Tuesday, March 5, 2019

What Might've Been: Animal World (1968)

Animal World, hosted & produced by Bill Burrud, landed on each of the broadcast networks between 1968-71. It was, perhaps by design, a short season series, not as competition to Marlin Perkins and his long running Wild Kingdom, but, initially, as a summer replacement.

Originally titled, Animal Kingdom, Burrud changed the title after six weeks to avoid confusion with Perkins' show. While Perkins had Mutual of Omaha as his sponsor, Burrud landed a sponsorship deal with the makers of Kal Kan pet foods.

The first season consisted of just six episodes. The next year, it moved to CBS, but only four episodes aired. After a year's break, Animal World returned in 1971, this time as a winter replacement on ABC, likely as a complement to The American Sportsman.

In 1983, Burrud would revive the series for the Disney Channel, at the time a premium service.

Following is an open and close:



Unfortunately, no episode footage is available.

Rating: A.

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