The pilot episode had around 2 million viewers. Even for The CW that’s not good numbers so this may no be around long.

Based on the British tv show WILD AT HEART, some have compared this to 7th HEAVEN (and others have noted its similarity to something called SCOUT'S SAFARI). It’s a Disneyish look at a troubled New York family transported to South Africa because of the increasing misbehavior of the older teenage boy who resents his new new stepfather and life in general. His sane and pretty stepsister provides the viewpoint and narration.

If nothing else, the show's incredibly scenic. Because the location is so far from Los Angeles, they couldn’t use the LA studio and environs for most the shooting with occasional trips to South Africa. This is obviously all location shooting and it benefits greatly from that.

The actors are appealing but it's difficult digging up information on them because the cast has undergone drastic changes since the network pilot and the broadcast pilot that I saw.

The veterinarian father is played by life-long second-fiddle DW Moffet who, by shows end, has overcome his self-mocking image and solidified as a good-hearted, well-intentioned father.

The girl-next-door teenager is played by Leah Pipes and she's very capable (while I suppose some viewers will tired of her voiceover I didn’t). Her character is in a terrible place to be: she has 3 possible love interests. Her own rebellious step-brother, played by Andrew St. John. A engaging black African played by Atandwa Kani. And a young Brit (I believe) played by Calvin Goldspink.

Goldspink's character has a sister played by Tiffany Mulheron who appeared only briefly but is pretty memorable in her bikini. (Just passing that on... :innocent: )

And young K'Sun Ray is excellent as the sensitive younger brother of Leah Pipes' character.

In the end, the scenery is the primary attraction to me. The actors, second. Then the feel-good agenda. And, I suppose, that bikini. :bag:

The CW's got off to a disastrous start to the season.

Ordinarily, the numbers for Supernatural would be worrying, but as poor as they are, they're still better than anything else that The CW puts on at the same time every other day of the week.

Smallville's haven't been too bad, but it's probably time to start worrying about anything and everything else on The CW's schedule, including Gossip Girl sadly.

Both CBS and Warners have deep pockets so maybe they'll be patient -- which is what new shows often need.

There's a certain inertia in taste -- where viewers continue tuning into shows like FRIENDS, CSI, ER and BUFFY, even tho they've outlasted the creativenss of their makers. But, eventually, they do die.

A pretty good followup. Still very Disneyish except for the strong politicizing (mandalaism & environmentalism). Those clever producers got Mulheron and another girl into bikinis. Those two girls are playing stereotypical witches (with a capital "B").

Great locations. Nice to hear real languages being used. Evidently the young African actor is genuine based on the scene where he translates for the vet.

I'm kinda bothered by the introduction of the pretty African girl. She's made up like an American. Plausible, I suppose. But, it injects a sense of artificial. And, really, does she have to look American to attract an American?

Anyways, probably won't have to puzzle over this much longer. Ratings were in the basement.