DefunctTV: The History of Zoboomafoo

Additional Audio Editing by Mike Casselman.

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On this episode of DefunctTV, Kevin explores the history of a short-lived but well-remembered PBS wildlife show, Zoboomafoo, and its charismatic hosts, the Kratt Brothers.

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[furlycee]

I didn’t know it only had 2 seasons. It feels like such a large part of my childhood. Such a special show, the Kratts should be really proud of the legacy they left with so many children.

[SpwxnOfSxtan]

PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO REMEMBER, "Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman" I used to watch Zoboomafoo, Cyber Chase, and Between the Lions all of the time as a kid along with Fetch. My goodness, how time flies...

[KiddFresh]

I wrote the theme, songs and all the underscore for Zoboomafoo. Even back then my writing partner and I had a feeling that these would live on long after the show was off the air because of how special this show is.

[HolyApplebutter]

Sad as Zaboomafoo's passing is, I'm just glad that the Kratt brothers have been getting shows so consistently. They have so much passion for the subject that it really carries the show.

[raikazuchi]

This is, without a doubt, the entire reason I became a wildlife vet tech. Even when I was taking my test to get licensed, any question I learned the answer to from this show, I'd hear it in my head in Zabu's voice. Every animal I help is in your honor, Jovian.

[GenerationWest]

It's been nearly 20 years, and still remember every line from the Zaboomafoo songs.
I had to see that abandoned Zaboomafoo set... That cut deep...That cut REAL deep.

[rachelfay]

Fun fact: not long after Jovian’s passing, his 5th grandchild—a baby girl named Isabella—was born at the Duke Lemur Center where he lived. Her birthday was January 25th, 2015–the 16th anniversary of the day “Zoboomafoo” debuted!

Good thing the Kratts’ and Jovian’s legacies are still going strong! 💛

[kawaiiconcept]

The brothers are still on tiktok and make mini lessons about animal clips they find. They've done a couple tributes to Jovian as well it's really sweet
edit: It was announced recently that Jovian's bloodline continues! He had a grandchild recently!

[lucyluful]

god i was so obsessed with this show. only 2 seasons but genuinely such an impact. These guys and steve irwin were the center of so many of my little dirt-goblin child core-memories. everytime i go in a creek I think about the Zaboomafoo episode where they showed how to make sure you don't hurt salamanders under rocks. Everytime I walk on slightly tall grass I think about the episode where they showed how to spot bird eggs that had fallen. I tried to invite the kratt bothers to my 3rd b-day party lmao

[BevDrawing]

"Go make an animal friend today!"
*Me as a child taking that literally and going outside to talk to birds.*

[miuluv]

the sheer amount of primal memories inflicted on me as a child from this show were crazy. its like looking in old boxes of items u made in kindergarten and you remember “hey i made that” but never would remember it from the top of your head. that closet where all the stuff would fall out, the berries in the claymation along with a few of the characters, its all vaguely familiar but i never would have carried it into my adult life yk?

[JustMeJillian]

Defunctland has no right to make me cry like this...and yet

[Toon_Lucario]

Finally some evidence that I didn’t hallucinate this show as a child. This was my favorite back in the day.

[elaineharbin]

I almost cried at the end. The house where Chris and Martin used to be, all dark, depressing and abandoned and zaboomafoos spirit jumping through the trees :'(

[Lizzie-vekt]

The Kratt brothers were legit my first ever celeb crushes and I truly can’t believe the show only had two seasons, I feel like I watched countless episodes as a kid. My mom even got a little puppet that kind of looked like Zaboo and would wake me up in the morning doing a little voice like his and it’s some of my favorite memories from when I was growing up.

[rossedwards]

This show is literally why I'm majoring in Zoology, it shaped who I am.

[glasswolf]

When I saw the title: Oh I remember this show! I loved it as a kid, but I don't remember too much about it...

Watching the video: *Suddenly remembers everything right when they bring it up and able to mentally sing along with the songs*

After the video: ... *wiping away tears* I really should re-watch this sometime...

[FireRose]

I am so glad I didn't hallucinate this whole show because my parents seemed to have no memory of it and I only remember bits and pieces but I watched it all the time.... Also remember having a crush on Chris despite him probably being old enough to be my dad.

[jimjimsauce]

i haven’t cried in ages but hearing about my favorite lemur’s passing has left me in tears

[Perisqinkle]

HOW DO I REMEMBER EVERY CLIP IN THIS VIDEO?!

"The show only went on for 2 seasons, so it was heavily rerun"

Oh, that's probably why.