By Lacey Rose. Executive Editor, Television. This story first appeared in the April 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. The tragic death of Buckwild star Shain Gandee raises questions about the viability of what MTV hoped would become a successor franchise to Jersey Shore. The young-skewing network has struggled to stay relevant in an increasingly fractured landscape, having shed 25 percent of its primetime audience in the to demographic in A new president of programming, Susanne Daniels , took over in November.
Meanwhile, Parallel Entertainment and Zoo Productions - who produce the MTV reality show - announced yesterday they would pay for all of Shain Gandee's funeral expenses ahead of his funeral on Sunday. An autopsy confirmed that the Buckwild star Shain Gandee and two other men - his uncle David Gandee, 48, and Donald Robert Myers, 27 - died of carbon monoxide poisoning after the SUV they were riding in became partially submerged in deep mud.
Williams told TMZ: ' Shain was a great kid with a big heart who had endless love for his mom and dad. I am from West Virginia and this show reminded me of how I grew up.
Money which has already been donated by fans will go towards the funeral costs of the other men and expenses incurred by Shain's family during the recovery effort. Shain and the two men were last seen at a bar in Sissonville, West Virginia, at about 3am on Sunday morning.
Gandee's Ford Bronco was found more than a day later in deep mud off a dirt road, not far from the reality star's home. Horrific discovery: A close friend of Gandee's found the bodies of the year-old, his uncle David Gandee, 48, center, and Donald Robert Myers, 27, right. Authorities said the exhaust pipe was buried in mud, causing the deadly gas to seep into the vehicle. On the Gandee's General Store Facebook page, his cousin Ashley posted: 'I just wanted to let everyone know that the family feels that Shain died peacefully in his sleep without pain or suffering.
The news came at the same time of an outpouring of support and prayers for Gandee by fellow cast members and other MTV reality stars, who regarded him as a kind man with a big heart. Cara Parrish, Gandee's heartbroken love interest on Buckwild, tweeted: 'This is the emptiest I've ever felt. Please pray for [Gandee's parents] Dale and Loretta. Tragedy: Authorities found the Ford Bronco that belonged to Gandee in a ditch with all three men inside. He was just a baby. He Was A Funny Dude.
She declined to provide details on the future of the show, but said that the network's thoughts 'continue to be with Shain's family first and foremost. Recovery: Authorities needed ATVs to reach the vehicle, due to the muddy terrain. The reality show follows Shain and eight other young adults in Virginia, all of whom love small-town American life. Gandee in particular shunned cell phones and social media, and was happiest when he was hunting and four-wheeling, according to the West Virginia Gazette.
In mourning: Friends and neighbors walk up and down the gravel road leading to Shain Gandee's home in Sissonville, West Virginia. Neighbor Swanna Frampton, who had known him since he was a small child, told the AP: 'Shain always rides with these kids in four-wheelers and trucks. They were just out riding and having a good time. Frampton said Gandee 'loved to live and have fun. He was a great person. He did what [the show] wanted him to do, but he wasn't like that.
He was a real person. If you needed help, if [you] needed something, he would come help you no matter what. Living the life: Gandee in particular shunned cell phones and social media, and was happiest when he was hunting and four-wheeling. Authorities had been searching for the men since early Sunday morning.
They were last seen around 3am on Sunday at Larry's Bar in Sissonville and they told people they were going driving off-road. Humphreys said state police were getting ready to send out an aviation unit to search for the men when authorities received a call Monday morning that a vehicle was found wrecked a few miles from Gandee's home in Sissonville, about 15 miles outside of Charleston.
Authorities found the Ford Bronco that belonged to Gandee in a muddy ditch with all three men inside. Gandee was in the driver's seat. The terrain in the area was 'very muddy, very rough,' Humphreys said. Tragic: Shain and his uncle David, who was also found dead, had decided to go four-wheeling after heading to a bar in the town of Sissonville.
Investigation: The terrain in the area was very muddy and rough, and authorities had to use all-terrain vehicles to get to the site. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said the news was devastating for the small community near Charleston.
We're keeping them in our hearts and prayers. In a statement, MTV said: 'We are shocked and saddened by the terrible news about Shain Gandee, and those involved in this tragic incident. Gandee was the star of the controversial show described as "the Jersey Shore of Appalachia".
It had attracted the ire of local senator Joe Manchin, who described the show as a "travesty" and said he was "repulsed at this business venture, where some Americans are making money off of the poor decisions of our youth.
MTV has suspended filming of a second season, but a spokesman said he could not comment on whether or not the show had been canceled. The first season debuted in January with an audience of 2. Family members told TMZ that Gandee had made little money from the show. It's already tough with the loss of family members … expenses are tough as well. Gandee and his uncle were last seen around 3am Sunday at Larry's Bar in Sissonville, where they told friends they were leaving to go four-wheeling.
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