Dog the Bounty Hunter emerged from America's favourite contritional box - Larry King Live - last night with more credit than malice. But only just.
The bizarre-looking Duane Chapman is trying to find his way back from the racial controversy that has seen his show pulled off the air, and last night a sincere and genuinely sorry looking Dog asked for forgiveness. "Never again. This dog learns" he said as he claimed his use of the word 'nigger' was to shock his son, with whom he was having an ongoing argument over his black girlfriend, rather than the result of any genuine prejudice. Read on...
At face value the whole episode seems to be yet another celebrity - Michael Richards anyone? - trying to weasel their way out of a hole of their own making. However, the Dog does make an interesting point; in the central part of the conversation with his son - published by the National Enquirer - when he says: "It's that we use the word nigger. We don't mean you fucking scum nigger without a soul. We don't mean that shit. But America would think we mean that."
Dog's defence is that he thought he was cool enough to be able to use the term with his black friends - all of whom he says took it in good humour and called him 'whitey' or 'honkey' - but knew he would be judged if outsiders heard it. He was right.
But the debate does remain - is it OK to use racial slurs with your friends? After all, friendship is about being comfortable with each other and being able to say things in private that you would never say in public.
I have to admit I am a latecomer to the wonders of the Dog and his motley crew of low tech, high octane bounty hunters, chasing perps with cans of mace and hair extensions, but became addicted immediately. They may be aggressive and weird and act like sending people to prison is some kind of favour but each episode ends with a sermon to the criminal in question, and praying together for their salvation - just as the Dog changed his wayward ways many years ago. It's hard not to like them for being their odd selves, even South Park gave him a nod.
Chapman believes black America has forgiven him but white America has not; however, judging by the Larry King poll in which 87% want his show back on the air, he may be wrong.
