinmonkey ;-)

[A*O]

Yeah - he is SO pussywhipped but in a good way. He's the kind of guy you know you could call at 3am from a bar where there's been some trouble and he'd come and take you home - no questions asked. Sniff.

[DVS_one]

so betths chest gets bigger with each season... and the 2 smallest childrent are theirs together? .... did they mention how long beth and dog had been together?

and OHHHHHHHHH leland is the HOTBOY!!
still curious about all those kids.... even though we know one is in jail for 16 yrs on meth charges...theres a few that are NEVER mentioned ...

[sweetrebel]

Didn't know they weren't already married either...while this isn't a show I set a timer for, if it is on when we are flipping through, we will watch some of it.
I remember 2 episodes in particular that kind of 'touched' me...they were chasing this fugitive that happened to be a 'friend' of Beth's and they let Beth go after her cause she knew she wouldn't run and all that....chick they were looking for didn't have any shoes on and Beth gave her the shoes she was wearing so she wouldn't have to go in barefoot....kinda cheesy but still
The other was this guy they got was living with his mother who was in a wheelchair and he was the only one to take care of her. I know, he made his bed and all that.....they tried to get some charges dropped and some of the bail reduced so that he could get out pretty quick to help his mother. I know the guy may have been back in jail in a week, but that may have been what he needed...someone to take a chance on him...

Oh, yeah, Leland is a little hottie!!

[spinmonkey]

Yeah - he is SO whipped but in a good way. He's the kind of guy you know you could call at 3am from a bar where there's been some trouble and he'd come and take you home - no questions asked. Sniff.

Exactly, and although I don't find him particularly attractive, he has appeal because of his loyalty and devotion to her and the kids! AND he knows his strength is not always his own...That is so HOT in a guy.

I'd be curious what men think of Beth

PS I have always been a big breasted woman, and it has always caused me physical pain (back, neck, etc ) I can't imagine being Beth and wondered if she has ever considered a reduction or if they just don't bother her. I definitely think those are real the way they move! Mr Spinmonkey wonders how she manages sometimes! When they show shots of her driving... wow. I guess if I were stuck with those I would cover em up a little more, but thats just me. Can't wait to see her in a wedding dress, and wonder about what it will look like....that alone will keep me watching. I mean none of those comments negetively. She really is a pretty lady.

[sweetrebel]

They do seem like genuinely nice people...and the world certainly could use more of those....