Don’t be fooled by the title of this television show. Animal Planet’s Top Hookers is actually about fishing, and there’s a Hawaii connection, too. Kaneohe resident Chris Wright is competing against 10 others, all of whom have been nibbling on the bait of a $30,000 prize and the title of Top Hooker.
Chris totally makes the show. Proudly wearing an aloha shirt and slippers in almost every episode, Chris is definitely the most enthusiastic of the bunch. Every time he catches a fish, he jumps up and down, hoots and hollers, like a kid on a sugar high. And every now and then, he’ll throw in a cheeeeee hooooo (a popular Hawaii exclamation) to remind us of his ties to the islands.
I just crack up every time because the other competitors seem to be the exact opposite – very serious and reserved; so when they see Chris’ high energy, they must wonder if everyone from Hawaii is this loud and excitable! But really, I think Chris’ intent is to show the others that it’s all about having fun!
He also shows them how to fish the Hawaiian way. In a recent episode, while other fishermen took time to put on their boots and fishing waders, Chris chuckled and jumped right into the waist-high pond. But not before shouting, “I’m gonna do it Hawaiian style!” By that, he meant barefoot and board shorts.
While a show about fishing may sound pretty boring, it’s actually really exciting and keeps the audience entertained. Contestants get challenged to use bizarre fishing techniques, like zooming down a zip-line and using remote control boats. The very first episode hooked the audience with a challenge requiring contestants to catch fish with only their mouths.
I think Chris really has a chance in becoming the very first Top Hooker. He’s been fishing since he was a little boy, taking after his dad – a famous Hawaii fisherman and former host of local show Fishing Tales. Plus, Hawaii offers a variety of fishing – from deep sea fishing to bass fishing Lake Wilson, so he’s well-versed in every technique. Chris has also expanded his learning curve by traveling across the world in pursuit of his passion and, of course, to reel in the BIG one.
The show airs every Sunday at 7 p.m. on Animal Planet, so be sure to support local!
Photo Courtesy: Animal Planet
TOP HOOKERS
• Fishing contest television series on Animal Planet • Sundays at 7pm
