Les aventuriers du paradis

For anyone who remembers, Second Noah aired the same year as another popular, still running, family-oriented series with a big family... But unlike that show, Second Noah was edgier. Maybe TOO edgy for the year it aired??? The oldest son (heart-throb James Marsden) was actually the father to the youngest (adorable Gemini Barnett also from The Wedding Singer), was wanting to drop out of school, and dated the proverbial bad-girl. And the rest of the adopted siblings had their own issues. Wanting to know their biological parents, feeling out of place... etc. While such a ethnically diverse family is uncommon, their issues weren't. Viewers just happened to be drawn to the sugar coated, bubblegum version of a rival show. Not to mention, being shot on location instead of on set provided some beautiful footage that made for a Real, warm, loving, homey feel.

I used to love Second Noah. It was one of my favorite shows on the air at the time. I would always tune in to watch it every week and I was heartbroken to hear that it got cancelled. I'm so happy that James Marsden has had a successful career in movies since the show. I still remember something very vivid about the show. I remember the episode where Ricky refused to kill the deer and I remember how him and Darby used to form half a heart with their fingers and then put them together to form a whole heart.

I think that this show was cool and I wish that they hadn't taken it off the air. It was so sweet the way that Ricky took care of Ben knowing that it was really his son. Just another victim of the ratings war.

I loved this show when it was on the air. I was really upset when it was canceled. I don't understand why reality television has replaced good, quality shows like this one. I agree that there should have been more done to promote this...or at least try it out on a different time slot. I have some of the episodes on video still and I thought it was an excellent idea for a TV show. Unfortunately, the more whitebread version "Seventh Heaven" ended up surviving. Oh well. This helped to launch James Marsden's career, that's for sure. There was a little girl in this show from my hometown. This was one of those gems that should have got an audience but never did. Bring it out on DVD. Fat chance. But worth a try.

...for what's its worth... why was Second Noah canceled??? Well, there's some little known facts as to why this wonderful series was canceled so shortly into its run. Sure, the show had some issues but doesn't every show during its first season??? Rating were decent, even going up against 7th Heaven, which was in its 1 or 2 season at the time. So, why then, was the series canceled??? Well, before the fall season started, there was quite a bit of hub-bub about Disney and ABC. See, at that time, Disney didn't outright own ABC. Sure, they were a big partner and content contributor, but they didn't own the network ...yet. Well, ink was signed and behold, a media powerhouse. But wait, why would just a new owner cancel a show doing okay. Well, you see, Disney was developing this little park (the largest area-wise actually) over in Walt Disney World. A little park that would be later called Disney's Animal Kingdom. Well, the higher up couldn't take the fact that their new network would be highlighting a competitor's animal-themed park just a mere 100 miles away. So, next time you visit Disney's Animal Kingdom or Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, think fondly of the nice little show about a writer, a veterinarian and their lovely family.

Wishes!