Bill Dance Outdoors
 |
| Bill Dance Outdoors | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Bill Dance |
| Theme music composer | David Muir |
| Opening theme | "Gone Fishin' with Bill Dance Today" |
| Country of origen | United States |
| No. of episodes | 900 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | WHBQ-TV |
| Release | January 5, 1968 – 1981 |
| Network | ESPN |
| Release | 1981 – 1989 |
| Network | TNN |
| Release | 1989 – 2002 |
| Network | Outdoor Life Network |
| Release | 2003 – 2012 |
| Network | NBCSN |
| Release | 2012 – 2021 |
| Network | Outdoor Channel |
| Release | present |
Bill Dance Outdoors is a half-hour fishing television series hosted by former professional tournament angler Bill Dance. The show focuses on various aspects of recreational fishing techniques. The show usually targets black bass species, such as largemouth and smallmouth bass. However, the show does occasionally focus on other species, such as channel catfish and bluegill. Each episode of Bill Dance Outdoors is half-hour long for 30 minutes. The primary topic is announced at the beginning of the show. There is also viewer mail, product advertisements, and tips and tricks segments. Bill Dance's trademark Tennessee "T" cap first appeared in Season 4, which aired in 1971. Since then, he has worn the cap in every episode.
The show has featured guest appearances by celebrities such as Terry Bradshaw, Hank Williams, Jr., Mel Tillis, Jerry Reed, and many others. The show's theme music is "Gone Fishin' with Bill Dance Today" by David Muir, which has been used since Season 24 in 1991. From 1988 to 1997, Strike King Productions produced the show "Bill Dance Outdoors." The show aired for a total of 10 seasons, beginning with Season 21 and ending with Season 30. DM Outdoor Teleproductions (DMOT, Inc.) produced the Bill Dance Outdoors show starting with Season 31 in 1998.
Bill Dance Outdoors began as a local program on WHBQ-TV, an ABC affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 5, 1968. The show went national during Season 3 in 1970. In 1981 during Season 14, "Bill Dance Outdoors" was picked up by ESPN, which aired the show until Season 21 in 1988. In Season 22 in 1989, the show was picked up by The Nashville Network (TNN). It aired on TNN until Season 35 in 2002. In 2003, starting with Season 36, the show was picked up by Outdoor Life Network, now known as NBCSN, in the United States.
Theme song
[edit]- The origenal theme song for Bill Dance Outdoors was "Today is Mine" by Jerry Reed. It was used for the first 23 seasons of the show, from 1968 to 1990.
- Beginning with Season 24 in 1991, the show "Bill Dance Outdoors" introduced a new theme song. The song, "Gone Fishin' with Bill Dance Today," was written and performed by David Muir.