SC

“Dirty South” Show Riles Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet, S.C. residents are up in arms over the filming of a new reality TV show entitled “The Dirty South.” The show – set to air on CMT – has created all sorts of negative buzz. Produced by the same crew responsible for the MTV reality show “Jersey Shore,”…

Murrells Inlet, S.C. residents are up in arms over the filming of a new reality TV show entitled “The Dirty South.”

The show – set to air on CMT – has created all sorts of negative buzz. Produced by the same crew responsible for the MTV reality show “Jersey Shore,” it comes on the heels of “Myrtle Manor” – meaning in all likelihood it is yet another testament to redneck inbrededness.

News of the program was broken exclusively by WBTW reporter Erika Hayes last month – and Hayes has followed up her original report with several follow-up stories, including one in which residents claim to have been misled about the true nature of the show.

“They kept telling us it was a documentary, well no it’s not. It’s a reality show about a bunch of drunk 20 year olds or whatever, coming in and pretending they’re Southerners,” one inlet resident told Hayes.

Former Georgetown County councilman Tom Swatzel is one of several residents who is concerned about the conduct of the cast members and the negative publicity.

“The cast’s behavior has been reprehensible and the show is likely to paint Murrells Inlet in a less than favorable light,” Swatzel wrote on his Facebook page.

However Swatzel is opposing efforts to rescind temporary permits obtained by the crew – arguing that to do so would be inconsistent with private property rights. Swatzel also rejects the contention that the public should have been given an opportunity to weigh in on the permits ahead of time.

“Is the county now supposed to grant land use decisions based on whether the applicant is likable or via a poll of public opinion and not the law?” he asked.

Swatzel is correct …

Owners have a right to do pretty much as they please with their property – so long as the exercise of their freedom does not impede upon the freedom of others. In fact we’re not sure why the producers of any sort of program need permission from government to film on private property.

Nor should government shell out tax money on dubious film credits, either …

Anyway … if the cast and crew of “The Dirty South” violate local ordinances, then local authorities should by all means arrest, prosecute and punish them. Absent that, we don’t see any universe in which government should be involved in any aspect of this production.

 

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25 comments

I seen it (in Ohio) August 19, 2013 at 3:18 pm

more trailers per square mile than anywhere else in South Carolina.

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Maris January 19, 2014 at 5:50 pm

Since you are from Ohio, you must not have seen much of South Carolina. Murrells Inlet is so small, most of it, brand new houses or old family homes ( like mine) or restaurants with a few trailers. I love South Carolina, but buddy, you ‘ ain’t seen nothin’.

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Farmer John August 19, 2013 at 3:29 pm

This should be filmed in lexington County, starring members of Lex. Ring their associates and sluts.sluts.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein August 19, 2013 at 10:25 pm

You said “sluts” twice.

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? August 20, 2013 at 9:13 am

It’s a new literary technique.

Is there any doubt “sluts” were involved?

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Jesus H. Christ! August 20, 2013 at 12:45 pm

He likes sluts.

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In the Inlet August 19, 2013 at 3:47 pm

Dumbest “controversy” ever. The funniest part is watching people who used to rail against government regulations suddenly demanding that the government DO something about these awful tv people.

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Boz Martin August 19, 2013 at 6:24 pm

That’s a valid comment. When it’s shit going on in your own backyard, suddenly the free market doesn’t look so good, I guess. I don’t have a great deal of sympathy, I’m just being realistic. The people in the show are a bunch of drunken louts. But regardless of what was promised, maybe the folks down by the Marsh Walk should have see that coming.

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In the Inlet August 19, 2013 at 7:23 pm

They should have, because the Marshwalk is full of drunk people on any given night.

I live in the Inlet and this show is FAR less disruptive than, say, Bike Week. Looks to me like a few privileged people have done a good job of whipping up unfounded outrage among the ignorati over this. The result wil no doubt be some hastily passed knee-jerk legislation.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein August 20, 2013 at 1:02 pm

NIMBY!

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Jay Ellington August 19, 2013 at 3:54 pm

Wha? A TV producer misled someone? Say it ain’t so!

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Boz Martin August 19, 2013 at 6:27 pm

Hah! Good point.

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Mike at the Beach August 19, 2013 at 4:01 pm

Much ado about nothing people – calm yourselves! Swatzel is right. Relax. The show will be moronic, will come and go, and we’ll still be selling shrimp and cold beer to tourists. Everything will be okie dokie.

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? August 19, 2013 at 4:07 pm

I took my kids on the Salt Water Marsh tour run by Capt. Dick’s this last weekend at Murrell’s Inlet, it was great.

Murrell’s Inlet is a great little spot away from the crazyness of the grand strand, Brookgreen gardens is great too and right down the road.

These reality programs come and go anymore…they are a dime a dozen and most intelligent people know they are filled with bullshit.

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rwwllms August 19, 2013 at 5:18 pm

Next time take the evening ghost tour through the marsh. It’s just as good as the day tour.

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Smirks August 19, 2013 at 4:35 pm

A show called “The Dirty South” and they aren’t filming the clowns running Columbia? Damn.

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Jay Ellington August 20, 2013 at 11:05 am

They already did, it goes under the title “Bloody South” and is a part of History Channel’s Gangland series. Perhaps you’d like to watch it….

http://documentaryheaven.com/gangland-bloody-south/

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Boz Martin August 19, 2013 at 6:17 pm

They’ve already violated local ordinances, but the cops won’t do anything. The girls have been flashing titties OFF of the private property, down by the jetties, etc., and they have had drunken revels filmed in the yard where of the home they’ve rented for the shoot, complete with more partial nudity and guys pissing in the yard, visible from neighboring homes. They’ve been kicked out of several places on the Marsh Walk where they have been granted the right to film, including Bubba’s Love Shak and The Dead Dog Saloon. That’s because they went overboard with the rowdiness, disrespected owners and managers, and caused patrons to walk out in droves. Much more to the story than you reported Sic. I’m here brother. This is my turf, I live just up the road, and as always, people tell me shit.

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Boz Martin August 19, 2013 at 6:22 pm

A couple of other points: There are conflicting stories about the name of the show. Some say it is “Party Down South.” I personally believe it is “Dirty South”, with “Party Down South” being the name they put on it while shooting to mollify locals. TNC lists it as “The Dirty South.”
The people in the show really are Southerners, from different parts of the South, but they were cast out of LA, reportedly.
They will likely not be able to get a permit to film again next season if the show is renewed. They’ve pissed people off that badly. Probably the worst part of it is saying it was going to be a documentary. Bullshit.
Fuck those creeps. I hope they never come back.

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In the Inlet August 19, 2013 at 7:14 pm

I thought the Dead Dog’s owner claimed he never gave them permission to film in the first place.

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Mett's Menagerie August 19, 2013 at 7:34 pm

“they have had drunken revels filmed in the yard of the home they’ve rented for the shoot, complete with more partial nudity and guys pissing in the yard, visible from neighboring homes.”
Change “home” to “trailer” and you could film this in rural Lexington County and recruit half the local officials to participate. Sworn testimony has it that they already have the acts down pat.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein August 20, 2013 at 1:01 pm

When girls are “flashing titties”, TBG advocates a verbal warning from the police, along with the admonition that they (the police) will return in a couple hours and if it is still going on…they will issue a stronger verbal warning.

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Nölff August 20, 2013 at 8:07 am

CMT is doing like MTV; doing everything else except for music videos. History
channel should actually show programs with history in them instead of
all that redneck shit. TLC should have educational content instead of
Honey Boo Boo. MTV should actually play a friggin music video. You don’t get
what you pay for. That’s why I don’t pay for cable anymore. I have an Apple TV and Netflix.

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ELCID August 20, 2013 at 11:28 am

Murrell’s Inlet is full of rip off restaurants.
There are only 1 or 2 that provide a good meal and a fair price.
All the rest are there only to sucker you into spending a lot of money for awful food.
Ask a local and they will confirm.

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Creek Girl August 22, 2013 at 9:47 am

Check the zoning ordinances and you will see that residents CANNOT do “pretty much as they please with their property.” Isn’t that the purpose of zoning ordinances to begin with–to place controls on what is located where? According to the zoning ordinances we can’t so much as grow a tomato and sell it at the Farmer’s Market – that constitutes commercial use of the property which is strictly prohibited by the Georgetown County Zoning Ordinance in a residential 1/2 acre neighborhood. And yet a commercial television production can locate in a residential neighborhood and that is NOT considered commercial use of property? Give me a break!

What’s next? And will it be located in YOUR neighborhood?

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