Why oh why? Why do they have a new person doing the narration on the show?? I loved the previous guy. He was part of the show, that made it so good. I am so upset since I read this in the paper today.

Because someone underestimated the value of good narration. :-(

It was not Sean Astin's choice. He was more than willing to do it.

I think the producers wanted to get a known movie start name and Ms. Channing is very well known. But I personally would like it back with Sean.. at least the first seasons were more realistic I don't like this soap opera..

I too loved Sean Astin's narration. But I have to disagree on the whole "well known" movie star name. What the heck has Stockard Channing done lately? I think she is best known for her role in Grease, lol! Sean Astin is a very well known name in Hollywood, having starred in all the Lord of the Rings movies, many many other films, and one of my favorite sports movies of all time, Rudy. Not to mention he is the son of a very famous actress, Patty Duke.

I have nothing against Stockard Channing but she does not narrate as Sean does. He had a delivery that was more realistic, with her narration I feel like I'm watching a soap opera!

I have to agree with luvalltheanimals. I'm sure Miss Channing is an excellent actress but Sean Astin is a MUCH more well known name now. Personally, I find his voice smooth and reassuring as well as having just the right amount of emotion.

And that's not even mentioning the fact that Mr. Astin helped make the show a hit. MANY people watched it first because the well known and well liked Mr. Astin was involved. That allowed them to discover the fascinating kats.

He always carried just the right amount of drama in his voice. This is a REAL loss for the show!

I hope the producers will reconsider the move and get Sean back for Season 5.

Yes, I don't think anyone could ever capture the quotes of Flower "The desert has lost it's favorite Rose" or Mozart "The land that once nutured her holds her in a final embrace" (not sure if that is the exact words) quite the way Sean did. When I think of him saying that of Mozart, it makes me tear up.

I do hope Sean knows how much we all loved him on MM. I would think he would be flattered to know that we all want him back!

I feel this has to be said.

You guys STILL don't get it, do you? Clearly, the show's producers are going for an entire new direction in the show, since most of their "established cast members" have died. Think of it as a clean slate, if you will.

This means: New cameras, new music, and yes a new narrator.

You don't have to like it, you just have to accept it, or just stop watching the show. It's like the new tagline says, "Don't judge, just watch."

And another thing: some of you guys seem to think that sean ad-libbed some of his lines because of his own personal feelings for the meerkats. WRONG!!! He read from a script, just like Ms. Channing is now. I believe that as the season progresses, she'll get her stride and she'll prove herself to be just as good at narrating as Sean was.

I'm sorry if I'm ranting, but I'm really getting sick of the "Bring Sean back" complaints. I know we don't have much to talk about around here, but to me it's getting out of hand. This is almost as bad as the time people were claiming Flower's death to be some kind of conspiracy. ....I'll say it again: ALMOST as bad. Just get over it already.

you took the words right out of my mouth, snodin.

We miss you in jeopardy. Why don't you come play?

Snodin, the "Don't judge, just watch" has to be the stupidest tag line ever. There is plenty of mediocrity on television, and plenty of people willing to watch it without question. It's sad to see a good program get drug down by studio execs trying to pander to the masses with hipper story lines and music. We have the right, and some might even say, the duty, to complain loud and long. Otherwise, we will have just junk to watch.

I don't think that anyone has suggested Sean ad-libbed any lines. It's the way he said the lines he was given that makes the difference. For example, the two that luvalltheanimals quoted--just thinking of how he said them about brings me to tears, too.

Will all our complaining make a difference? Maybe not. But maybe it will. I feel better trying than just accepting.

In response to Snodin-- I have already stopped watching.... We know that Sean Astion read from a script. We are not stupid. We do however have strong feelings on this point and have a right to express those feelings, as you have expressed yours. I am sorry to be so blunt about this, but if the pleas for Sean Astin's return bother you that much, take your own advice and stop reading them.

Thanks Cody!
If Stockard and Sean were both reading a script, than Sean has a gift by making it seem as if he weren't reading one.

This is a forum where we can speak out truth and the producers very much want to hear our input. I can see where they thought it might be a good idea to make changes as the characters have changed, but one thing I have learned is not all decisions in life are successes. In a way, by having a new narrator, I realize how great Sean's narration was/is. My prayer is that he will come back, but until then, I will most likely look for another show to become involved with.

I hate her I want Sean Astin back and if I have to hear her voice all season I won't be returning next. Why would they mess up a good thing? He made the show she sounds like she is reading from a book its pretty bad.

I just wanted to add I am trying to get through the first new one (I TiVoed it) and god I don't think I can. I really don't like the new direction taken for the show it worked before don't mess with it. Why do people mess up something good by changing it.

Snodin, I can see where your comming from. While I miss Sean Austin, I dont have any problem with Stockard Channing. It must be hard to step in after three seasons.

Alyse, your right, the producers do want our opinions, and we can voice them. It does bother me when people say they "HATE" Stockard Channing. Hate is a strong word, and a useless emotion. If people want to petion to get Sean Back, I dont have a problem with any of that, but we dont need to hate anyone.

What bothers me the most is people saying they wont watch the show because of a new narrator. NOT watch the Meerkats? To me thats unthinkable, and it makes me sad to hear that. I guess I'am a hardcore Meerkat fan, because nothing is going to keep me from watching.

I watch the show to see the meerkats

Snodin, if you don't like that we all loved Sean and would like to see him back on MM, then why do you even bother to read threads like this? You have your opinion and we have ours. I think it is important for Mr. Astin and the Producers to know how loved he was on the show. And trust me, I am not stupid, I know he is an ACTOR and READS FROM A SCRIPT! However, it is the way he delivers his lines that differs from that of Ms. Channing. So AP/MM wanted to go in a whole new direction for this season, well why didn't Mr. Astin see off the Queen in the movie?? That was his "generation" so to speak. New generation or not, Sean was as much a part of MM as the meerkats are. That is like having another actress play Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City, you just can't do it! But alas, we have our own opinions, but seriously if it bothers you that we loved Sean then read another thread.

Just to comment on the distinction between Sean and Stockard's narration. Sean had an emotional, calming, soothing voice that made it seem like the kats themselves were telling their story to us, where Stockard has more animation to her voice and they are coming across more like characters in an animated movie. MY OPINION THOUGH.

I don't recall which thread this was originally posted in, but there a web site http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations where you can express your opinions on the new narrator. For the last 2 months, most people have been getting the same reply, an email stating "While Mr. Astin lent a powerful and effective voice to the first three seasons, with Flower's passing the show's producer wanted to signal a change for the Whiskers clan and felt the best way to do that was with a new narrator. When Meerkat Manor premieres on June 6 at 9PM, Emmy-award winning Stockard Channing will lend a headstrong voice to the Manor."

Over the weekend I contacted them again, first thanking them for their reply to my first message, and telling them how I tried to watch both the movie and the first episode with an open mind. I suggested that the producers and execs read the boards on their own site to see what people are saying. Today I received something a little different.

"Thank you for contacting Animal Planet. We appreciate your correspondence
and for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns with us. Given
the issues you raised, we have forwarded your comments to our program
management and executives. Feedback about our shows is encouraged and this
will help them plan for future programs. It is these types of comments
that contribute to creating change and improving programming."

Does this mean they are actually listening? I certainly hope so!

OMG! I loved Sean Astin, but Stockard Channing did a fine job. It was the first show people. Give her a chance! It IS a new era in the Kalahari since Flower died.

Also, while Sean would appreciate the fact that everyone misses him, I seriously doubt he would think much of those who actually bash Stockard Channing. Besides that, if Stockard Channing had been the narrator during the first few seasons and then Sean Astin took over...you would all be bashing him.

Really, I hate disagreeing with some of you so strongly, especially the ones with "ferret" in their screennames (because I have and love ferrets), but you are taking away from your own enjoyment by stressing over this. The Meerkats are great. We love them. Enjoy and don't sweat the small stuff.

I don't know that too many are "bashing" Stockard Channing. I have no problem with her, I am just not as impressed with her as a narrator as Sean. The delivery is more animated and it just doesn't seem to be the same show. She is a fine actress but I don't think very suited for the show.

quote:

Originally posted by ninjalilly:
Also, while Sean would appreciate the fact that everyone misses him, I seriously doubt he would think much of those who actually bash Stockard Channing. Besides that, if Stockard Channing had been the narrator during the first few seasons and then Sean Astin took over...you would all be bashing him.

Really, I hate disagreeing with some of you so strongly, especially the ones with "ferret" in their screennames (because I have and love ferrets), but you are taking away from your own enjoyment by stressing over this.

I have never bashed Stockard Channing. I have always expressed my great appreciation of her as an actress.

At a time when meerkat fans are still reeling over the loss of Flower and so many others of their favorites, it is NOT a good idea to also change the narrator who went through all those good and bad times with us for 3 years. You are quite possibly correct in that if the narrator switch had gone the other way, some of the same people might still be complaining. That just shows that making such a change was not well thought out.

The AP execs have made other changes to the program, apparently trying to turn it from a nature-based docudrama to a combination soap opera/sitcom. Too many changes do not sit well with the loyal fans.

BTW, I own and love ferrets, too!

To Snodin

I've thought about this for a day and I do get it. Yes the producers wanted a change but just because they did didn't mean the audience was ready nor wanted the change.

I can't explain exactly how but all this new stuff just seems wrong.

No one thinks Sean ad libbed.

We are all entitled to our opinion.

"If you don't like the Sean petitioning, then why do you even read these posts?"

That was weak, dudes. I wouldn't be saying anything unless I read something that really sparked my interest (be it negative or p;ositive opinions). If I never visited this site, then I'd have absolutely nothing to say. I hope that clears things up a bit.

jtutton, I've missed you and the others too. I would go back to jeopardy if I had the time and computer, but I don't. I can only go online at night while my dad's laoptop is here. So until the home computer is fixed, my posts here will be very, very limited. Sorry.

The new episode's just two nights away now. We'll see once and for all if Stockard can redeem herself.

Ninjalilly-

I wish I could just watch and enjoy as you have suggested but the new narration feels strange and uncomfortable, making it impossible for me to enjoy it. Maybe I will try it with the sound off, but I don't think that will work either. I love the sounds the meerkats make. There just doesn't seem to be an option other than not watching.
I, too enjoy Stockard Channing as an actress and have never "bashed" her. It is nothing personal to her, I probably would have felt this way about anyone trying to fill Sean Astin's shoes. Without Sean Astin it is not Meerkat Manor. Not to me anyways. I could have dealt with any other chages other than this. Even if they had chosen to focus on a new mob, that would have been fine with me, just bring Sean Astin along.

"Don't judge, just watch". Well, I find myself judging, and not in favor of the new narration. Considering I own the first three seasons on DVD, I am considering not watching!