Father of the Pride

Watch Father of the Pride

  • TV-14
  • 2004
  • 1 Season
  • 6.8  (1,478)

Father of the Pride was an animated sitcom created by Jeffrey Katzenberg for NBC. The series was set in Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat in Las Vegas and featured a family of white lions who perform in the duo's show. The voice cast included John Goodman as Larry, the pride's patriarch, Cheryl Hines as his loyal wife Kate, and Orlando Jones as their flamboyant friend and neighbor Snack. The series was produced by DreamWorks Animation, the studio behind the Shrek franchise, and was touted as the first prime-time animated series to use CGI technology.

The show's pilot aired on August 31, 2004, and introduced viewers to Larry, a high-strung lion who is proud of his status as one of Siegfried and Roy's top performers. He and his wife Kate enjoy a comfortable life in their enclosure, where they raise their two cubs, Sierra and Hunter.

The series followed Larry and his family as they navigate the ups and downs of show business, dealing with egotistical co-stars, demanding trainers, and the occasional run-in with the zoo's other residents. Along the way, they encounter a host of colorful characters, including a trio of penguins who help run the show, a group of hard-drinking flamingos, and a neurotic koala.

Throughout the series, Larry wrestles with his desire to be the best, both in his career and as a father. He often clashes with Kate, who is more practical and tends to put their family's needs above his ambition. Meanwhile, Sierra and Hunter struggle with the challenges of growing up in the public eye, learning about their place in the pride and the world beyond their enclosure.

Despite its creative team and star-studded cast, Father of the Pride struggled to find an audience during its initial run. Critics praised the show's cutting-edge visuals and irreverent humor but criticized its reliance on animal gags and slapstick comedy. Some viewers were put off by the series' portrayal of Siegfried and Roy, who had been attacked by one of their own tigers the year before the show premiered.

The series' run was cut short by NBC in late 2004 due to poor ratings, but it was initially planned for 40 episodes. Only 14 episodes were produced, with the final one airing on July 28, 2005. The series concluded with several unresolved plotlines, including the fate of Siegfried and Roy's show following Roy's injury and the question of whether Larry would ever achieve his dream of becoming the top lion.

Despite its brief run, Father of the Pride remains a fascinating relic of mid-2000s pop culture, when CGI animation was still in its infancy and the notion of a prime-time series about talking animals was still a novelty. Its talented cast and impressive animation continue to make it a curiosity for fans of the genre, though it remains a cautionary tale about the difficulties of launching a successful animated series on network television.

Father of the Pride is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (13 episodes). The series first aired on August 31, 2004.

Father of the Pride
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Seasons
The Siegfried And Roy Fantasy Experience Movie
13. The Siegfried And Roy Fantasy Experience Movie
May 29, 2005
Kate joins a woman's group and Larry feels threatened; Siegfried and Roy decide to reinvent their past to thwart competing magicians Dante and Phil.
Stage Fright
12. Stage Fright
May 27, 2005
Larry the lion becomes the new star of the Siegfried and Roy show, replacing his antagonistic father-in-law, Sarmoti.
Road Trip
11. Road Trip
December 28, 2004
Larry forgets his anniversary again and has to trek through the desert to find Kate in time to make amends.
Sarmoti Moves In
10. Sarmoti Moves In
December 28, 2004
Sarmoti moves in with Larry and Kate; Kate "accidentally" destroys Sarmoti's zebra rug. She and Larry contemplate replacing it by whacking a zebra.
The Thanksgiving Episode
9. The Thanksgiving Episode
December 28, 2004
Kate runs for PTA president and accidentally offends the turkey constituency; Roy tries to domesticate Snack.
Rehabilitation
8. Rehabilitation
December 21, 2004
Larry is burned out from work and fakes an injury to get a break.
One Man's Meat Is Another Man's Girlfriend
7. One Man's Meat Is Another Man's Girlfriend
October 26, 2004
Larry is on a diet and is tempted to eat Snack's new girlfriend; Sarmoti and Sierra sqaure off in a poker duel.
Possession
6. Possession
October 12, 2004
Larry steals the tigers' TV in an effort to put some spontaneity back into his marriage; Sarmoti teaches Hunter the ancient ways of the African lion.
And the Revolution Continues
5. And the Revolution Continues
September 28, 2004
Larry frees a left-leaning lobster whom Sierra has befriended at a restaurant; Siegfried and Roy await Barbra Streisand's arrival at the Mirage.
Donkey
4. Donkey
September 21, 2004
Larry promises Hunter that he can get Donkey from Shrek to come to his school; Siegfried and Roy fight a small business owner.
Catnip and Trust
3. Catnip and Trust
September 14, 2004
Kate and Larry suspect their daughter is abusing catnip; Siegfried and Roy make their first-ever trip to 7-11 to taste a Big Gulp.
Larry's Debut, and Sweet Darryl Hannah Too
2. Larry's Debut, and Sweet Darryl Hannah Too
September 7, 2004
Larry's debut as lead lion is going to take place on "The Today Show," which makes him anxious; Siegfried carries on a one-way feud with Matt Lauer.
What's Black and White and Depressed All Over?
1. What's Black and White and Depressed All Over?
August 31, 2004
Larry and Kate play matchmaker to two neurotic pandas while Siegfried and Roy try to get the pandas to mate using science.
Description
Where to Watch Father of the Pride
Father of the Pride is available for streaming on the NBC website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Father of the Pride on demand at and Peacock.
  • Premiere Date
    August 31, 2004
  • IMDB Rating
    6.8  (1,478)