Daktari

Spun from the movie Clarence The Cross Eyed Lion, Daktari gave us the further adventures of vetrinarian/scientist Marshall Thompson and his daughter Cheryl Miller.

The years of Daktari were those of the escalation of the Vietnam War among other things. It was fascinating how the times just never affected Thompson and Miller. Thompson was all about the work and the 60s counterculture never touched Miller.

But it was Africa in its first post colonial years and that part of Daktari was quite real. Interesting to learn the show was shot at a safari ranch and they never set foot in Africa.

The usual situations for a family oriented animal show are present here. Made for fine family viewing.

This was the best family show around for its time. Although I was very young when this aired, I loved this and "Flipper".

They don't (won't) make programming such as this anymore for network television...probably because there isn't a market for something so simplistic but entertaining to all. There were elements in this show for every member of the family. But of course it was Judy the monkey and Clarence the cross-eyed lion that captured the child in me. And of course, Marshall Thompson was a vet (my first exposure to one!) in one of the most exotic and troubled locations in this world and Yale Summers was...very, very....cute.

Plus being a big music fan as I was with older siblings, I cannot ever forget the theme song of "Daktari". Why? Well, for all you music buffs (if I am not mistaken...please correct me!) members (or all) of group that performed the song was of Osibisa. Too Cool!!! Great family programming of an age long gone in television.

In the very early 70s, when I was very small, this ran on British TV & I really fell in love with it. In particular Judy the Chimp & Clarence the cross eyes Lion. Recently though I had the oppertinity to see this show again & was amazed at how truly wonderful it was. Daktari is what I would define as the perfect family entertainment show. Easy to follow stories, very wholesome & with superb excellent moral messages of respect for animals, freindship, cooperation, & teamwork. Although this was not filmed in Africa (a ranch in California I think) you can hardly tell as the real shots of Africa & real wild animals blend so perfectly with the shots done on set. It is written very well, & the acting is top notch from all the cast. The music is proper African style music in the titles, which puts you in the mood for stories set in the vast, exciting African Bush. In fact after watching it I had a desperate urge to book myself another African Safari! However, it is so very sad that great TV like Daktari will never be made again, as I feel today's children would really love this show & benefit from the educational side of the show as well as terrific entertainment. I can't help but think todays children are missing out. Anyway if you can find this show, & did not see it the first time, you are in for a real treat! Believe me! Even the villians are quite nice! They just want a cup of tea!

It's been a while since I watched any episodes, but they are unmissable any time they're on TV, you gotta watch it.

Humorous, funny, interesting, learning, and sight seeing - these great adventures of our wild life preservation heroes will keep occupied the youngest & people of all ages.

You gotta love wicked chimp Judy, and cross-eyed lion Clarence in his almost child like form of pet lion.

And there's Jack & wonderful Paula, helping Dr. March in his efforts, it's just great show, many adventures :)

I've been waiting for years to watch the series again because it was one of the last things I shared with my dad who passed at age 32 October of 1966. At 6 years old I remember Judy and Clarence best but knew how much I loved the entire show and had had the DVD collection in my Amazon list for some time but kept hoping it would be on a streaming platform before the kids got to Christmas gift it! So on my new tablet I checked TUBI again and there it was!!! I was absolutely thrilled! Probably one of the best family shows ever made and so education about conservation, animals, and general tolerance for others. It was set in a time in the US of increasing civil rights turmoil in a place that had such huge civil rights violations but these actors showed that all people could work and live together in harmony and in harmony not just with each other but also with their environment. It would be a great show to promote and to rediscover for families even in 2024!