Marty Stouffer's Wild Times
September 14, 2013 6:13 PM Subscribe
I'm Marty Stouffer, and these are a few of my favorite animals. A strangely hypnotic YT project devoted to the host of the long-running PBS series "Marty Stouffer's Wild America" and his many mentions of wildlife.
do any of you know who this guy is
he seems familiar somehow but I can't quite place his name
posted by KChasm at 7:04 PM on September 14, 2013
he seems familiar somehow but I can't quite place his name
posted by KChasm at 7:04 PM on September 14, 2013
Stouffer has been around since the 80's doing wildlife documentaries. There was some controversy that he staged some of the incidents he filmed. That may be why the name is familiar to you.
posted by HuronBob at 7:19 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by HuronBob at 7:19 PM on September 14, 2013
He was the host of Wild America for years. He taught me and lot of other children of the 80's about wildlife, conservation and evolution.
posted by amelliferae at 7:21 PM on September 14, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by amelliferae at 7:21 PM on September 14, 2013 [3 favorites]
He was no Marlin Perkins.
And, previously, regarding great science/nature shows.
posted by HuronBob at 7:25 PM on September 14, 2013
And, previously, regarding great science/nature shows.
posted by HuronBob at 7:25 PM on September 14, 2013
In the vein of Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall. But there's more beard here.
posted by carsonb at 7:28 PM on September 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by carsonb at 7:28 PM on September 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
Metafilter: there's more beard here.
posted by HuronBob at 7:31 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by HuronBob at 7:31 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
There was some controversy that he staged some of the incidents he filmed.
He's not alone in that.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:42 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
He's not alone in that.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:42 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
God, I remember Marty Stouffer introducing himself to me through the television way back when I was a very small wild animal myself. I always loved the show.
The video linked above is great, but for my money you can't top Silent Marty.
posted by Alonzo T. Calm at 7:49 PM on September 14, 2013 [11 favorites]
The video linked above is great, but for my money you can't top Silent Marty.
posted by Alonzo T. Calm at 7:49 PM on September 14, 2013 [11 favorites]
He's not alone in that.
So...I guess the internet is onto me about this video... yes, I did give the Husky bacon at the end....
posted by HuronBob at 7:50 PM on September 14, 2013
So...I guess the internet is onto me about this video... yes, I did give the Husky bacon at the end....
posted by HuronBob at 7:50 PM on September 14, 2013
He was the host of Wild America for years.
Wiiiiiiiild aMERicaaaaaaa!
posted by 445supermag at 9:13 PM on September 14, 2013
Wiiiiiiiild aMERicaaaaaaa!
posted by 445supermag at 9:13 PM on September 14, 2013
I find it unnerving that Marty typically tips his head back when he starts to talk, but every sixth or seventh time he nods his head forward.
posted by plastic_animals at 9:22 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by plastic_animals at 9:22 PM on September 14, 2013
yes, I did give the Husky bacon at the end....
but which end of the husky did you apply the bacon?
you may be doing it wrong.
posted by Alonzo T. Calm at 9:24 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
but which end of the husky did you apply the bacon?
you may be doing it wrong.
posted by Alonzo T. Calm at 9:24 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
When I was a kid, I watched Stouffer's Wild Americas about raising the grizzly cub, Griz, about a million times. Now that I see the trailer, it looks horribly fake!
posted by gladly at 9:27 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by gladly at 9:27 PM on September 14, 2013
There was some controversy that he staged some of the incidents he filmed.
Ironically, people who know something about wildlife know it's generally impossible to film or photograph the narratives you see on TV or in magazines without staging. There are no narratives in nature, and if you think Christian Bale has an attitude...
posted by klanawa at 10:40 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ironically, people who know something about wildlife know it's generally impossible to film or photograph the narratives you see on TV or in magazines without staging. There are no narratives in nature, and if you think Christian Bale has an attitude...
posted by klanawa at 10:40 PM on September 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
In the vein of Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall. But there's more beard here.
How did Shelley Duvall have that many opportunities to introduce herself while looking ridiculous? I only remember her from the Shining and Annie Hall, where she played the chick who quoted Bob Dylan.
posted by sweetkid at 11:01 PM on September 14, 2013
How did Shelley Duvall have that many opportunities to introduce herself while looking ridiculous? I only remember her from the Shining and Annie Hall, where she played the chick who quoted Bob Dylan.
posted by sweetkid at 11:01 PM on September 14, 2013
I lucked into a complete set of the series, and my own small critter (who hates Disney "because the animals don't act like animals") is enjoying the heck out of it. She was watching the episode where Marty brings home baby fishers and I stopped to watch: Stouffer's wife is suspiciously calm as Marty hands her two still-nursing fisher babies *and lets these sharp-toothed, sharp-clawed wild animals RUN AROUND IN THE LIVING ROOM WITH THEIR TODDLER.* Not a single flicker of "I will kill you later, Marty." So staged.
Who am I kidding, though? I love these shows for the information my daughter soaks up, and even if there's manipulation, it results in the opportunity for her to get a really clear look at these animals. Her other favorite PBS wildlife show, "Wild Kratts," is a blend of adventure animation and live action and feels positively frenetic and whimsical when put alongside Marty's long shots and personal earnestness. I appreciate all of the effort that Stouffer put in; the show is clearly a labor of love. I'm *not* Marty Stouffer, but I'd like to thank him all the same.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:34 AM on September 15, 2013
Who am I kidding, though? I love these shows for the information my daughter soaks up, and even if there's manipulation, it results in the opportunity for her to get a really clear look at these animals. Her other favorite PBS wildlife show, "Wild Kratts," is a blend of adventure animation and live action and feels positively frenetic and whimsical when put alongside Marty's long shots and personal earnestness. I appreciate all of the effort that Stouffer put in; the show is clearly a labor of love. I'm *not* Marty Stouffer, but I'd like to thank him all the same.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:34 AM on September 15, 2013
How did Shelley Duvall have that many opportunities to introduce herself while looking ridiculous? I only remember her from the Shining and Annie Hall, where she played the chick who quoted Bob Dylan.
IMHO any right-thinking MeFite should also remember her from Popeye.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:04 AM on September 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
IMHO any right-thinking MeFite should also remember her from Popeye.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:04 AM on September 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
HuronBob: "He was no Marlin Perkins"
One of the first running gags in our family, watching Wild Kingdom when we were kids, was that Jim Fowler actually did all the work.
"I'm Marlin Perkins. I'm in the treehouse, mixing a gin and tonic. Jim's down below on the ground, being chased around by a horde of baboons."
Jim was always the one in the shark cage, or trying to tag the lion while Marlin narrated from some safe spot. As kids, we thought this was pretty funny and it entered the family running-joke inventory forever after.
Televised nature specials on were A Big Deal when we were kids. If Wild Kingdom had something coming on, or - bestill my heart - National Geographic was airing a special, you can best believe that dinner was eaten, rooms were cleaned and jammies were ON in time to plant ourselves in front of the TV.
posted by jquinby at 6:12 AM on September 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
One of the first running gags in our family, watching Wild Kingdom when we were kids, was that Jim Fowler actually did all the work.
"I'm Marlin Perkins. I'm in the treehouse, mixing a gin and tonic. Jim's down below on the ground, being chased around by a horde of baboons."
Jim was always the one in the shark cage, or trying to tag the lion while Marlin narrated from some safe spot. As kids, we thought this was pretty funny and it entered the family running-joke inventory forever after.
Televised nature specials on were A Big Deal when we were kids. If Wild Kingdom had something coming on, or - bestill my heart - National Geographic was airing a special, you can best believe that dinner was eaten, rooms were cleaned and jammies were ON in time to plant ourselves in front of the TV.
posted by jquinby at 6:12 AM on September 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
I keep waiting for one of them to go "No... I'm Marty Stouffer." And then they start to face off and get in an epic battle of Marty Stouffer's all punching each other, a la Matrix's Agent Smith.
We used to watch this in 5th grade science class. I remember learning about wolves regurgitating food for their children. It was cool and gross at the same time.
Also. Look for the beardless Stouffer near the end. That shit ain't right.
posted by symbioid at 6:32 AM on September 15, 2013
We used to watch this in 5th grade science class. I remember learning about wolves regurgitating food for their children. It was cool and gross at the same time.
Also. Look for the beardless Stouffer near the end. That shit ain't right.
posted by symbioid at 6:32 AM on September 15, 2013
When I was a kid, I watched Stouffer's Wild Americas about raising the grizzly cub, Griz, about a million times. Now that I see the trailer yt , it looks horribly fake!
I loved that program! Wild America came up in conversation the other day and I thought I was too young to have seen it, but then you mentioned the grizzly bear and I thought "Could it be?" clicked on the trailer and there he was sliding down the mountain in the snow with the cub.
posted by hoyland at 7:07 AM on September 15, 2013
I loved that program! Wild America came up in conversation the other day and I thought I was too young to have seen it, but then you mentioned the grizzly bear and I thought "Could it be?" clicked on the trailer and there he was sliding down the mountain in the snow with the cub.
posted by hoyland at 7:07 AM on September 15, 2013
We watched the show a lot when I was a kid. It would sometimes get my mother riled up, because you would often see Marty's wife carrying a large backpack, but Marty never had one. I don't remember if his wife ever spoke on screen, but if she did it was not very often. My mom felt that she was being exploited, that she was just a prop, not an active participant in the show. Though it was clear she was doing a lot of work, it wasn't really acknowledged.
posted by Quonab at 7:24 AM on September 15, 2013
posted by Quonab at 7:24 AM on September 15, 2013
Strange Interlude: "IMHO any right-thinking MeFite should also remember her from Popeye ."
No love for Faerie Tale Theatre?
posted by jquinby at 7:39 AM on September 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
No love for Faerie Tale Theatre?
posted by jquinby at 7:39 AM on September 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
When I was a kid, I watched Stouffer's Wild Americas about raising the grizzly cub, Griz, about a million times. Now that I see the trailer, it looks horribly fake!
Pitch: It's called "The Man Who Loved Bears." It's about this rugged, bearded guy who...
posted by Sys Rq at 9:01 AM on September 15, 2013
Pitch: It's called "The Man Who Loved Bears." It's about this rugged, bearded guy who...
posted by Sys Rq at 9:01 AM on September 15, 2013
AAAAH
THE SCENE WHERE THE BABBY BEAR FALLS OFF THE LOG INTO THE WATER
Pretty sure I watched that 1 billion times.
posted by elizardbits at 10:40 AM on September 15, 2013
THE SCENE WHERE THE BABBY BEAR FALLS OFF THE LOG INTO THE WATER
Pretty sure I watched that 1 billion times.
posted by elizardbits at 10:40 AM on September 15, 2013
Wiiiiiiiild aMERicaaaaaaa!
445supermag, this is for you.
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:27 PM on September 15, 2013
445supermag, this is for you.
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:27 PM on September 15, 2013
Man, Marty himself commented on that last one:
Steve Snell. You are obviously quite a fan! Perhaps crazy... ha ha. But, a real fan. Send me your address and I'll send you some DVDs. Marty Stouffer. (really). Had to add the spaces to include this EM. ms at wild america dot com
Nice!
posted by jquinby at 4:03 PM on September 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
Steve Snell. You are obviously quite a fan! Perhaps crazy... ha ha. But, a real fan. Send me your address and I'll send you some DVDs. Marty Stouffer. (really). Had to add the spaces to include this EM. ms at wild america dot com
Nice!
posted by jquinby at 4:03 PM on September 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
but for my money you can't top Silent Marty.
New game when I need my 5-y.-o. to be quiet: "Let's play 'Silent Marty'!" She looks a little bit like a fish gently gasping for air as she keeps herself from saying "I'm Marty Stouffer."
Disclaimer: Usually played when we're settling down for an episode of "Wild America."
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:08 AM on September 23, 2013
New game when I need my 5-y.-o. to be quiet: "Let's play 'Silent Marty'!" She looks a little bit like a fish gently gasping for air as she keeps herself from saying "I'm Marty Stouffer."
Disclaimer: Usually played when we're settling down for an episode of "Wild America."
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:08 AM on September 23, 2013
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posted by sweetkid at 6:19 PM on September 14, 2013