INTERVIEW: ‘Gold Rush’ executive producer sounds off on #1 Discovery show

Gold Rush, which returns with new episodes Friday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m., follows intrepid gold miners in the Klondike region of Alaska as they wage an all-out war with the elements, the land and, most importantly, each other. Their sights are set on bringing in millions, but the harsh realities are sometimes too difficult to bear. Oh, by the way, bears like to pop up from time to time.

The fifth season will feature some well-known names and new recruits, including Parker Schnabel, Todd Hoffman, Dave Thurin, Jim Thurber and, of course, Tony “The Viking” Beets. Ultra fans can check out Gold Rush’s pre-show The Dirt at 8 p.m.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Gold Rush executive producer Christo Doyle on the #1-rated Discovery series.

What can fans expect from the new season of Gold Rush?

The Gold Rush faithful can expect a lot of change this season. We have new miners, new claims and new ways of getting gold out of the ground. There are a lot of twists and turns, and I am thrilled to say, more gold than we have ever seen in the show. Our viewers will have more to talk about than ever before. The two-hour premiere is shocking right out of the gate and will have both the faithful and the casual viewer on the edge of their seats.

What are the qualities that make for a good character/personality on Gold Rush?

This season we have three very big, very different personalities in the show. Twenty-year-old Parker Schnabel is cockier than ever after his shocking million-dollar rookie season, and he’s out to prove it was no fluke. Todd Hoffman, the dreamer and life blood of the show, is left a broken man after his epic failure in the jungle. And this season, we’ll also have fan favorite Tony Beets, known in the frozen North as The Viking. Tony does the unthinkable, buying a 75-year-old, $1 million dollar gold catching dredge that has not moved in over 30 years.

How real are the dangers the miners face?

Running heavy machinery every day for 14-16 hours a day is by nature very dangerous, but when you add the production crew to the mix … the danger [is] magnified. All miners and crew follow a strict safety protocol. It is our number one priority on each claim. But it is often hard for the machine operators to see the men on the ground filming, recording sound, etc. On top of all that, when they’re not in the machines, there is a real threat of bears. Everyone on the mine site from miners to production crew has bear spray. And yes, we’ve had to use it. Lastly, there is a medic on every claim to immediately address any situations that may arise. Safety is taken very, very seriously when you are miles from anywhere.

The camera operators must be dedicated to the filming of the series, especially with the exotic locales. What are some of the unique challenges of filming the action?

Not only is the crew dedicated to the show, but most of them fall in love with mining. They all get what is commonly called up North ‘Gold Fever’. Once they get the lay of the land, understand the equipment and mining process, they all think they know where the gold is. When I was there for just a few days I got it. Gold mining is repetitive, tedious work but is an incredible process. It is a modern day treasure hunt that wakes up the little boy in all of us.

Why is Gold Rush the #1 rated show on Discovery? What is it about the show that attracts so many viewers?

Gold Rush ticks almost all of the boxes in what we look for in a show. First of all, it was first in its space. There were no gold mining shows when it premiered. It also has great characters, tells a great story, has man versus man, man versus nature. It’s a treasure hunt, there is brotherhood and it’s aspirational. It also appeals to family, meaning it is a co-viewing opportunity. It is the number one show on Friday nights for men, often including networks. In my opinion, there are two types of men that watch the show: those that are sick of their mundane 9-5 job, their  cubicle, their same old, same old commute and are excited by the notion of following a dream. There are also guys out there that like their lives in the lower 48 and would prefer to live vicariously through Todd, Parker and Tony Beets. I love both viewers as long as they keep watching. But the good news for us is that for all viewers, this show taps into the kid in all of us.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Click here for more information. Gold Rush premieres new episodes Fridays at 9 p.m. The Dirt pre-show begins at 8 p.m.