Sean Astin Leaves the Suspense and Intrigue of '24' and Joins the Suspense and Intrigue of Animal Planet's MEERKAT MANOR

Sean Astin Leaves the Suspense and Intrigue of '24' and Joins the Suspense and Intrigue of Animal Planet's MEERKAT MANOR

- Real-life Drama of Meerkat "Mob" Revealed in Unique 13-Part Series -

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Best known for playing "Sam" in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and "Lynn McGill" in "24" Sean Astin has embodied everything from loyalty and bravery to arrogance and redemption. Now, Astin tries to embody two new character traits -- small and furry -- as he lends his considerable talents to narrate MEERKAT MANOR, Animal Planet's new 13-part docu-drama that's All My Children meets Wild Kingdom. With all the love, squabbling, self-sacrifice and rivalry found in any family, a group of Meerkats struggles to survive in Africa's Kalahari Desert. MEERKAT MANOR premieres Friday, June 9, at 8 PM (ET/PT).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060329/DCW044 )

Astin lends his voice to the program, which was filmed over the course of a 10-year Cambridge University study, and explains to viewers the context of the behavior they've recorded. From family feuds to secret love affairs to backstabbing worthy of a Shakespearean tale, these fuzzy reality-TV stars pack a huge dramatic punch. "It's like a soap-opera, and I mean that in a good way. Meerkats are very social creatures, so you find yourself really pulling for certain characters. It's compelling reality television," said Maureen Smith, GM of Animal Planet.

With cameras recording their every move, MEERKAT MANOR introduces viewers to the Whiskers, a family of meerkats, revealing their personalities over the course of the series. Researchers call the Whiskers matriarch "Flower," but she's neither delicate nor sweet. Zaphod, the patriarch, defends the Whiskers at all costs. A true hero, a meerkat called Shakespeare, rescues his brother from certain death while Carlos, a male from the rival "Lazuli" mob, woos three of the Whiskers' leading ladies.

MEERKAT MANOR is produced for Animal Planet International by Oxford Scientific Films (OSF). Caroline Hawkins is the executive producer for OSF. Mick Kaczorowski is the executive producer for Animal Planet U.S.

Animal Planet, available in 88 million homes nationwide, is the only television network dedicated exclusively to the connection between humans and animals. The network brings people of all ages together by tapping into a fundamental fascination with animals through an array of fresh programming that includes humor, competition, drama and spectacle from the animal kingdom. Animal Planet is a property of Discovery Communications, the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 170 countries and territories with nearly 1.4 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 27 network entertainment brands, including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery Kids en Espanol, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB); Cox Communications, Inc.; Advance/Newhouse Communications; and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060329/DCW044
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Animal Planet

CONTACT: Alison Risso of Animal Planet, +1-240-662-2926, or
alison_risso@discovery.com

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/

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