The F/V Wizard, a fixture of the Discovery Channel's 'Deadliest Catch' for two decades, will not be part of the show's upcoming season, according to TMZ.com. The vessel has not been removed from the series, but cameras are not currently rolling aboard it for the fall season, sources familiar with the situation told TMZ.com.
The absence represents a first for the program. The F/V Wizard joined 'Deadliest Catch' in Season 3 and had appeared in every season since, a run of 20 consecutive seasons. Its exclusion from Season 23 will end that unbroken streak.
According to TMZ.com, rotating vessels is standard practice for the series and has occurred for a variety of reasons over the years. The sources indicated that the decision not to film aboard the F/V Wizard this fall is consistent with that pattern rather than a disciplinary action.
Season 23 is currently in production. It remains unclear whether the F/V Wizard will return to the show in a future season. Captain Keith Colburn declined to comment when contacted by TMZ.com.
For viewers who have followed the F/V Wizard across its long tenure, the change marks a notable shift in the series' lineup. The vessel's history on the show spans from its Season 3 debut through the most recent completed season, making it one of the program's most enduring featured boats.
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Ava Hart
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