The plot for “Life is Wild” is actually taken from the British show “Wild at Heart”. The storyline starts off much of the same except in this case Danny is a British vet and their last name is Trevanion instead of Clarke. There are also no step-children but the show still sets in a game-park in Afirca. The success of the show in the UK will hopefully carry over to the States.
Andrew St. John plays the mother Jo’s teenage son Jesse. Jesse acts as the eldest son boy in the family and like his step-sister Katie is also rebellous. Jesse starts off “Life is Wild” as being arrested for committing a petty-crime.
Andrew is famous for his role as Kyle “General Hospital”.
Leah Pipes plays Katie Clarke, daughter of Dr. Clarke. Katie is the eldest and rebellious teenage-girl who looks to act as the “cute” girl in the show.
Leah has appeared on the tv shows “Crossing Jordan” and will be on the up coming movie “Figure Prints.”
D.W. Moffett plays Dr. Danny Clarke, an animal doctor from New York, in “Life is Wild”. Brett Cullen was originally cast for the role. Along with Brett, Judith Hoag, who played Jo Clarke (wife of Dr. Clarke) in the pilot, was replaced by Stephanie Niznik.
Stephanie Niznik was best known for her role as Nina Feeney on Everwood. She brings a younger, blonder look as the mother in “Life is Wild”. D.W. Moffett recently appeared on “Hidden Palms” which also airs on the CW network where Brett Cullen was Tim Riggins looser dad on “Friday Night Lights.” Judith Hoag was best known for her roles in the Ninja Turtle movies as April the reporter and friend of the four-mutants.
Life is Wild tells the story of two families brought together by marriage who experience the different stages of growing up through the children who all vary in age. This “Brady-Bunch-like” plot changes a little bit as the father, fed up with work and his unappreciative kids, he decides to take the entire family to South Africa where he and his late-wife were from.
In Africa still lives the father’s father. He lives on a large reserve which is field with beautiful landscape and wild animals. Adjusting to the African culture has its ups and downs; however, the family works toward achieve a better perspective and appreciation of life.