Zoologist and wild life icon, Jim Fowler passed away recently from a heart ailment at his Connecticut home, at age 89. Best known for his role as co-host then host of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” Fowler brought the wonders of the natural world into our homes for 20 years.
“Standing 6 feet 6 and weighing more than 200 pounds, Fowler was known for swimming through snake-infested waters, diving with sharks and rappelling down remote cliff faces while his partner, zoologist Marlin Perkins, [who left us in 1986] often watched from the Jeep or narrated from the studio — much to the delight of “The Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson.
“Johnny would imitate Marlin, saying, ‘I’ll stay back at camp mixing drinks for the native girls while I send Jim downriver to wrestle the two-horned rhino in heat,’ ” Fowler once recalled. In fact, both men played a crucial role in popularizing wildlife series and nature documentaries. More
Television worth watching.
Not much of that, anymore.
izlamo delenda est …
Wild Kingdom, then Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
Sunday evening bliss for a kid.
Agree to that, Tim.
Geez, I can still see and hear the shows opening sequence. Good stuff. I’d add Jacques Cousteau and Sea Hunt (who didn’t want to be a Nelson kid!)
Today’s Lefties would protest in the rear-view what we were so fascinated by as kids while learning about far-off lands and creatures – sitting on the floor with our popcorn.
@Tim & CC- x2
…all those animals that show host Marlon always sent him to aggravate, and the one that finally gets him is Time…
…RIP, Mr. Fowler. God bless and comfort your family, and may you be the celestial animal wrangler on the right hand of the the Host of Hosts forevermore…
I always thought Jim got the short end of the stick, although he seemed to enjoy it. “Jim, I dropped my hat into that cobra pit. Could you get it for me?” But Marlon was the perfect host and narrator, while Jim did the heavy lifting that made the show great.
Hi I’m Marlin Perkins and I’ll be up here in the safety of the helicopter while Jim runs barefoot through the jungle to give that lion an enema. And when your life gets exciting call Mutual of Omaha
I bought the big DVD series for my kids. The kids like to watch the anaconda that almost got the both of them. The first time they watched that one I was downstairs and the kids started yelling and screaming and throwing a walleyed fit and I came running up the stairs and all three were coaching Marlon & Jim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8s_g2v9M1g
I always got a kick out if the segues into the Mutual of Omaha commercials. “Just as the lioness protects her cubs, you need to protect your family from disaster.”
Good God the price of the DVD set has gone through the roof already.
https://www.amazon.com/Mutual-Omahas-Wild-Kingdom-Definitive/dp/B000K4X5US/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=mutual+of+omaha+dvd&qid=1557509431&s=gateway&sr=8-5
That was a guy you could look up to.
MP was a known racist, misogynist and homophobe. No blacks, women or gays were allowed to be seen as in charge or running any aspect of the show. His sickening white cis-male pandering succeeded in programming a generation of like-minded drones as well as pouring fire on an already building toxic male masculinity. These past episodes need to be purged from the airways and cyberspace because these echoes from the past will act as dog whistles to reawaken an extreme evil in America that is best left dead and forgotten. Namaste.
@ Hillary
You forgot your sarcasm smiley – 🙄
Johnny Carson re-runs, 7 days/week at 7:00 p.m. on broadcast channel 22-3 (“Antenna-TV,” Seattle). If you missed almost all of his shows all those years like I did, it’s a treat.
HillaryIsReallyYourPresident ,
YOu forgot your (/sarc) tag at the end of the silliness.
Someone might take you seriously by mistake.
He’s gone to Wild Kingdom Come.
@ JDHasty – THANK.YOU. but holy crap NOT even in the budget, not even the Christmas budget!
RIP Lord of the Jungle…Jim and @CC via @Tim – yes.
Don’t watch the Old boob tube, there is more wild kingdom on the net these days…on the new Boob Tube…
Now watch Jim run for his life from
the hungry hyenas …