The Jeff Corwin Experience - Season Two (Genius/Animal Planet DVD)
Picture: B-
Sound: B- Extras: C Episodes: A
FulvueDrive-In’s favorite naturalist is at it again in
this collection of episodes from Season Two of his acclaimed Animal Planet show.
Season
One of The
Jeff Corwin Experience introduced the world to Corwin’s wry sense of
humor and his passion for all things animal, and Season Two provides more of the same great action and information.
The locales in Season
Two seem even more remote and exotic, as Jeff makes stops in India,
Zanzibar, Tanzania, Nepal, Morocco, Australia, and a number of other incredible
places. Beyond his knowledge, affable
appeal, and movie-star good looks, Corwin possesses the ability to bond with
the native guides and peoples he meets on his show, often transcending
significant language barriers to make them a part of his sometimes zany act
without ever belittling them in any way. This is a rare gift and one he uses to good
effect.
Nature shows are often heavily scripted, but Corwin and
his capable crew often place themselves in situations that scare the hell out
of them, and they are self-effacing enough to allow these moments into the
show, providing some of the episodes with very real, scary, and funny moments. At one point while tracking wild elephants it
seems that Corwin and crew are about to be charged, and the fear and excitement
are evident in both Jeff’s face and the cameraman’s shaky camera work.
Picture and sound are solid television quality, but the
package is once again bereft of any extra or bonus material. Fans of the show (and I count myself among
them) familiar with Corwin’s zany antics are left to speculate on how much
truly comic material the show must produce. Including out-takes and deleted scenes would
make the package an even better value. Still,
fans of Animal Planet fair should find The
Jeff Corwin Experience a real joy.
- Scott R. Pyle
