Wild Side Show

Wild Side Show (shortened to Wild Side for its second season) is a nature documentary series for children, which aired on Nickelodeon and later Noggin.[1] The show originally ran from 1992 to 1995 on Nickelodeon, with reruns from 1999 to 2002 on Noggin.[2] Segments from the series were also included as part of Noggin's Phred on Your Head Show.

This article is about the educational show. For other uses, see Wildside.
Wild Side Show
GenreNature
Written by
  • Melanie York
  • Jennifer McAuley-Biasi
Presented by
  • Jessica Durante
  • Scott Tunnell
  • Jillian Hirasawa
  • Gordon Michael Woolvett
ComposerBob Wiseman
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Canada
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Production locations
Running time23 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original network
Original releaseFebruary 21, 1992 (1992-02-21) –
December 30, 1995 (1995-12-30)

The show focuses on up-close encounters with animals, both in zoos and in their natural habitats.[1] The producers wanted to avoid the style of a "nature show with a voice-over narration and no humans in sight," which is why the hosts were "so close to the animals, right next to their faces."[3] Most of the show was live-action, but short animated segments were also used to explain concepts and add humor.[3]

Wild Side Show ran for two seasons and 26 episodes in total.[4] The first season, hosted by Jessica Durante and Scott Tunnell, was taped at the San Diego Zoo.[5] The second season, hosted by Jillian Hirasawa and Michael Woolvett, was taped at the Toronto Zoo in Canada. Safari scenes were taped throughout southern Africa.[6] Some episodes visited different locations, like Yellowstone National Park.[7]

Cast
  • Jessica Durante - Co-host of season one. She was a fan of snakes and had pet snakes at her home.[8]
  • Scott Tunnell - Co-host of season one. He had a farm at home and raised goats and pigs.[8]
  • Jillian Hirasawa - Co-host of season two.[3]
  • Gordon Michael Woolvett - Co-host of season two.[3]

History

The first episode aired on February 21, 1992.[9] This episode reran throughout 1992. The rest of the show started airing regularly on August 16, 1992.

When Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop launched the Noggin channel on February 2, 1999, Wild Side Show was part of the daily schedule. It aired regularly on Noggin until March 31, 2002.[2] Segments from the show were included in many episodes of Noggin's Phred on Your Head Show.

The company Studio 100 currently owns the distribution rights to Wild Side Show. In 2018, the second season of Wild Side Show was included in Studio 100's online catalogue of series.[10]

Episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113February 21, 1992 (1992-02-21)October 31, 1993 (1993-10-31)
213November 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)[3]December 30, 1995 (1995-12-30)

Reception

TV Guide called the show "a fascinating surf-and-turf safari that should appeal to all ages."[11] The Muscatine Journal wrote that "youngsters at home will certainly enjoy this romp through exotic locales with the show's hosts, a pair of kids who seem to possess a genuine appreciation of where they go and what they see."[12] In the magazine College & Research Libraries News, the show was highlighted as an example of how "modern children's educational television can be a marvelous place to learn things."[13]

Wild Side Show was nominated in the category "Best Children's Program or Series" at the 1995 Gemini Awards.[14]

References
  1. "NOGGIN Programming". MTV Networks. 2001. Archived from the original on November 3, 2001.
  2. "Television: Sunday, March 31, 2002". The Times Herald. Gannett. March 31, 2002 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Mendoza, N.F. (October 31, 1993). "Nickelodeon takes its 'Wild Side Show' on safari for a reason of changes". The Los Angeles Times.
  4. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows. Random House. June 24, 2009. p. 987.
  5. "All in the family: Prime time with kids". The Columbian. February 16, 1992 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Mangan, Jennifer (December 14, 1993). "Nickelodeon shows it has real crust". The Chicago Tribune.
  7. "Highlights Sunday". Wisconsin State Journal. May 16, 1993.
  8. Mendoza, N.F. (August 16, 1992). "Nickelodeon enters the wild kingdom of beasts, dangerous and endangered". The Los Angeles Times.
  9. "TV Schedule". The Advocate-Messenger. Boone Newspapers. February 21, 1992 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Studio 100 Media: Content Global Distribution" (PDF). Studio 100. 2018. p. 87. Wildside: Come face to face with a lion in Africa or feed a polar bear at the local zoo. It's all here in this unique series.
  11. TV Guide: 1992, Volume 40. Triangle Publications. 1992. p. 37.
  12. "Nickelodeon goes 'Wild'". The Muscatine Journal. February 13, 1992 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. College & Research Libraries News. Association of College and Research Libraries. 1995. p. 711.
  14. "The 1995 Gemini nominees". playbackonline.ca. Playback. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
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