Growing up in the 70s, I never thought of Sunday night as family TV night. It was Wild Kingdom night.
It was the TV show I looked forward to all week.
No matter what I was doing, when I heard the show’s opening music and heard “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” I would run into the TV room.
Then sit silently for an hour, excited to see what fast-paced adventure Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler had in store for us this week.
Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom with Jim Fowler
Wild Kingdom was reality TV before the concept was created and has since become the gold standard by which all other wildlife shows are judged.
Fowler was my favorite host because he was the field guy that said less and did more.
And with his comedic sense of timing, he always had the most memorable line in every show.
Safari Jackets Were Always on My Christmas Wish List
And he always dressed the part in his safari jacket.
I wanted one just like his.
And back then you had to use your imagination and improvise the best you could.
Now I’d just buy a jacket on eBay.
I connected with him because he was younger and more rugged looking.
What do you expect from a young, impressionable girl who loved animals?
So it was a dream come true when intoBirds got to sit down with our animal hero, and his lovely wife, Betsey, in their home in Rowayton, Connecticut, to talk about all things birds and nature.
Jim and his wife were charming and delightful and made us feel right at home as if we were old friends.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to meet Jim and Betsy.
And to tell everyone what Jungle Jim Fowler is doing these days to keep busy.
Check out intoBirds’ blog series: Catching Up with Wild Kingdom’s Jim Fowler.
Read the posts here:
Wild Kingdom Star Jim Fowler Shares Custom-designed Bird Feeder
Jim Fowler Talks Purple Finches and Favorite Bird Field Guide
Wild Kingdom Star Jim Fowler Talks Bird Watching and Birds of Prey
Now in honor of Jungle Jim Fowler , get outside and see nature!
Renee