PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: AN EVENING WITH THE IRWINS: CRIKEY! IT'S THE IRWINS SCREENING & CONVERSATION {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented at The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles. This evening celebrates "Crikey! It's the Irwins," the reality series about the Irwin family and their work to protect and celebrate animals at the Australia Zoo, following in the footsteps of the late Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter."
Host Rene Reyes (vice-president of programming, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and introduces a series of highlights from the show's first season. After the clips, Reyes welcomes Scott Evans (host, "World of Dance" and correspondent, "Access") to the stage. Evans introduces panelists Terri, Robert and Bindi Irwin.
The conversation touches on such topics as: the show's renewal for season two; the dangerous but "respectful" process of trapping and rescuing crocodiles, with the help of a "jump team"; why Terri has remained committed to continuing husband Steve's legacy of animal conservation, as per his request, as the Australia Zoo has grown in scale over the years; Bindi's praise for her mother, the "Sarah Connor" of worldwide animal conservation; Bindi's interest in working with other young people who, rather than being "seen and not heard," are actively interested in bettering the world; her importance as a role model for girls; Robert's passion for photography and depicting "scary" animals, such as lions and snakes, as lovable; explanation of the popular Australian term "crikey"; hints about the upcoming second season of the show, including some "close calls" and a swim with a reticulated python; inspiration from Steve's mother Lyn Irwin, also a wildlife rehabilitator; the challenges of operating on enormous, century-old tortoises that have ingested fishing hooks; the story of South, a koala at the Australian Zoo who has defied the odds; the zoo's financial struggles and how the Wildlife Warriors, the zoo's non-profit organization, aims to employ people worldwide to assist with animal protection; their "grossest" animal encounters, including Bindi's memories of helping out some baby raccoons and trying to "save" a blood-sucking leech; Robert's love of Komodo dragons; and Bindi's love of red pandas, which are on the brink of extinction.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: what Terri admires about her two children, including Robert's uncanny similarities to Steve, despite having been only two years old when Steve died in 2006; Robert's calm and professional encounter with a powerful mandrill; hopes for a third season of "Bindi's Bootcamp," the competitive kids' show in which young participants engage in wildlife challenges; why the Animal Planet network is like "family" to the Irwins; the Australia Zoo's volunteer program; their favorite animals; and how Terri's idea for daily family time and personal reflection in the wake of Steve's tragic death has positively affected their views of the world.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1999 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:17:24
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 136701
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rene Reyes … Host
- Scott Evans … Moderator
- Terri Irwin … Panelist
- Bindi Irwin … Panelist
- Robert Irwin … Panelist
- Lyn Irwin
- Steve Irwin