Best television animal expert or host?

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Poll question: Best television animal expert or host?

If your favorite isn't listed, please reply.

[Heidi]

1. Marlin Perkins!

"I'll just sit a Margarita here in the Jeep, while Jim deftly wrestles that Sumatran tiger to the ground . . . Careful out there, Jim."

[elperromagico]

2. The man knew how to delegate.

But it wasn't a margarita.

It was a martini. ;)

[Heidi]

3. It _should_ have been a margarita.

:rofl:

[pokerfan]

10. Perkins!

While Jim is being sodomized by the 600-pound silverback gorilla, let me take this opportunity.

You know friends, whether you're injured at work or in a car accident, or you're having your intestines rearranged by a sex crazed gorilla, it pays to have insurance from the good folks at Mutual of Omaha.

[Heidi]

12. "This week's savage mauling brought to you by Mutual of Omaha."

:rofl:

[BrotherBuzz]

4. Jim Fowler gets stiffed again while Marlin Perkins gets top billing...

in you poll. Ain't no justice, I tell you.

[elperromagico]

5. Perkins had GRAVITAS.

Lots of people can put themselves in dangerous situations with wild animals. It takes a real leader to get some other poor schmuck to do it for him.

[Heidi]

8. Sorta like our "war president," huh?

Whatta leader.

[elperromagico]

9. Oh, now that's a low blow.

Bush doesn't have a moustache.

[BrotherBuzz]

11. Exactly, Marlin Perkins was the Wild Kindom gangster impressario

nothing happened in the televised world of animal programming without his consent or without giving him a kickback.

[qnr]

6. Yeah, I wanted Jim too n/t

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13. Sorry about that. It's just that I've never heard of him. That's all.

[yvr girl]

17. All the dirty work

and NO glory.

[elperromagico]

7. What about Marty Stouffer?

The Grizzly Adams of animal shows.

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14. Sorry, forgot. That's all.

[ForrestGump]

15. Of the dudes who've done a lot of nature shows, the two British Daves

(Attenborough and Bellamy) are classic. David Bellamy is something else -- a PhD botanist and a real character -- and Sir David Attenborough is the perfect narrator and on-screen foil for many a great documentary. The two Daves have an intense rivalry, actually, according to some British natural history film people I worked with.

Steve Irwin, of course, did a lot to energize, motivate, and educate while entertaining and I'll miss him. Jeff Corwin had similar promise but what little I saw of him suggested to me that he was too self-conciously striving to be funny, or whatever, and it just didn't work for me...Steve Irwin and some of the other dudes I've watched were natural and as unaffected as it's possible to be while still making the show a worthy watch.

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16. I wish they'd show more of those in the U.S.

[ForrestGump]

22. British productions

tend to be more in-depth and less whiz-bang than the way it's done in the US these days, though National Geographic specials also tend to be classics.

[GCP]

19. David Attenborough is in a class of his own

He comes so far ahead of all the rest it's not even a race.
(Smarter brother of the film director). See his "Life on Earth", "Life of Birds", "Life of Mammals" and "Seas of Life" - for unsurpassed excellence in natural history film making.

[ForrestGump]

23. As far as I'm concerned,

Life On Earth remains the benchmark for natural history film-making and for that rare kind of series, one that tells the story of pretty much The Whole Thing. I was blown away when it first aired and I've been similarly impressed with every subsequent viewing -- it's also a great adjunct to lecturing for teachers and the spin-off book was also very well done and included some stunning photography.

I'd always thought he was Richard's son. Learn something every day. :D

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18. Voting is still open.

[FormerDittoHead]

20. WHAT HAPPENED TO JACQUES COUSTEAU?

Or is sea life not animal? (as in mineral, vegetable)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

21. Steve Irwin was the best..

But I also rather enjoy the Kratt Brothers on Be the Creature. They don't mess with the animals really, but they do go hang out and try to integrate themselves into their societies, and it's amazing. Most of the time, they fulfill their goal. The most interesting of which was Cheetahs.
Duckie

[Lady President]

24. Jack Hanna!

I adore Jack Hanna. He is so socially awkward, but kind-hearted. Plus, he is very generous with his time to the people of Columbus. This summer I was walking through the parking lot of the local mall and bumped into him-- he let me pet a baby dingo.



Edit b/c: "Let me pet his dingo" sounded wildly inappropriate....