Shark Bytes

I remember loving this show as a kid but found Erin Moran extremely annoying when she joined the cast. Why do they think kids need to see other kids in shows to make them interesting? She never quit being annoying either even after joining Happy Days. Reruns are on in the wee hours of the morning here in Milwaukee. Now the show seems silly. The characters talked to the animals as if they understood every word. Kind of annoying when they continue despite the animals ignoring them. Now days this show would be a travesty and would be picketed by PETA. Plus half the animals on the show weren't indigenous to Africa (lots of Asian elephants and tigers). The adults in this show acted stupid enough so that kids could relate.

It jumoed when Morey Amsterdam appeared as a washed up comedian who travels to Africa to record jungle animal sounds for his act.

It sounds to me like CBS had Amsterdam under an exclusive contract and had to use him or lose him. Not that it would have been a great loss.

Wow, haven't thought about this show for years!! I had SUCH a crush on Yale Summers, the guy who played Jack. I was devasated when he left and was replaced with that annoying kid (Joanie?Jenny?). Is he still alive??

This show always screamed:"We are not really in Africa but in California!!!!"OK otherwise with Clarence,the memorable cross-eyed lion and Hadley,the Brit.

check out tvshowsondvd to see if it is on dvd.

I remember an episode of Daktari that had a tie-in with the Space program (put men on the moon before the Russians get tehre). They had Judy the chimp in a mock-up of a space capsule for some sort of test. Anything to capatilize on the space program...

anyone know if there are dvds of this show out?

This was pretty good for an early evening kids show. Ivan Tors productions were usually good and Clarence and Judy were good animal actors (although Clarence mostly just laid around). Hedley, Dr. Tracy and Paula usually had good episodes and while some may think the young Erin Moran annoying, they'd probably think any child actor in that role was annoying. My personal favorite was Hedley, the game warden.

omgosh I remember crawling on the floor playing clarence the cross eyed lion and retrieving the newspaper with my friend when i was about 6....or maybe it was just last week....either way this show rocked.

"Daktari"? Whoa Nellie! Haven't thought of this show in ages. It came out around the same time as "Born Free" and appealed to animal-loving kids and their folks. It was from the Ivan Tors stable; his other hit, "Flipper", was my sister's favorite show back then. As with the dolphin, the lion and chimp were the stars here, enough that I have no idea who the human stars were! (Was it Marshall Thompson?) I also remembered the cool Hollywood-African theme music, created by drum master Shelly Manne and some lounge-style tribal chants. That's pretty good for a show most people don't even remember, right?

I am extremely resentful of your site. As I perused the list of TV shows I came across this chestnut, a memory that thankfully had been buried and had not sprouted for many years. (I hate to admit this) but I was 12 when this series aired, and I was probably 14 when I stopped watching it. In retrospect, the plots became repetitive after the third episode, but I had failed to notice. Puberty ruined this show for me; not any of the cast members', but my own. I stopped watching when the thrill of watching Paula Tracey jiggle in her khaki shirt failed to replace the need for a plot in my newfound sexuality.

I haven't seen this show since the sixties, but I remember I quit watching it when they added the kid (a previous post mentions Erin Moran). Beyond that, it was enjoyable if somewhat predictable. At least it showed that we should live with nature rather than wiping it out.

This series was the perfect kids show. It's setting was an animal hospital in Africa and the animals, especially Judy the chimp and Clarence the cross-eyed lion, were the real stars of the show. But when the shows ratings started to slip they added a little orphan girl named Jenny. Erin Moran who would latter become Joanie of "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi" played her. She played her as annoyingly as possible. Annoying beyond words! The shark rose from the depths to chomp and CBS rose to action and swung the axe. Years before there was cousin Oliver there was...(bleach!)... Jenny.

Daktari was the perfect kids show as long as there weren't any actual kids on the show. Judy the chimp and Clarence the cross-eyed lion were the true stars of this series, a well spun adventure set at an animal hospital in Africa. Dr. Tracy's daughter Paula was fairly hot and she was the best human actor. Don't know why but CBS added a liitle orphan girl played by Erin Moran named Jenny. The same Moran would latter become Joanie Cunningham on "Happy Days" and "Joanie loves Chachi". I don't remember why she showed up but it was a mistake. All she did was whine and get into trouble. The audience departed in droves, the show soared off of the shark ramp and CBS responded by mercifully swinging the axe. Yes before there was Cousin Oliver on "The Brady Bunch" there was.....(blahh!)...Jenny. Also, the show had tigers showing up in Africa. Tigers live in India not Africa. The only big cat who likes water, Africa is way too dry for them.

I was surfing over "Jump the Shark" site and spotted Daktari. I could not specifically remember what it was about. But the theme song has stuck in my mind, if it is correct, it's theme song was a repeat of the word "Daktari" over and over.While reading the other "Jump the Shark" review I recalled Clarence the Cross-eyed lion, and Judy the chimpanzee. It sounds like a idiotic premise. But because of my enjoyment for the theme song, Daktari did NOT "Jump the Shark." I am also interested who is anyone else going to find the Daktari "Jump the Shark" reviews. There can't be a whole lot of hits here!