As they face the most significant personal crisis of their lives, the Alaskan Bush People also find themselves at a professional crossroads.
The family at the center of this Discovery Channel hit just completed its seventh season, one marred by a tragic lung cancer diagnosis for matriarch Ami Brown.
But while the Browns deal with the likely passing of the beloved Ami in the near future, they must also make a decision about the prospects of their show.
Will it go on?
Do Discovery Channel executives even want it to go on?
No official cancelation or renewal announcement has been made, but ratings for Season 7 were fairly strong.
The premiere brought in 2.6 million viewers, while the follow-up installment saw an increase to 2.8 million viewers.
So that raises the question: if the network is on board with Season 8, will the Browns feel the same way?
Most likely, for one rather obvious reason:
Money.
Billy Brown and his kids have moved out of Alaska, selling their famous “Browntown” enclave in order to relocate due to Ami’s necessary medical treatment.
According to various reports, the plan is for the family to move to Colorado and start again, with Blasting News claiming cameras are already filming new footage in that state.
The new footage for the new season may feature Noah getting married to girlfriend Rhain.
Based on the cost of Ami’s treatment and the cost of setting up their residence in Colorado, the Browns are probably in need of the kind of cash another season would earn them.
There’s even talk that Season 8 may premiere as early as this October.
Of course, this is largely speculation and it’s largely based on the status of Ami.
A recent report alleged that Brown is on her death bed.
We hate to say it, but it’s unclear how much time she has left. Not very much, we fear.
“I realized early into this that it’s very easy to want to give up and just die. And on the pessimist side, it could be my last days,” Ami told People this summer, adding:
“But I have the will to fight.
“Worrying about it only makes it worse. There is hope and that hope is having faith in God. You can’t give up. I tell people be happy. Just be happy.
“It’s a choice. Things can be hard and you just want to curl up but you have to shine.”
What an admirable attitude.
We hope and pray it pays off for Ami.
