It's a new year, new start for the stars of "Duck Dynasty." During an interview on Fox News Channel's "All American New Year" special on Tuesday night, Willie and Korie Robertson said the family was ready to put the controversy stirred up by Willie's dad, Phil, behind them.
The patriarch made headlines and brought out critics when his comments about homosexuals were published in a December GQ interview.
"We're ready to move on," Willie Robertson said. "I think we all learned a lot. We're just ready to move on, and the family's happy and ready to go."
"I'm just glad the family's all together," added his wife, Korie. "The best thing about ("Duck Dynasty") is we get to do it together as a family, and the fact we get to continue to do that? We're all happy happy happy!"
Shortly after the elder Robertson's comments surfaced, A&E, the network behind the hit reality program, announced the patriarch was suspended from filming. The Robertson family then released a statement saying they stood behind Phil, and that they couldn't imagine "Duck Dynasty" going on without their patriarch. A&E lifted the suspension on Dec. 27.
Willie Robertson insisted that despite his dad's brief suspension, there is no ill will between the family and A&E. "We're just glad to be back at work," he said. "A&E and us are fine."
On the topic of the show, Robertson said the family is "really excited" about the new episodes, which kick off later this month.
"I think it's going to be a lot of the same, fun, crazy stuff we've been doing," Korie Robertson said. "I think you'll meet a few new people in the new episodes coming up. That should be interesting."
"I hired a good-looking assistant for me, and so that assistant will be revealed on the show this year," Willie Robertson added.
"We just try to stick together, have fun, laugh at ourselves, forgive each other," Korie Robertson said. "Hopefully, we can spread that message, and I think as a country, if we come back to that a little bit, maybe we'll have a great 2014."
"Duck Dynasty" returns Jan. 15 at 10 p.m. on A&E.