Fans of reality TV have long tuned in to gawk at the curiosities of American subculture. Unfortunately, the country on display is typically a blooper reel of drunken brawling ("Jersey Shore"), cutthroat competition and casual racism ("Big Brother"), and amateur singers enduring needless pain for cash prizes ("Killer Karaoke").

Is there any show that paints an admirable, more accurate portrait of life in the U.S.? Unlikely as it might seem, "Duck Dynasty" might fit the bill. The A&E show, now in its fourth season, has managed to become the most popular reality program in cable history. The season premiere on Aug. 14 captured 11.8 million viewers, double the number that tuned in for the season premiere of "Breaking Bad" earlier that week.

Set in northeast Louisiana, "Duck Dynasty" follows the Robertsons, three generations of swamp-trawling, long-bearded duck-hunting enthusiasts who also happen to be millionaires. The entrepreneurs have built a business empire on duck-hunting gear and, especially, on duck calls made from Louisiana cedar.

The family patriarch is Phil Robertson, who, according to popular legend, was the first-string quarterback ahead of future NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw at Louisiana Tech University. Mr. Robertson likens himself to Col. Sanders, having spent decades fashioning his patented duck calls before his company, Duck Commanders, took off. Phil's son Willie is the CEO of the family company and narrates much of the show's action. Willie's brother, Jase, and his Uncle Si are largely around for comic relief and their riffs on fishing and romance.

What separates "Duck Dynasty" from most reality shows is how quickly we see that the money hasn't gone to anyone's head. Early in the first season, Jase and Si Robertson happen upon two dead nutria rats in the middle of the road. In Louisiana, they explain, the state pays $5 for nutria tails because of the damage the rodents do to the marshes. The men pull over, Jase takes out his knife and cuts off their tails.