webby Registered Member
Posts: 71
(6/18/05 2:53 pm) Reply
Jeff's latest quest begins at home with EcoZone in NorwellEVENTS PREVIEW: WILD THING - Jeff Corwin's latest quest begins at home with EcoZone in Norwell
By JODY FEINBERG
The Patriot Ledger
Like the lions he has tracked, Animal Planet star Jeff Corwin is restless.
After five years as the star and producer of the popular show ‘‘The Jeff Corwin Experience,'' Corwin launched a new series this month, ‘‘Corwin's Quest.''
‘‘We're always trying to take it to the next level,'' said Corwin, happily at home in Marshfield after weeks of travel. ‘‘I've wanted to do something fresh and unique.''
Handsomely telegenic with even, white teeth, a bronze tan and model-like features, Corwin is excited about his new series, where each of the 13 episodes explores a theme expressed by animals across many continents, rather than a single animal in one location.
Airing at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on Animal Planet, ‘‘Corwin's Quest'' goes to the heart of animal survival by examining locomotion and speed, attack and defense, sound and smell, with the adventurous, boundary-pushing Corwin leading the way.
‘‘We have fun,'' he said. ‘‘We go off on tangents. That's what's allowed us to tap into an audience.''
Corwin makes the extraordinary seem normal. As explorer and wildlife biologist, he grips poisonous snakes, wrestles alligators and fends off bears. He bushwhacks, bungee jumps and does whatever is necessary to bridge the distance between him and animals.
Despite that, Corwin said he's rarely in danger, which isn't to say he doesn't face physical challenges. For a ‘‘Corwin's Quest'' episode on teamwork, he bushwhacked through rough terrain to follow chimpanzees in Uganda as they hunted colobus monkeys.
‘‘The chimp hunt is a very rare event and we trekked for two weeks before we found it,'' he recounted. ‘‘It was absolutely thrilling. It was an amazing moment, probably one of the top five moments I've had.''
Though he is at home throughout the world, Corwin, nearly 38, cherishes his strong ties to the South Shore, where he roamed through Norris Reservation and Wompatuck State Park as a child. Looking out on the South River from the deck of the house he shares with his wife and 2-year-old daughter, he said the North and South rivers and other South Shore sites are among his favorite places on earth.
‘‘There are very few places where you can get such an aesthetic environment, where you have the seasons and the beauty,'' said Corwin, who travels about 10 months of the year.
Next month, he will do two benefit shows and host a party July 9 for his 6-year-old pet project - an interactive exhibit on southeastern Massachusetts habitats and animals at the South Shore Natural Science Center in Norwell. Called the EcoZone, it needs about $200,000 for completion.
‘‘The EcoZone is important to me because it's a place where people from the South Shore can connect with the species of our region,'' said Corwin, who grew up in Norwell and proposed the EcoZone to the science center. ‘‘This area has been the building block to what I am doing now. I'm really proud of the EcoZone.''
For the show at South Shore Music Circus, Corwin will present snakes, owls, a giant turtle, camel and some animals which will remain a surprise. He's looking forward to face-to-face contact with his audience.
‘‘This is one of the ways I connect with people who watch the show,'' he said.
And there certainly are a lot of them - 13 million, in fact, in the United States and more than 70 other countries. Corwin has become something of a celebrity, appearing on ‘‘The Tonight Show,'' ‘‘The Oprah Winfrey Show'' and morning news programs, and meeting with former President Bill Clinton and current White House Chief of Staff Andy Card.
Like many successful people, Corwin persevered toward his dream despite setbacks. From his first on-camera experience in Belize, Corwin knew he'd found his mission.
‘‘It was mind-exploding,'' said Corwin, who appeared as an expedition specialist in Robert Ballard's nature series ‘‘The Jason Project.''
‘‘Bells went off, and I thought ‘This is what I want to do.'''
After that, Corwin, who has degrees in biology and anthropology from Bridgewater State College and a master's in wildlife conservation from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, spent years sending out tapes. Finally, Disney showed interest and made a pilot program, which became ‘‘Going Wild with Jeff Corwin.''
The fun-loving Corwin is never preachy, but he does have a message, which is spurred by his curiosity and concern about animals and their homes.
‘‘I want people to realize that they have an impact on the natural world and to make it the best possible,'' he said. ‘‘We have an obligation to recognize our stewardship of natural resources. If we over-exploit them, we punish our children.''
JEFF CORWIN - A LIVE ANIMAL SHOW WITH ANIMAL PLANET'S JEFF CORWIN
Shows are 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. July 9 at South Shore Music Circus, Sohier Street, Cohasset. Tickets are $20. All proceeds benefit The EcoZone at the South Shore Natural Science Center, Norwell. Call Ticketmaster 617-931-2787 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
WILD BLUE NIGHT
Hosted by Jeff Corwin and singer Susan Tedeschi, 6-9 p.m. July 9 at the South Shore Natural Science Center, Jacob's Lane, Norwell. The party features The James Montgomery Blues Band and other celebrities and is catered by Z-Chef. Tickets are $100. For tickets, call 781-659-2559.
Registered Member
Posts: 503
(6/18/05 5:33 pm) Reply
Jeff's latest quest begins at home with EcoZone in Norwell
I saw his first episode of "Corwin's Quest" this last Wednesday
and it was good. He did bats, rattlesnakes, alligators, and
some monkeys. I think they were called "verbits?" sounded
like. Very interesting.
webby Registered Member
Posts: 72
(6/18/05 8:18 pm) Reply
Jeff's latest quest begins at home with EcoZone in Norwell
I missed it. I'll have to catch the repeat.
Jeff's latest quest begins at home with EcoZone in Norwell
I missed it too. I saw the last 30 seconds today on repeat.
Every time I see him with an alligator I remember this behind the scenes/blooper episode he did and the camera guy was asking him to get closer to the alligator and he was all scared like "why, why, why?" But it was funny, I swear. lol
The face of nature reflects all of life's ups and downs.
Registered Member
Posts: 507
(6/18/05 10:27 pm) Reply
Jeff's latest quest begins at home with EcoZone in Norwell
He got in with the 'gators on this one. I think he is getting
more into the animals. He seems less afraid of them. The
rattlesnake was very interesting with the phones. No more
hints.
Email This To a Friend
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies