So, if the show isn't scripted and is showing a real operation, you would think Tim and Tickle would have consulted an attorney as to their rights before doing the filming. I mean so much for their secret operation while being on TV. And now all of Tim's firefighter friends from the station will know of his activity, because as stated on the show...they don't know he's a moonshiner. Just a thought.

 

You can bet the show has it all covered, all of the goverment forms and taxes. The money is all paid up front so they all stay out of court (jail).

 

I wonder if Mythbusters cannon ball was all covered "up front" somehow... All in their insurance or legal package somehow? Makes you wonder... All the shows have their own entertainment value, but some of it makes you wonder. I was out to dinner with my brother and a friend earlier this week and we were talking about this same moonshiners issue - illegal operation with the fed's on their trail and the show goes on? Neat show, not sure how it all works out.

 

The have a show on History i believe about Meth.

It shows people and how the make it, deal it and people smoking it and stuff.

Its kind of interesting, but i wondered that too. How do they let people come record stuff that is illegal and go through great effects to cover up. They cover there face and stuff on that show but still. How did they even get on the show. Had to apply or got found some hiw. Lol

 

Kind of pisses me off that they made it look like Popcorn Sutton had anything to do with that show. The footage they had of him on the show was archival and not theirs. he would have never agreed to be on that show.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW1zwaqeL9g

 

I actually was just researching this show last week when they were running back to back episodes. I had the same questions as the OP did. I found this article which might clear some things up. Why hasn't Moonshiner's star been arrested?

That seems to answer the question, but Tim Smith did a phone interview with BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer that seems to hint that cameras did actually catch some outlaw moonshine brewin’:

Bourbon Blog: A lot of people have been asking us, they’ve been coming to our web site and they’ve been saying, “Is this really for real? Is this – are these people really moonshining? How are they doing this without getting arrested?” Is one of the questions that they’re asking.

Bourbon Blog: Now is that something you can answer?

Tim Smith: That’d be something I couldn’t answer.

Tim Smith: With the laws in Virginia, and I’m pretty sure around anywhere else, you must be witnessed and physical samples of the product you’re producing has to be taken and analyzed – and all of this has to go to a court of law, and then that arresting officer has to testify in a court of law that he did that.

Bourbon Blog: Right

Tim Smith: So how are you going to arrest me for moonshinin’ that I did five years ago? Moonshiners take a lot of precautions. And I would say professional moonshiners, you know? Professional moonshiners take a lot of precautions.

Bourbon Blog: But now people know who you are.

Tim Smith: Yeah, now I’m jumpin’ the fence. Now I’ve become, um, retired, OK? [chuckles] What I did yesterday doesn’t mean I’m going to do it tomorrow.

 

Popcorn Sutton was the real thing. These guys are just profiting from his legend and reality TV.

 

I know some of the folks on the reality show "Harvest".

Seems their opinion is a lot of the stuff that happens on the "reality" shows are reenactments of things that happened in "reality" months or years before they filmed it.

 

Everybody around here knows who has the stills. If you are not making alot, you wont have any problems. Most of the boys that are brewing now, have just a few they sell to. I have had mine used to treat wounds on cattle to hunting dogs. Most of the hunters around here keep my "first aid kit" with them. LOL. I have had my brew in Irag and other places around the world. I dont know if they used it as "first aid". I got my still from my daddy and my son will get mine. You can put mine in the back of a truck. Its not a big 500 gallon still. Just a small "first aid station". One more thing, if I kept up with time and supplies, I lose more than I make. I enjoy doing it and enjoy my friends enjoying it.