LITTLE ROCK — Networks pay publicists good money - well, fair money - to keep tabs on the nation's TV critics, become their very bestest of friends and perkily chat them up in hopes of getting a few kind words about their shows.
Hardly a week goes by when I don't get eight or 10 calls from someone like publicist Laura.
Publicists rarely have surnames. OK. They do have surnames, it's just that for their PR purposes, you don't really need to know what they are.
And the public relations firms for which they work are always blurted out and strung together as if you should know them if you were halfway doing your job.
"Hi, Michael!! ThisisLaura fromBakerWinokurRyderPublicRelationsinLosAngeles. Howareyoudoingtoday? Good?
"Uh, yes. I'm fine."
"Great!! I'm just following up to make sure that you got our screener for the DIY Network's upcoming two-hour special, Pergolas With Pizazz: You Can Do It! It airs on the 23rd and we'd love to send you a photo for an article or a highlight. Also, I have the second assistant producer available for interviews if you need that."
"Uh, thanks."
Most of the time the worker bees at the PR firms are helpful. They remind us what's in the never-ending pile o' stuff that accumulates on our desks.
But I'm here to tell you that The CW Network is missing a bet by not hiring Mary Matilyn Mouser's spunky 81-year-old grandmother, Etoyle Mouser of Pine Bluff.
Mary Matilyn is one of the supporting stars of the new CW family drama Life Is Wild. The series was filmed entirely in South Africa.
Etoyle Mouser called my voice mail twice the other day to praise my fall preview coverage (a classic PR pro's opening gambit) and then dropped a strong hint that I just might want to say a few words about her 11-year-old granddaughter's new show. She left her agent's e-mail address.
Etoyle made the second call because in the zeal of her first call she had neglected to say who her granddaughter was. But I already knew.
Etoyle said Mary Matilyn had been filming over in South Africa since July and wouldn't get home until December.
Viewers might be familiar with the young actress from Pine Bluff. Her main claim to fame isthat she's the voice of the title character in the Starz Channel series Eloise.
Mary Matilyn, daughter of Scott and Tina Mouser, has been in show biz almost half her life - since she was 6. She's gueststarred on a number of TV shows. They include CSI, Without a Trace, King of Queens, Monk, Inconceivable, Scrubs and One Life to Live.
She also has a recurring role on NCIS playing Jethro Gibbs' (Mark Harmon) daughter, Kelly.
Quite the resume for one soyoung. And now Mary Matilyn has her first broadcast network series with Life Is Wild.
The family series, filling the CW void left by 7th Heaven, debuts at 7 p.m. today. Here's what you need to know about this sort of Brady Bunch in the bush.
D.W. Moffett plays New York veterinarian Danny Clarke. He's a widower and has recently gotten married to harried and highprice divorce lawyer Jo, played by Stephanie Niznik.
Danny has two kids, teen Katie, played by Leah Pipes, and Chase (K'Sun Ray). Jo also has a couple of kids - young Mia (played by Mary Matilyn) and rebellious, troubled teen Jesse (Andrew St. John).
Weary of tending to the society pets of New York and wanting his new blended family to get off on the right foot, Danny rounds them up and heads for a year-long vet job in South Africa.
They'll be living in a rundown old game-reserve lodge owned by Danny's late wife's reclusive father.
Self-sacrificing Katie, who had to grow up too fast after her mother's death, is our occasionally narrator. All the kids initially believe moving to South Africa stinks. It's far, far away from all they hold dear as modern American children.
So life is a challenge, but whatcha bet they all learn to love it and pull together?
First up: An injured and dangerous mama lion and her little lost cub. Gather the kiddos (and grandma, too) and enjoy.
Saturday morning NBC
. Wise parents know it's a good idea to be aware of what their children are watching.
The Qubo folks, who supply NBC with its Saturday morning kids' programming, kicked off their new fall slate Saturday. NBC starts the shows at 9 a.m., but local programming might delay the lineup. Here's a brief roundup of what's available.
Postman Pat is an import from Britain. They say it's huge - huge - over there. Pat's a postman and he delivers stuff in the town of Greendale. His sidekick is Jess the Cat.
My Friend Rabbit is a new animated series based on the Eric Rohmann book of the same name. The two main characters are Mouse and his best friend Rabbit. They have adventures with their geese friends, the Gibble Girls. There's also Hazel the squirrel, Jasper the alligator and Thunder the rhino.
Dragon is about a blue dragon named Dragon. Not all that original. Dragon lives in a fun world full of his animal friends. Problem-solving and childhood lessons are emphasized.
Veggietales follows the adventures of Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber "and a bushel full of their vegetable friends." At least the tomato isn't named Tomato and the cucumber isn't named Cucumber.
Veggietales Presents: 3-2-1 Penguins! follows the space adventures of Jason and Michelle and their four penguin pals . Yup. Penguins in space.
Jane and the Dragon is an animated medieval adventure featuring 13-year-old Jane, who's a knight in training, and her BFF, a 300-year-old green dragon. The dragon is named, um, Dragon. Go figure. Kid-friendly messages include courage, kindness, honesty and friendship.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. E-mail:
Style, Pages 61 on 10/07/2007