Porter Ridge: Jeff the Bear Man keeps eight brown bears in his back garden

Porter Ridge, Discovery’s new reality show, allows viewers to meet an eccentric band of misfits in an isolated community that lives by its own rules.

Set in rural Spencer, Indiana, 15 miles west of Bloomington, Porter Ridge is from the same creators of the Duck Dynasty show.

The characters include Jeff the bear-man who keeps eight truffle-hunting brown bears in his back garden, to Dirty Andy who is able to turn any old piece of scrap into cash.

There have been rumors for months about film crews in the area where Porter Ridge is set with some residents even being hired as extras.

“This is so real, so visceral, so authentic,” executive producer Joe Weinstock said.

“You can’t put a better group of characters together. It’s amazing how all these individuals just live by each other.”

“When people see the show, I believe they’re going to come away feeling pretty darn good,” said Joe Weinstock, an Oklahoma native.

“It has a lot of heart. In the end, these neighbors who all unite and live on Porter Ridge Road love each other.”

Over twelve episodes the characters, who frequent Terry Porter’s Country Auto Parts junk yard, will be appearing with all of their peculiarity on display.

The show focuses on a shirtless Terry Porter who is described as the “CEO of an auto junk yard” where the lives of locals and scrappers, who sell old metal and such, are detailed.

Their code of life is simple: respect the lord, love your family and watch each other’s backs.

The folks of Porter Ridge describe themselves as a “tight-knit community of colorful characters that are unlike any other”.

Those appearing in the series include Terry Porter, the owner of a junkyard upon which the show is based; Jeff “the Bear Man”, who treats brown bears as family; hustler Dirty Andy; Elvis Larry, the local garbage man and jack-of-all-trades; and more.

With Terry Porter being the focus of the show, he fancies himself as the true leader of the community but the show suggests he’s not suited to lead much more than a scrap yard negotiation.

For Terry Porter, it’s all about the next get rich quick idea and whatever it takes to beat his longtime rivals from the next town over.

Another character who is sure to win fans from the American viewing public is Jeff who has bears simply roaming around his back yard.

Although he loves them as if they were his own flesh and blood, other residents on the Ridge don’t always have the same love for these 1,500-pound beasts.

Danny Bob is a worker at the junkyard repair shop. He claims to be a whiz with a blowtorch and can fix just about anything with an engine.

He also has a handful of ex-wives in his past; including one he married twice – which he says is the definition of “stupid”.

Dirty Andy is the scrap merchant on the Ridge and always looking for a way to make a buck.

Whether it’s an old lawnmower or a rusty trampoline, there is nothing that Dirty Andy can’t turn to cash.

The show will air on 12 consecutive Tuesdays on the Discovery Channel at 10:30pm ET/PT.

Joe Weinstock said the likelihood for a second season of Porter Ridge will depend on how popular the show is. A decision should be made by the start of September.

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