After a long wait and fears that the Robertson clan might never grace their televisions again fans can rejoice as A&E has announced that season four of "Duck Dynasty" will premiere on August 14 at 10 p.m., according to USA Today.
There was some uncertainty about whether or not the wildly popular show would return for a fourth season after the Robertson family fought for a pay increase. Season three of the show averaged an astounding 8.6 million viewers and had a 3.9 rating in the key demographic of adults 18-49; the only thing more popular than the bearded outdoorsmen were the flesh eating zombies on "The Walking Dead," according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Sources told the Hollywood Reporter that the family was asking for an additional $200,000 per episode from A&E as well as raises from that number in any seasons that may follow the fourth. Details as to how the dispute was resolved are unavailable.
When the fourth season kicks off there will be a new Robertson joining the show. A beardless Robertson. Alan Robertson is not only clean-shaven but he is also the only one of the brothers who isn't involved in the family business. Instead of ducks Alan chose religion; he is a pastor, according to Us Weekly.
While Alan and his wife, Lisa, were hesitant about joining the show they relented when Alan realized the opportunity television would give him to share his beliefs, according to the New York Post.
"What I do for our church - you see, it's a pretty good-sized church - impacts a lot of people, but because of my association with the show, I'll get to minister to a lot more people," Alan said. "Any person that's an evangelist, that's what you want to do, so I had to give this up for something possibly bigger."
The fourth season of the show will kick off with an hour-long episode in which Phil and Kay renew their wedding vows for their 49th anniversary, according to USA Today.
