Hi bischonmom. I really hope this is just a panic. Yes, Sean Astin will be missed! I ended up pronkering earlier, I hope nobody thinks I need a hip slam. It was either that or a brain bleed LOL. And as bad as I would love to find out more about these coffee beans, I don't think I'd better right now. Take care!
Yes kach5503, a mess it is! I have already looked into the FKMP and heard a little of Evi. As soon as I get a financial obligation met, I intend on refiguring things and see where I stand regarding membership...a wonderful thing!!! Do you know if KMP and FKMP know about our verbal support? I know that does not pay the bills, but at least they would know how important they are. I still think it will be a prosperous S4, just not calm, but the Kalahari doesn't seem too calm at times. Yes, bring on the kats!!!
Yes it does not look too good for the movie The Meerkats. It just seems like a lot of effort has fallen by the wayside. It is a shame. Maybe better news will come.
The producers that have the highest financial stake in the movie are responsible for any decision making, especially if they are involved in the distribution of it. It seems that the change of the title of the movie to "The Story Begins", now that we know it is going to air on AP before MM season 4, fits the change of the MM title to "The New Generation". BBC productions are purchased by tv stations all over the world, so "The Meerkats" movie will be probably shown in different countries.
Hi again, NW67675. You are too funny! Panic is right. I have certainly done it a few times myself. Venting is much better than a brain bleed.
Speaking of pronking... our own dear Pronker is one of the FKMP leadership team and best buds with Evi!! FKMP duties have been keeping her busy, but I see she has been posting here on AP quite a bit this week. I'm sure she has read our expressions of appreciation for KMP and FKMP and will pass the information along. Also, the FKMP forum is often full of Thank You's to everyone involved. IMO they deserve the highest praise, and I try to make sure they get it. Best Wishes, burrow mates
I just couldn't quit thinking of all of the time, money and effort that was spent on something that sounds so beautiful. I don't know where the 'hiccup' is in this, but it is a shame. I want to move on, I want to see Generation 3, but the release was just a little too disrespectful to Flower...not her place anymore? Please! Don't sit in my deceased grandmother's chair and proclaim that! Talk about pronkering!
It is great to know that the "good word is out"...let's keep the ones doing all of the work informed!
I can't take credit for "panic"...that was bischonmom's!
I agree with you and another member that "The Story Begins" is most befitting for the movie being shown on AP. It just seems like they had a good thing going with a movie release and changing the name seems to be the final nail in that coffin.
Yes, insanity reigns supreme. It appears that we all will have to watch the movie on TV...alas! It's not Flower's place...I will zip it!!! Oh, yes, our sweet little widower Zaphod...zip again. I am still waiting to see if Mr. Astin left due to it no longer being "his place", either...perhaps it is best I do not know...double zip.
Good to see you in the burrow!!! Take care NW67675
It will always be Flower's place - this is ***"Flower"*** we are talking about! Did Shaun leave on his own? I hate to think he's out because of his good work - seems pretty typical though. Not only did we loose most of our beloved old guard, we lost Shaun as well! Who would have thunk!
I think that AP is only concerned about ratings. The change of narrator might have to do with the "revamping" of AP and MM. Maybe Sean Astin's contract expired, and AP wanted to try something new: a female narrator, since the leaders of all meerkat groups are females.
That's what I think too, Zettak. MM producers have to care about ratings because their jobs are on the line. Reading between the lines of recent articles about ratings pressure on the Discovery networks, I think management felt the need to shake things up. I suspect they have directed Stockard Channing to give an edgier tone to the narration. As if MM needs more drama than the meerkats' real lives already provide!!! Oh well... I hope the movie and S4 ratings are very high so MM will continue indefinitely.
Hi all! Were the ratings for MM really slipping that bad?!? I think we were all shook up enough last season. I just hope that they do not turn this into an animal soap opera, no offense to soaps. I loved Mr. Astin's narration, maybe edgy will work, but I just hope that they do not take the focus off of the kats.
Flotosbea/3 Generations of Flower THIS IS FLOWERS PLACE
Not MM, but AP yes. It is the least viewed of all the Discovery programs. Management has been recently changed & they are now refocusing their programing away from individuals to animals only...as in the Lemur, chimp & orangatan shows.
Also they are acknowledging the changing demographics: not only younger people, but the mature viewer, who surfaced with MM.
Hello ccatz. Thank you for the info. I do see where heading AP more toward animals makes good sense. (I won't go there with that logo!?!) Let's hope it works! Take care.
Flotosbea/3 Generations of Flower THIS IS FLOWERS PLACE
I am disappointed that they have decided for whatever reason not to release the movie about our beloved Flower...I do hope they change their minds, it would be amazing to see her up on the big screen, what a nice tribute to our amazing Flower! If they decide not to release it on the big screen, will it be aired on Animal Planet? Animal Planet please do forget our Flower!
There's been a lot of talk about Animal Cops. You know they do serve a higher purpose, they make people aware of animal abuse. Its a dirty little concept people don't like to think about and this brings it up front.
There is human intervention in Animal Cops, if there is cruelty to animals, or abandonment, etc. The episodes are reruns though. AP could produce some new ones.
Yeah, I'm the first to admit there should be more new episodes of Animal Cops - I think I know the lines by heart. But then again..... all we ever seem to get is a few miserable episodes of something and then we spend countless months in repeats - if we see anything at all (such as our beloved MM.) Does it seem as if we are going backwards regarding progress - that there is so little new episodes and so many reruns? Wouldn't viewing pick up with new episodes - or am I missing something here?
"(AP)...understands the impact of the network’s programs, and comments on how humans connect to animals in a way that is deeply engrossing and also highly entertaining. The new Animal Planet will, we hope, work through media the way animals work directly with you. Which is, you’ll feel before you even know you’ve thought something. It’s really about grabbing you, making you feel instinctually, getting you in the gut,
We feel a little too human, a little too soft, a little too all-family and not powerful enough, We're being more aggressive and tapping into the instinctual nature of compelling animal content.
In addition to its new regular series, Animal Planet's rebranding efforts -- which also include an emphasize on more predation wildlife documentary programming (ie. animals hunting and killing other animals)"
Well, it has happened. Now even the animal programs are falling into the "violence makes money" pit. I don't think I need to mention the other "thing" that makes money, is that what is next? When they roll the bed with the satin sheets on to the Kalahari, I WILL stop watching.
And just what does this mean..."Which is, you’ll feel before you even know you’ve thought something."?
It is such a shame that these people are driving everything into the ground. They want new viewers, but who is going to sit with the kids to watch a show geared to "animals hunting and killing other animals"?
I only have one word for these people and their "ideas"...disturbing!
I know I am probably going to get tail bites for this, but I have said all along that there is a snake in the burrow here. All fingers are being pointed at Weinstein Company, and I do feel that they are playing "dirty pool", but with the nature of every release, it seems that there is a thought process that honestly doesn't make sense, and it doesn't take much "reading between the lines" in my opinion.
All of this business that Discovery and AP are trying to save the movie is contradicted by these repeated statements that defy everything that animal shows are about. And this foolishness of trashing Mr. Astin, Flower and Zaphod is clearly not meant to endear anybody.
Instead of getting some new viewers, they are running off the faithful, and the new viewers that do tune in for the violence will soon tire of it and move on to the next violent show when it comes out.
Yes, the burrow is full of snakes disquised as meerkats!
I suspect there is an audience that will respond favorably to the "predation wildlife documentary programming". Time and ratings will tell the tale.
For me, the new "refocusing" is outside my comfort zone. This past Wednesday evening, I watched the Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom episode about the banded mongoose. It was heartbreaking to watch the loss of two banded mongoose to lions (or maybe it was a lion and a cheetah). In fairness to the lion (and maybe a cheetah), I did not like the part of the episode where the mongoose killed the mouse. I know animals have to kill to survive, I just do not enjoy watching it.
I will miss programming that is "...too human, a little too soft, a little too all-family and not powerful enough." Thank goodness I have DVD's with that type of programming. Seems like it will be harder to find these shows on the "refocused" Animal Planet.
Best Wishes, burrow mates