Reality TV Updates

Pirate Master Louie Frase from Maryland

Louie Frase, a bearded, carefree, plain-speaking man, made his debut last month on CBS’ new reality series, “Pirate Master.”

Long before the show, however, Frase has been living what he calls a pirate’s existence on this Chesapeake Bay island.

Seven years ago, Frase was running a parts shop called Hubcap Island in Laurel, fixing up houses and “breaking my back working for the man,” he said. He and his wife, Linda, an artist, decided they’d had enough of workaday life. They pooled their savings and bought some waterfront property in Fishing Creek at auction.

“Ten years of doing the old bump and grind on the western side (of the bay) was enough,” said Frase, a portly 44-year-old with hair reminiscent of a 1970s Rock Star.

He spoke by telephone before heading to Los Angeles to attend the May 31 premiere of “Pirate Master.”

“I left society and now do my own thing” _ fishing, carpentry when he needs money, and tending to a floating dock the locals call Louie’s Cabana.

“We’re living life, not workin’ it,” Frase said. “They say you can’t take it with you? They’re right. My brother is a working stiff, and he puts it just right. He says, ‘Louie, you’re perfecting the perfect life.’”

A pirate’s life is a common theme on Hoopers Island, where watermen have lived by the rhythms of the water since the 1650s, when English subjects first settled the area. Watermen and buccaneers are viewed as kindred spirits: Both work the waves, living mostly by their own rules.

Frase once tried out for “Survivor,” but missed the cut. However, CBS kept his application on file and when producer Mark Burnett came up with the new reality series, “Pirate Master,” his staff saw a photo of Frase holding up a huge Chesapeake Bay rockfish.

A staffer called him. “You look like a pirate,” she said.

“I am a pirate,” he replied. “We’re all pirates here.”

A friend helped him make a tryout video for the show. Frase put on an eye patch, cursed, waved a cutlass and set a barge on fire. He got the gig.

“TV ain’t interested in normal,” he said.

“Pirate Master” finished taping in the spring. As long as Frase doesn’t get voted off, he’ll be seen sailing the Caribbean on a schooner, reading treasure maps and scheming against more than a dozen others to win thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes.

“What kid doesn’t grow up wanting to take to the seas, tell the president or the king to (take a hike), and sail free?” he said. “Man, this is way better than ‘Survivor.’”

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