'Duck Dynasty' Breaks Record; Morrissey Continues to Feud with Jimmy Kimmel and Robertson Family [Video]
A&E's reality series Duck Dynasty returned for its third-season premiere on Wednesday night as the most-watched nonfiction show on cable television this year.
The half hour show attracted a viewership of 8.6 million people total with five million viewers in the key advertising demographic between 18 to 49-years-old, which made it A&E's most-watched show ever.
That topped every half-hour on broadcast television with the exception of the last half-hour of American Idol on Fox, according to CNN. The singing competition show finished the night with 4.87 million viewers in the full two hours it aired.
A&E's popular reality show follows the life of the Robertson family in Louisiana and its business selling duck calls, decoys and other hunting paraphernalia.
The recent popularity of the show may be linked in part to a recent controversy related to singer Morrissey who pulled out of an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Feb. 26 because he did not want to share a stage with members of the hunting show.
The 53-year-old animal rights activist and former front man for The Smiths stated that he morally could not be on the show with people he considers to be "animal serial killers," according to E! Online.
Host Jimmy Kimmel tried to work out a compromise with Morrissey, but the British singer stated he would only appear on the show on an evening the Duck Dynasty stars were absent.
Kimmel stated on his show that he did not plan on dropping his Robertson family guests and was quoted by The Huffington Post saying, "they have guns and Morrissey doesn't."
The late night host also added that Morrissey "keeps finding ways to depress us."
Morrissey responded to Kimmel as well as a parody video for a Duck Dynasty product tailored for vegans in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that claimed the host made fun of gun control, depression, and obesity.
Kimmel responded in a Twitter post on Feb. 27 stating: "Note to Morrissey - if you have more dumb statements to make, I invite you to make them where I do, on my show."
