PLEASE READ before you all bite my head off!

Beleive me, if they do make a Season 5, I will watch it and I will buy the DVD!! However; has anyone considered the possible, poor results of another season??

I mean, Rocket Dog died [ R.I.P<3 ] after MM:TNG finished, how will they start off a 5th season? How will they explain it to those whom DON'T have access to the internet, the truth, and watch the show. Imagine how upset they'd be! The show would inevidably lose veiwers, out of total confusion..

Another thing, I am sick of AP intorducing us to so many characters, whom we all quickly fall in love with [sometimes too much.. ] and then suddenly, they disappear? Daisy, one of my favourites, failed to appear in Season 4. What happened there?! She's been with us since the very begin and AP just.. pretends she isn't there?!

There are others; The whole entire Zappa Group, I was extremely disappointed about Houdini's absence! Youssarian (I am aware that he disappeared from the KMP study area, but why not tell us that? Even if we have to wait several more episodes to find out he's missing!), Columbus, the Lazuli (thankfully returned in MM:TNG) ... there are many more.

I understand the majority of the missing 'kats are males, and have probably gone roving. But the main characters they've introduced us to.. it's just so frustrating to not hear of them! >.<

Need more?
The Manor just isn't what it use to be.. I'm currently re-watching season 1, and I totally love the adorable music, amount of characters, documentary-format and the fact that it's based on real events! The continuing seasons included so many made-up scenes, the focus (particually in season 4) seemed to be all about breeding, we suddenly meet every single Commandoe member, and the show itself seemed... so different; more of a Drama then Documentary. I know Meerkat Manor is supposed to be both, but it's really losing its natural touch..

I've also noticed something else; many think the meerkats are used for profit over education. They're probably right. The meerkats are little Hollywood stars, not the appealing critters we first met. Too much change. I'm not pleased...

I believe, instead of making a 5th season, Animal Planet should make one final, Grand Finale Movie Premiare.. About Zaphod. I would love that, to finish the Manor Masterpeice off with a 'go-down-in-history' movie about the Kalahari King. But, if AP insists on making another season, I would suggest ending it at Six. 3 "Meerkat Manor"s and 3 "The Next Generation"s.

I apologize to those, and I know they're many, who fericely disagree with me. But please, allow some of us to state our opinions.. (in a way that doesn't offend others!)

Meerkats have triumphed for many years now. We can all look forward to a beautiful movie [ March of the Meerkats ] and make way for another animal. Then, the meerkat can sit alongside the famous penguin, still remebered and still loved! I will always love meerkats, and I don't plan on changing my future meerkat-related ideas. But the least we could do is give another animal a chance!

Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation left us with lasting hope for the future Whiskers. So I think now is the best time to leave the Manor with a legacy like no other~

" The Next Generation of Whiskers' Meerkats couldn't be in safer hands... "

Ella (Sophie) was shown extensively in S4, and she is the DF of the Whiskers since the death of Rocket Dog. So there is some transition that could be explained.

It's not easy to explain death. The meerkat that mostly portrayed Daisy (Super Furry Animal) was evicted by Flower in July 2006, and she disappeared (most probably died). Youssarian was in a fight with Lazuli males (and very seriously injured) where another male died, and Zarathustra (Zorro), his son was seriously injured, but survived. Youssarian, given his age, and injuries probably died. Two of the meerkats that portrayed Houdini (Dougal Zappa, and Aurenko Young Ones) died. Columbus (or the kat that portrayed him, a female, Kim Whiskers) was run over by a car. Unfortunately, a big percentage of meerkats die, that's why we don't hear about them anymore.

As for the Zappa, the group was very small during filming of S4, and then even smaller after the last males emigrated, and they were only five younger females left. The remnants of the group moved farther away, and the group was not followed anymore.

I would watch another season, or a film about Meerkat Manor.

Many people were disappointed in the fourth season, but a new season doesn't have to be like the last one. They were trying something different, and I think the response was harsh enough that if there were new episodes they would go back toward the gold standard. I think the show could handle Rocket Dog's death, and the death/disappearance of many other characters tastefully. It has been a very long time since cameras were last in the kalahari and the show could explain that. Most people have said that there would have to be a catch-up episode that explained RD dying and the males leaving, and Sophie and Thundercat taking over. They could introduce the remaining members who were pups in S4: the pups RD almost died to save-- and that would be her legacy. Meerkats live fast and too often die young, and so any show that tries show the reality of their lives will have characters lost. I agree they should have told us what happened to them, it was so cold to just never talk about Yossarian and Daisy again. Groups will come in and out of the story as territories shift. The last season ended on a hopeful note, but it wasn't the end of the story and most fans want more. I think the networks should at least consider giving it to them.

As for giving another animal a chance, I don't think any other animal could replicate the success of MM. There have been several attempts to do it with species ranging from lemurs to wolves to elephants and it has never worked as well, or with as broad of an audience. It wasn't just hardcore animal lovers who watched MM every week. All sorts of people were pulled in by the lives of some tiny, very engaging wild animals. And at least in the US, AP doesn't seem interested in drawing people deep into the natural world anymore. They just want to make shows about humans that distantly involve animals, or shows about animals attacking people.

I've thought hard about your responses, zettak and vwf053, and I think you've both convinced me. I'm relieved someone else agrees with me about the exclusion of main characters [never mentioning them again..], but I guess all I needed was someone to state the positive side of another season, which I totally failed to consider.

Thankyou both for the comments, I'll be signing that petition in a moment!

vwf053; you're exactly right about the irreplaceable Meerkats! I know for sure that won't happen, but what I'm really trying to say is; I would like to see more of another creature, an animal similar to the meerkat! I would love to see some more Mongooses appearing on our screens! But, meerkats have triumphed in a way that cannot be repeated by any other mammal! I actually don't have Animal Planet, so I am unaware of the other programs broadcasted. I do know of Lemur Kingdom/Street and Oraguntang Island, thanks to the internet, but neither spark an interest to me.

Again, thankyou both for the responses.
Next time, I'll think deeper before I post.

I don't see a problem with having documentaries, or series showing other animals, AND meerkats. It's not something that is mutually exclusive.

I was not disappointed in S4. AP tried its best to improve MM, and I'm sure executives were shocked by the negative reaction.

Meerkat_Girl,
I mentioned awhile ago about all the changes. The only dominant pair left from season 4 is Zaphod and Monkulus. However I think season 5 would be completly diffrent than season 4. Season 4 was because the Whiskers didnt have an unrelated dominant male however it showed alot of what really does happen out there. I liked how it showed the whiskers boys joining the Commandos and how Rita killed Rocketdogs last litter(While she really aborted) this does happen in real life though. I think if anything season 5 would be like season 1. New characters, new enemies new dominants, new roving males Unfortunatly my hope was that they would start when Nugget and Juno were in the group so they could be the new heros of the next generation. I think one of the reasons in season 2 why Thundercat was called squeek was because he was still a pup and his sex wasnt indentified yet. I have mentioned this several times before right now Oriole and Sabota were like Mozart and Tosca. Thundercat is like Zaphod, Ella is like Flower. They would have to cover up on Rocketdog the legendary mitch and the other whiskers males beaker, rita, wileykat. I was thinking Marico or Savuka might be the next Shakespeare but with both being evicted it might be Gump or Rozza Thundercats oldest children in the Whiskers. The Kung Fu as Zeetak mentioned a while ago could be the new Commandos.

quote:

Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation left us with lasting hope for the future Whiskers. So I think now is the best time to leave the Manor with a legacy like no other~

~
MeerkatGirl, I'm very happy to read that you have reconsidered your first post regarding a new season of MM. It doesn't matter when MM picks up, there will be other Kats that we've never seen, just as when seasons 2-4 were filmed - some favorites and some new Kats. It's the stories of these little guys in the harsh Kalahari that bring in viewers - whether we're newbies or oldies. There's a beginning and an ending to all stories - sad, happy, or otherwise. I for one want to see and learn all I can about these special little Kats :-)
m.j.

I kind of like this thread. I actually liked parts of season 4. I think they should have kept Sean Astin. Too many changes and it was not good. I actually thought they were going to have RD die on the last episode, but glad that they did not. It was bittersweet seeing her in the last episodes knowing she was no longer with us.

I think that AP could be very smart and have a season 5 if they pick some new groups to feature. To be honest, and it is my opinion only, I do not think that they want to put out the $$$ for the show. I would be happy to see a movie about all of the meerkats groups of the Kalahari. Maybe their life stories, their struggles and how they survived or didn't.

One never knows what is going to happen in the wild and AP never ever thought Flower was going to die. I sure didn't. It really changed everything but it did not have to. With her death they decided to change too much. Zaphod is still going strong and there are other pups growing up and will lead their own groups one day. So much to tell. So many meerkats to show. I just wish they would.

zettak, I'm glad you're also interested in seeing some other creatures! But hopefully, like you said, we'll still see plenty of meerkats! I was rather disappointed in Season 4, but I still liked it.

sophie711, thankyou for sharing your thoughts about 'stand-in's for are old favourites. I'm not a member of the KMP so I'm unaware of what really happens amongst the groups. Do I actually require a membership to veiw all this information?

scneerkatfan, I am too!
Now I'm starting to wonder why I posted that in the first place!!

christopher9691, I too liked many parts from Season 4. It just took a bit of getting use to with the absences of Flower, Mozart and several others. But, it's life, we all must adapt to the changes. You know, if they take no notice of the Petition to bring back the Manor, perhaps we could convicne them to make a movie? I like your idea of a premiare featuring all of the 'Kats!

Meerkat_Gal,
For some of it you do but most of the infomation the public knows about. I learned all of that infomation mostly from the Spolier content on this forum and the Meerkat Manor Book Flower of The Kalahari which I recomend you buying for the Holidays if you dont have it already.

I originally posted this in August 17, 2008 when the rumors first started about there being no season 5 and now we are all hit with the reality of MM being cancelled.
Personally I don't watch AP anymore due to their choice of programming, I have no interest in watching Animal Cops or When Animals Attack. Honestly I feel that it's cheaper for them to produce these types of shows then going to the Kalahari but I have no interest in them, I would much rather watch meerkats. I'm sure they have lots of footage that ended up on the cutting room floor that they could but together a special "A look back at our favorites" or even make up names and storylines in order to air a show with meerkats, afterall it was the highest rated show to ever appear on AP and based on the postings it's something that we would all like to see. After spending the last few days in California with Janelle at F.E. in heaven with Pam and her precious meerkats and at L.A. Zoo where Chico seems to be so happy with his companion Barky I decided to return to the MM Forum and couldn't help but add in my 2 cents about the subject.

Sorry about the length of the posting but I copied exactly what I posted that day. So here it is:

Originally posted by meerkata:
It's hard to believe that it's been 4 years since I first heard those magical 3 words: "Meet the Whiskers", but it has been. But now my fears are that there wont be a 5th Season, the rumors have been flying for sometime now and with the promo to next weeks show stating to see the final 3 episodes it's becoming all to real.

That first Friday 4 season ago that I tuned in I thought I would be watching just another animal show, oh how wrong I was. Meerkat Manor was like no show I'd ever seen before or since. By the end of the first episode I was hooked and quickly got other family and friends hooked as well. I couldn't wait for Friday nights to see what the latest drama of the Whiskers would unfold.
Shakespeare had my heart from the git go and I cried like a baby when he was bit by that puff adder.
Mozart and Tosca just wanting to be a momma always found themselves on the bad side of Flower.
Youssarin nervous twitches and all just wanted to be accepted as a valued member of the family.
Flower and Zaphod a love story that will go down in history.
And of course the naughty little pups, just had to love them.
This show had me laughing one minute and crying the next, but it was only an animal show right? Wrong!!
That couldn't be farther from the truth it wasn't just an animal show; it was real life drama in a real life family of real life meerkats and it was playing out in my living room every Friday night.
This show made you care about the lives of each of these meerkats in a way you'd never think possible. For the first time ever I joined a chat on the MM Forum and found 1000's of others that felt just as strongly as I did about the show. These little meerkats were now a part of my family and I was apart of their's.

As the seasons passed more meerkats became household names; Mitch, Blossom, Daisy, Carlos, Kinkajou, DeLaSoul, Nikta, Hannibal, Lola, Punk, Pancake, Wilson, and Rocket Dog just to name a few.
New discussions popped up on the board each day about those that we were most enamored with. We were all becoming one big extended family all because of these loveable little meerkats. Like the Whiskers we'd have our share of fights but in the end we were family.
How amazing it is that these meerkats 1000's of miles away would bring together people that never would have met otherwise.

Season 3 was a tough one that's for sure, the tears never seemed to stop flowing. Every week just when you thought you couldn't cry another tear you'd find them flowing easily as the Whiskers were dealt another blow. One after another we lost our favorites and we knew they weren't coming back, this was the harsh reality of the Kalahari. This wasn't like other shows on TV that a few episodes later you'd see your favorite reappear, they were really dead, they weren't coming back.

I honestly didn't think I'd be able to watch Season 4 after the heartbreak of Season 3, but I found myself in front of the TV waiting anxiously as the opening credits played.
I had been following the FKMP LH Reports but now I get to actually watch what they went thru not just read about it.

In this Season we were a witness to chaos in the Kalahari after the death of Flower, groups splitting, new groups forming, rovers taking over and pups, pups and more pups.
Flowers girls have done her proud, now I will admit that at first I wasn't a big fan of Flower only because of the way she treated my favorite Mozart. But as the years passed I began to admire Flower for her determination to keep her family together any way that she could. She only wanted to make sure that her newest litter would have the same opportunities
that her previous litters had. So I began to love Flower as much as the others.

I was beyond devastated when Mozart died, afterall she reminded me so much of myself. Mozart wanted it all and had nothing while Flower had it all and wanted for nothing. For 3 years Mozarts determination to live allowed her the ability to survive. She met a male started a group became pregnant, things were starting to look up for her when it all fell apart. First she loses Carlos, then Kinkajou and then her own life. I still miss her now and the tears are flowing as I type this.

This isn't just any animal show, these meerkats have burrowed their way into our hearts and into our lives. We laugh when they play, we cry when they die, we are there with them thru triumphs and tragedies, why because they are a part of our family now.


But now comes the unthinkable, will there be a Season 5, and if not is it our own fault have we brought this on ourselves? Are the Producers fed up with the complaints that have come from the changes they have made? Are they choosing to end the series because of us?
Now I'm sure they didn't have a huge following right from the start, it grew as the series became more and more popular. I'm sure they've always had complaints from some who didn't like this or they don't like that, you can't make all the people happy all the time.
They should have actually expected that there would be complaints, afterall we just lost so many of our favorites, then we lost our narrator (who also felt like a family member to us having gone thru 3 seasons together). Then the whole look and manner of the show changed, it was alot for us to accept and get used to but the viewers are coming around. The producers should know that humans for the most part don't do well with change, it's just how people are.

So why end it? Do you think we no longer care about the meerkats? Or is it that you feel you can't get enough footage of just the Whiskers and Aztecs to make a season out of?
Please know that we do care and would be devastated if Meerkat Manor was no longer on.
I've said it over and over that I would love to see more groups being followed in season 5 especially since alot of the original Whiskers are now members in new groups or have formed groups of their own. As long as we can still hear about our favorites the Whiskers and Aztecs that should make everyone happy.

Your show has changed my life in ways I never would have thought of. I have met people from the MM Chat that I never would have met otherwise and have established friendships that will last the rest of my life.
Without MM I never would have found out about F.E., so I never would have had the opportunity to spend an entire day feeding and holding meerkats.
Without MM I never would have met others concerned with changing the life of a lone meerkat at the L.A. Zoo.
Without MM I never would've had the opportunity to speak to over 150 kids educating them about meerkats and having them believe that they too can make a difference for meerkats in captivity.
I can go on and on about what your show has done in my life, but I'm sure there are 100's of others out there with their own stories.

Your show has touched so many lives in over 160 countries and has brought attention to meerkats all over the world in captivity. We'd all be devastated if we lost our beloved Kalahari meerkats forever. So please reconsider and say that there will be a Season 5.

I feel everyone on this board needs to start writing and posting their feelings before the PTB take the show off the air because then it'll be too late to get it back.


Angie aka Meerkata

sophie711, I do have the Meerkat manor Book, and I often use it for information. But it mostly provides information about the Whiskers from Flower's birth to her death, not all of the KMP meerkats. But thankyou for telling me about the spoiler forum, I shall visit it often!

meerkata, 2008?! Wow, has it really been that long??! You're lucky to visit California, seeing Chico and the Fellow Earthlings' meerkats would be a real treat! Unfortunately it's too much of a distance for me, here in Australia.

Seriously, I read your comment, every word... I was close to a tear.. I couldn't of said it better myself. Meerkat Manor has changed all of our lives. Well ... actually it wasn't Meerkat Manor that got me into meerkats, it was my first trip to a Zoo on my 13th birthday BUT without Meerkat Manor, my collection would be rock-bottom, no one would understand why I love them and I would have never seen meerkat behaviour in such a terrific 'Manor'. The only KMP meerkat I would have met would've been Eleusine (Meerkat Madness). And MAYBE Grumpy.. but I would of only known her as Greedy.

Meerkat Manor has brought us all closer to meerkats. And without the show, no one would know the Kalahari Meerkat Project, it would be less successful in raising funds for its requirements. Animal Planet has changed the face of the Animal Kingdom, everywhere we go now, the meerkats will appear. But for how long? You're right, viewers are returning, but there has to be another Season, there has to be a longer-lasting triumph for the meerakts!

After all, there are still some hidden secrets behind those gorgeously ringed-eyes.

We cannot be against a Season 5 for in many ways WE are Season 5!

Thank you meerkata...you have spoken so well for many of us.

I am going to borrow from my much longer thread on another board...

A friend from this forum, wcm, and I discussed this last year with the end of Season 4. He theorized we may have seen the last new MM episode to be shown on AP, but there will indeed be a Season 5, perhaps not on TV, but we don't require that anymore. We have have our own Season 5. Everything that MM can say to inform society about meerkats and their culture has been done to date. The people have come together. they know enough to get on the right websites... to know which zoos are right and wrong... to know where to find current status info on their beloved meers... Certainly all of us would love a Season 5 and however many more they can film, but reality is reality.

wcm and I continued...Will close daily forum ties remain? We came to love one another and our meers, will people start dropping off? Will the media cover meerkats as much? What will became of our many "Meerkat Buddies"?
Will Chico get a friend (Sweet Barky)
Will the FKMP black-outs cease? (How prophetic..we now have Whiskers on the LH reports)

We are season 5!

I envied this objectitivy; I knew the misery I would be going through with the end of MM. I still burst into tears when I see Flower...

One last thought...a summary so to speak...again not my words, but his.

"Meerkat Manor was a special show and there will never be another. Just appreciate what it was and what it meant. Embrace the love & knowledge it has given you for meers. To me, I think of what Flower and the show did... it developed meerkat cuture, inspired the creation of multiple meerkat organizations, inspired help for the SI kats, is inspiring help for Chico, created many new friends for the fans, allowed FE to be advertised while resulting in added funding through adoptions. It brought us together... all of this is the result of what MM was divinely meant to inspire. Always keep that in your head & your heart as you see the show pass. Hold on to the friends & culture it inspired. See west coast kats; sleep with the lions; Help all meers; learn & grow from all of it..."

We have become Season 5.

From another discussion with another friend from the FKMP.

Season 5

There is a story of a great new hero, daughter of Flower Whiskers!!!!! Ella (Mango)
The producer must hurry, just in case Ella will leave us for any reason. Just kidding, but it can happen faster than we can blink with the eye, we know. I hope God will watch on her, she is a winner, a Flower.

I fully agree. Of course they are afraid of that no other kat has an impact like Flower. But it´s a question how they sell Ella, Ella is a true leader like Flower. They must create something, telling Ella´s and Flower´s story, they can use Flower´s footage to compare.

So there are many possible options not yet discussed for a Season 5. Will it be Flower's place...yes, of course & no, it can't be, but it will be our Kalahari meerkats in all their beauty, their tragedies, and their legacies.

But whether it be us going forth to advocate and protect our wee meers or an actual production of Season 5 from Oxford Scientific Films, we will have to wait to find out.

I totally agree with you ccatz. I feel so foolish to post this forum. I would love to see Mango blossom into a beautiful Queen like Flower and Rocket Dog. With so much more to see of our precious meerkats, we cannot allow cancelation of Animal Planet's most sucessful series ever.

Thankyou for your encouragement, you have all shown me the brighter side, the postivite side of returning the Manor in the 5th continueation which looks into the lives of such amazing and engaging creatures.

I posted this in blue because I want to make sure everyone reads it!

Mod_Kelly, I wish to end this forum here.
Thankyou everyone for your encouragement.
I needed it

No Meerkat_Gal...do not feel that way...look at the responses...It gave us reason to think and learn from one another. I presented thoughts from different forum kats; one, west_coast_meerkat; one, who must remain unknown.

We will all be a great deal sadder with much lost from our lives with the passing of Meerkat Manor; but hopefully not until after we have, at the very least, seen a Season 5.

Thank your for your thread. It is what a forum is all about...the nature of the beast.

Of course I forgot to say....the making of a movie about our grand elder statesman, Zaphod...awesome...at any time, a brilliant idea Meerkat_Gal. The footage is there...Many an adorable pup could play this wise gentleman as a wee one...cute is cute and he must have been the cutest, except for one other.

He had my heart from his first appearance...dear Uncle Youssy...the heart break is still there when I picture him...so pure of heart, but so often a companion to disaster...despite his tinfoil hat.