Wild Side Show

This article is about the educational show. For other uses, see Wildside.
Wild Side Show
GenreNature
Written by
  • Melanie York
  • Jennifer McAuley-Biasi
Presented by
  • Jessica Durante
  • Scott Tunnell
  • Jillian Hirasawa
  • Gordon Michael Woolvett
ComposerBob Wiseman
Country of origin
  • United States
  • Canada
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26
Production
Production locations
Running time23 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseFebruary 21, 1992 (1992-02-21) –
December 30, 1995 (1995-12-30)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Wild Side Show (shortened to Wild Side for its second season) is a nature documentary series for children, which aired on Nickelodeon and later Noggin.[1] The show originally ran from 1992 to 1995 on Nickelodeon, with reruns from 1999 to 2002 on Noggin.[2] Segments from the series were also included as part of Noggin's Phred on Your Head Show.

The show focuses on up-close encounters with animals, both in zoos and in their natural habitats.[1] The producers wanted to avoid the style of a "nature show with a voice-over narration and no humans in sight," which is why the hosts were "so close to the animals, right next to their faces."[3] Most of the show was live-action, but short animated segments were also used to explain concepts and add humor.[3]

Wild Side Show ran for two seasons and 26 episodes in total.[4] The first season, hosted by Jessica Durante and Scott Tunnell, was taped at the San Diego Zoo.[5] The second season, hosted by Jillian Hirasawa and Gordon Michael Woolvett, was taped at the Toronto Zoo in Canada. Safari scenes were taped throughout southern Africa.[6] Some episodes visited different locations, like Yellowstone National Park.[7]

  1. ^ a b "NOGGIN Programming". MTV Networks. 2001. Archived from the original on November 3, 2001.
  2. ^ "Television: Sunday, March 31, 2002". The Times Herald. Gannett. March 31, 2002 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Mendoza, N.F. (October 31, 1993). "Nickelodeon takes its 'Wild Side Show' on safari for a reason of changes". The Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows. Random House. June 24, 2009. p. 987.
  5. ^ "All in the family: Prime time with kids". The Columbian. February 16, 1992 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Mangan, Jennifer (December 14, 1993). "Nickelodeon shows it has real crust". The Chicago Tribune.
  7. ^ "Highlights Sunday". Wisconsin State Journal. May 16, 1993.