Croc Files (Discovery Kids)

CROC FILES chronicles husband-and-wife team Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" and Terri Irwin as they bounce around the globe introducing viewers to one remarkable animal after another. Steve is clearly delighted with the animals he discovers -- everything is "beautiful" and "gorgeous," even a centipede that secretes an irritating liquid or a toad that urinates on his hands. He gleefully handles the most dangerous creatures, all the while advising viewers not to try this at home. Terri isn't shy, either, having the same love and fearlessness for nature. A message about conservation comes through loud and clear as the Irwins talk about the effects of hunting and habitat destruction.

Croc Files moves at a brisk, sometimes frantic, pace and covers a lot of material, presenting a few dramatic facts about each animal. On one hand, it's too bad that we don't spend enough time with any one animal to get to know more about its environment or behaviors. But on the other hand, the quick pace and the fascinating tidbits of information will keep even restless viewers hooked. The show has a definite attachment to the extremes of the animal world -- the biggest, most powerful, deadliest, etc. And the star's manic, sometimes campy enthusiasm is contagious.