Duck Dynasty mania: All Robertson products are in high demand

Duck Dynasty’s bearded faces are everywhere since the A&E reality hit has turned into mega-million Robertson mania.

The Robertsons feature from best-sellers to beach towels, T-shirts to iced tea glasses, beer koozies to bobbleheads.

Duck Dynasty follows patriarch Phil Robertson and his family, who have made millions with their duck call and decoy manufacturing “dynasty,” Duck Commander, in West Monroe.

The show, which is in its fourth season, is a ratings hit, with a record 11.8 million viewers last week, thanks to its colorful characters, down-home humor and family values. Son Willie Robertson is so popular he’s been asked to run for Congress, matriarch Miss Kay Robertson has her own cookbook, Miss Kay’s Duck Commander Kitchen; and granddaughter Sadie Robertson is helping design her own line of prom dresses for 2014, the Sadie Robertson Live Original collection.

Back-to-school time has added another layer of merchandise, including notebooks, backpacks and calendars. Meanwhile, fall landscapes can now feature garden gnomes in mini-versions of Willie and Si Robertson.

Si Robertson, who hasn’t met an English word he couldn’t entertainingly butcher, has released his book, Si-cology 1: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle, on September 3. Uncle Si has some selling to do if he expects to catch up to brother Phil Robertson’s Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander and The Duck Commander Family by Willie Robertson and his wife, Korie. These books have been on The New York Times’ best-seller book list for 14 and 19 weeks, respectively.

The variety of Duck Dynasty-related items doesn’t stop here, however. There are license plates, hats, wall signs, window decals, air fresheners, action figures, pajamas, run shoes, dog treats, waders, welcome mats, marshmallow guns, bandages and a board game, the Duck Dynasty Redneck Wisdom Family Party Game. There’s even a Chia Willie.

And the usually camouflaged-wearing Robertsons are still cranking out duck calls and decoys.

All those decoys, all that merchandise, all those books have put estimates of the family’s worth at more than $80 million.

When asked in December 2012 about the show and his family’s popularity, son Alan Robertson told The Advocate: “A couple of things I think really caught the attention of the country. I think it’s a very family-oriented, positive message opposed to a negative message, which, unfortunately, a lot of reality shows are based on people fighting, and not getting along, a lot of bleeping out and stuff like that, and it’s totally different, and I think that’s one of the things.”

“And of course, our faith is a part of it as well, since they close every episode with a prayer. Our family motto has always been <<God, Family and Ducks>>. I think that really resonates culturally, where the country is. The other thing that’s just nuts and bolts, is that the show is just really funny. It’s authentic.”

Alan Robertson and his wife Lisa have joined Duck Dynasty show on Season 4 for the first time. The eldest of the Phil and Kay Robertson’s four sons, Alan’s a minister, and, unlike his brothers, is clean-shaven. Rounding out the main cast of characters are his other brothers, Jase and Jep, and their wives, Missy and Jessica.

Speaking of the Duck Dynasty’s beards, there is an app for that. Go to appfinder.lisisoft.com/app/duck-dynasty-beard-booth.html on your smartphone and see what you or others would look like with lots of facial hair.