Montana ranchers and store owners claim the massive hit TV series Yellowstone is a double-edged sword, even suggesting the Kevin Costner cowboy drama is affecting their state’s reputation.
Mark Greeno, a farmer at Nine Quarter Circle Ranch, put it bluntly: ‘The show gave us farmers a bad name.’
The other side of that equation, however, comes from a University of Montana study that says the show brought an estimated 2.1 million visitors and $730 million in tourist dollars to Montana.
The study claims that the show also created more than 10,200 jobs and brought in more than one million visitors.
However, as Greeno and other insiders and Montana put it, the show and the starring Dutton family — which ends this season amid Kevin Costner’s multi-million dollar divorce but will likely continue via a sequel with Starring Matthew McConaughey – a blessing and a curse.
Montana farmers and store owners claim the massive hit TV series Yellowstone is a double-edged sword, even suggesting the Kevin Costner cowboy drama is affecting their state’s reputation
He dislikes the series’ explosive violence, political corruption and the dumping of bodies, according to the Washington Postand worry visitors will not take away from the show’s themes of ‘environmental stewardship’.
Greeno claimed to have begun discovering debris in the Yellowstone River for the first time in decades.
Another complaint came from Blackfeet tribal member and local business owner Nathan St. Goddard, who finds it ridiculous that the cold Montana winters are never depicted.
“One thing I’ve noticed is that ‘Yellowstone’ was only shot in the summer, so people are blown away that it’s cold, that the wind is blowing up here. It looks like it’s 80 degrees and perfect temperatures.’
He also joked that the show’s main clan chief, Thomas Rainwater, was too well dressed.
“There is no Indian who wears a suit 24/7,” said St. Goddard believed. “He’s in a suit all the time, rain or shine.”
However, Melissa Weddell, the University of Montana’s Tourism and Recreation Research Institute, says the show’s positive impact on the state is undeniable.
“Film is an economic driver of tourism, and the ‘Yellowstone’ TV show demonstrated the power of Montana’s American West image to influence people to visit the state,” she said.
The other side of that comparison, however, comes from a University of Montana study that says the show brought an estimated 2.1 million visitors and $730 million in tourist dollars to Montana
Mark Greeno, a farmer at Nine Quarter Circle Ranch, put it bluntly: ‘The show gave us farmers a bad name’
The Motel Bozeman is one of the businesses to reap the benefits of Yellowstone-inspired tourism
Western Outdoor stores say the show has been a huge cash cow for their locations
“Everything from food services, hotels, rental companies and transportation services to high-tech and skilled trades like electricians and carpenters benefit from the film industry’s activity in the state,” added Todd O’Hair, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber. of Trade.
Yellowstone will wrap up at the end of this season, Paramount has confirmed, with its star Kevin Costner now mired in an ugly divorce battle with wife Christine Baumgartner.
Paramount Network announced in May that Yellowstone will officially end with the final episodes of the fifth season launching in November.
The show was a monster hit for the network and tells the story of the Dutton family and their battles over their gigantic Montana ranch.
It’s still a ratings flop, but the atmosphere on set reportedly became strained over Costner’s insistence on only working part of the week.
Kevin Costner’s blockbuster Yellowstone will officially end with the conclusion of the fifth season that will begin airing in November
Trouble on set: In March, the New York Post reported that Costner’s desire to reduce his workload on the fifth season to focus on other projects was also to blame for the tension between him and Sheridan; publicity image for Yellowstone
But fans of Yellowstone will likely be reassured by news that a sequel has already been given a full series order.
Matthew McConaughey has been named as its possible star, although producers have yet to confirm any members of its new cast.
The show originally debuted in 2018 to modest ratings and poor reviews, and even though the series — created by showrunner, director and writer Taylor Sheridan — did well enough to be renewed for a second season.
Paramount opted to sell the streaming rights to Peacock in 2020, rather than save the show for its own streaming service.
This proved to be a short-sighted decision, as Yellowstone only increased in popularity with subsequent seasons, allowing Peacock to siphon off some of Paramount’s potential revenue in the form of new subscribers, although Paramount still benefits from the licensing fees which pays Peacock to stream the series.
The news comes at a difficult time for Costner, whose second wife Christine Baumgartner finalized their divorce in mid-September but was still embroiled in a heated legal battle when the show was canceled.
The couple has been married since 2004.
Baumgartner cited “irreconcilable differences” and requested joint custody of their three children: Cayden, 15; Hayes, 14; and Grace, 12, reports TMZ.