I rarely watch A&E. For the most part, the channel doesn't offer the kind of programming I like. I used to be a fan of 'Dog the Bounty Hunter,' one of A&E's most prominent shows, but after watching the same basic storyline every week, it became old and I moved on.

Recently, I decided to give A&E another try. I did so with a show about a Louisiana-based exterminator that wears the most outrageous clothes, says the most outrageous things, and performs some of the most outrageous tasks I've ever seen on television.

His name is Billy Bretherton. And his show, 'Billy the Exterminator,' has become my newest obsession on Wednesday nights.

Understanding 'Billy the Exterminator,' which saw its second season premiere to record numbers in March (2.1 million viewers), requires understanding Billy. Like 'Dog the Bounty Hunter,' Bretherton is an interesting personality. He has a spiked, blond mullet, finishes off his look with a strangely placed goatee, and has brought "gnarly" back to television. He might seem odd, but he's the man people call when they have the worst pest issues.

Billy is supported by his family, including brother Ricky, his father Bill, and his mother Donnie. Together they help Bretherton run his business, Vexcon.

And although Billy gets top billing for his show, it might be more appropriate to include him as part of the supporting cast. The real stars of 'Billy the Exterminator' are the beasts Billy battles each week.

And believe me, those battles are worth watching.



This past Wednesday night, for example, Billy was asked to find out where a horrible smell was coming from in a woman's home. After some digging under the house, Billy found the culprit: a 20- to 30-pound possum that found its way under the woman's house and promptly died. It was rotting for seven days in the Louisiana heat, stinking up her home, before Billy came in and fixed the problem.

But that's not all Billy does. Sometimes, he's asked to come in and take care of a mice infestation that has wreaked havoc on a home. Other times, he needs to get rid of baby alligators or find out where snakes are hiding around a farm. Billy has even battled a bobcat that was preying on a woman's livestock. After setting a trap, he was able to relocate the killer cat before it could do any more damage.

What the viewer quickly learns about 'Billy the Exterminator' is that Billy is ready and willing to take on any job. And he usually does it to completion with the kind of success, and ironically, humane treatment of animals, that has undoubtedly made him a celebrity in his hometown.

That kind of success could also make him a long-term winner for A&E. His battles with pests are far more entertaining than criminal-catching on 'Dog the Bounty Hunter," and twice as exhilarating.

Of course, that doesn't mean that there aren't issues with 'Billy the Exterminator.' As Billy battles a pest, the show keeps snapping back to post-fight interviews with the exterminator. In those moments, the viewer is not only taken out of the moment, but will quickly become annoyed by the inflection in Billy's voice. He seems to be trying too hard to deliver excitement, and in doing so, comes off as robot-like and scripted.

And although it might only annoy me, Billy's use of "gnarly, dude" every few minutes gets old. I can handle a couple, but too many "gnarlies" and I'm ready to press "mute."

I should also note that Ricky's family lacks entertainment value. In most episodes, they come off rather boring.

Those issues aside, 'Billy the Exterminator' delivers an action-packed 30 minutes that will at some points, gross you out, and other points, make you laugh. If you can get past the sometimes-corny nature of the show, you'll find a thrill ride worth watching every Wednesday night.


Are you a fan of 'Billy the Exterminator,' or will you give it a shot?