The Deadliest Catch

King crab fishermen have been gathering in Alaska's Dutch harbor this week preparing to launch their boats Thursday night for the seventh season of Discovery's 'The Deadliest Catch.' Among them, the Hillstrand brothers, who've been mulling over recent tumultuous events.

The fishermen set off a firestorm when they quit the show in a contract dispute. The network sued, and fellow 'Deadliest Catch' star Capt. Sig Hansen quit in solidarity. Fans of the show wrote angry letters to the network and threatened to boycott future seasons. However, last week it was announced that the dispute had finally been resolved.

Speaking about it to Entertainment Weekly, Jonathan Hillstrand said "Emotionally, it was hell. ... We didn't want to be sued. We didn't want all the fans hating Discovery." He added that he and his brother "just want our lives back, sort of. ... We are glad to be back and we're glad that everyone is happier."

Phil Harris, captain of the Cornelia Marie fishing boat, is remembered by fellow captains and his sons on 'After the Catch' (Tue, 10PM ET on DSC). Harris suffered a massive stroke on Jan. 29 and died 11 days later in an Anchorage hospital.

Ah, the sea is a cruel mistress. On 'The Deadliest Catch' (Tue., 9PM ET on DSC), Jeremy is a "greenhorn down ... puking his guts out" until a fellow Time Bandit rallies him to return to deck: "Just say, '[****] you, seasickness! [****] you!"

But that strategy doesn't work, especially after a particularly "evil" wave. "Greenhorn down!"

There's nothing more shocking than real reality. Death is real. Steve Irwin dying on the job, for instance, was a huge shock. Here's another dose of harsh reality. The star of Discovery Channel's 'Deadliest Catch,' Phil Harris, has died from a stroke. He had been at work on January 29, loading a catch like usual, when he suffered the stroke. After being flown to Anchorage for treatment, he succumbed despite having shown some improvement.

In a statement on the Discovery Channel web site, his grown children, Jake and Josh, explained, "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad -- Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down."