How neat! It's been years since I've seen this show, glad to see it will be aired again. About 10 or 15 years ago, they released some of these episodes on DVD and you'd sometimes find them in the bins at Walgreens, etc.
Schedule for upcoming airings on RFD-TV Episode guide to find out when they originally aired on NBC and later first-run syndication
BTW, when it first premiered in 1963, it was aired on Sunday afternoons, and it moved to NBC's Prime Time lineup on January 7, 1968 and stayed there until April 11, 1971 and then after that time, it moved to first run syndication and stayed there until 1988.
Here are the Emmy awards, this show had nominated for and won during its time: Nominations Search | Emmy Awards
Marlin knew enough not to get out of the boat while Jim was more than happy to jump in the water and attempt to subdue the thirty foot anaconda. Then there was the time when on horseback they lassoed a grizzly bear for some reason and Jim dismounted and approached it, again for some unknown reason, when it got loose and Jim barely escaped by jumping up a tree. Entertaining show, too bad I don't get RFD.
As I have mentioned at Post #7 www.watchrfdtv.com allows you to stream it for $9.99 a month. Sign up on that site and either stream on your computer or a smart TV or streaming device. The app is "RFDTVNow" You can also add the Sling Heartland Package to stream it and also AT&T TV has it available for streaming.
The confirmed time of the Rural America Live segment about Wild Kingdom: Thursday 04/01/21 10:00P ET RURAL AMERICA LIVE Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Season #2021, Ep. 22 * NEW * (2021) Host Peter Gros stops by to talk about the return of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, the show that introduced generations of young people to the wonders of the natural world returns to tv. Peter will also bring with him some of his friends as he talks about conservation efforts and 50 years of Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. The classic series returns to the air on RFD-TV starting Easter Sunday, with back-to-back episodes every Sunday night at 8pm ET/7pm CT. BTW, RFD-TV is the only network that this series will air on. No Animal Planet, no network that would only run this program as an E/I program, etc.
Happy birthday Marlin Perkins who would have been 115 years old today: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1435958670103059
RFD-TV Schedule :: Rural America's Most Important Network Sunday 04/04/21 8:00P ET Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Designs for Survival Season #1, Ep. 1 The survival value of a wide range of protective devices used by wild creatures investigated and demonstrated. (Original air date: January 13, 1963) Sunday 04/04/21 8:30P ET Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Capturing Wild Animals Season #1, Ep. 2 Marlin and Jim Fowler investigate trapping and capturing techniques both primitive and modern. (original air date: January 20, 1963) Sunday 04/11/21 8:00P ET Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Myths and Superstitions Season #1, Ep. 3 Marlin debunks many of the baseless belief about living creatures from the fish to the gorilla with his firsthand knowledge. (original air date: January 6, 1963) Sunday 04/11/21 8:30P ET Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Amazon River Season #1, Ep. 4 Mysteries of animal and native life in the Amazon River Valley. (original air date: March 3, 1963) The original air dates came from Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963-1987) - TheTVDB.com
When the show moved to Prime Time on NBC, this was when the show was aired in Eastern Time: BROADCAST HISTORY: Jan 1968-Jun 1968, NBC Sun 7:00–7:30 Jan 1969-Jun 1969, NBC Sun 7:00–7:30 Sep 1969-Jun 1970, NBC Sun 7:00–7:30 Sep 1970-Apr 1971, NBC Sun 7:00–7:30 (In first-run syndication from fall 1971-fall 1988) Before 1968, it was on Sundays in the daytime on NBC.
While I still like some of what Animal Planet airs, it's not surprising that they wouldn't air "Wild Kingdom"- They rarely, if ever show true wildlife documentaries, let alone a series...
Which means that RFD-TV does make sense for Wild Kingdom. Animal Planet did have newly produced episodes air in the 2000s after a brief time rerunning the original series.
I am glad that RFD-TV thought of the Prime Time value of this series. I bet that over the air rerun channels would only air this as an E/I mandated program. With Peter Gros himself appearing on Rural America Live in a few days promoting it and I have seen commercials on RFD-TV with Peter promoting the reruns.
Stupid question: are they going to air it with the cutaways to the commercials intact? The show always stood out for me just for those incredibly-awkward segues going into a break. "The platypus is one of nature's most unexpected creatures. When you face the unexpected, Mutual Of Omaha is there for you." Random whiplash, cue the sponsor!
Repeats of the Rural America Live show with Peter Gros promoting the reruns: Friday 04/02/21 2:00P ET RURAL AMERICA LIVE Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Season #2021, Ep. 22 * NEW * (2021) Host Peter Gros stops by to talk about the return of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, the show that introduced generations of young people to the wonders of the natural world returns to tv. Peter will also bring with him some of his friends as he talks about conservation efforts and 50 years of Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. The classic series returns to the air on RFD-TV starting Easter Sunday, with back-to-back episodes every Sunday night at 8pm ET/7pm CT. Saturday 04/03/21 6:00A ET RURAL AMERICA LIVE Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Season #2021, Ep. 22 * NEW * (2021) Host Peter Gros stops by to talk about the return of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, the show that introduced generations of young people to the wonders of the natural world returns to tv. Peter will also bring with him some of his friends as he talks about conservation efforts and 50 years of Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. The classic series returns to the air on RFD-TV starting Easter Sunday, with back-to-back episodes every Sunday night at 8pm ET/7pm CT.
