Global InformationBilly the Exterminator information
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| Billy the Exterminator | |
|---|---|
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| Also known as | The Exterminators (2009) & Billy Goes North (2016) |
| Genre | Reality |
| Starring | Billy Bretherton Ricky Bretherton Donnie Bretherton "Big Bill" Bretherton |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 100 (plus two specials) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Benton, LA |
| Running time | 30 minutes (including commercials) |
| Production company | September Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | A&E |
| Release | February 4, 2009 – June 6, 2017 |
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| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
Billy the Exterminator (formerly The Exterminators) is an American reality television series which aired on the A&E network.[1]
The show followed the professional life of William "Billy" Bretherton, an entomologist, pest control technician, and the proprietor of Vexcon Animal and Pest Control in Benton, Louisiana, which serves the Shreveport-Bossier metropolitan area. Bretherton, a former Senior Airman in the United States Air Force,[2] had previously been featured on the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs series on the season 1 episode "Vexcon", and the season 2 episode "Termite Controller".[3] Both previously and in his current show, Bretherton is known for his unusual fashion style, consisting mostly of Goth-like black garments (many of them leather) with large silver jewelry and steel studs and spikes in various configurations. He has stated on camera that the leather is tough enough to block most bites and stings, while the studs/spikes serve to intimidate animals and make them reluctant to attack him.
Many members of Bretherton's family, such as his parents, "Big" Bill and Donnie, and his brother, Ricky, as well as other employees, make frequent appearances. Donnie Bretherton normally acts as Vexcon's dispatcher and rarely goes out on jobs. Ricky's ex-wife, Pam, resigned during the production of the first season.
As noted in many episodes, Bretherton prefers, if at all possible, to relocate captured animals and is a proponent of natural methods of control. He frequently gives a description of the pests, their preferred environment, and any diseases (usually using their Latin names) associated with them. Ricky Bretherton acquired an allergy to bee and wasp stings due to being stung so many times. However Ricky found that this allergy has somewhat vanished/subsided as of 2015. [citation needed]
Billy Bretherton entered the United States Air Force at age nineteen intent on a career in law enforcement. However, his military entrance examination indicated that he had an aptitude for biology, and he was sent to study both biology and entomology. His extermination career began in earnest while stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
- ^ "Billy the Exterminator". aetv.
- ^ The Exterminators -- TV Review
- ^ Television Review - 'The Exterminators' - Gotcha! Billy Bretherto as a Goth-Looking Pest-Control Guy - NYTimes.com]