Sunday’s Washington Post includes an article focusing on Meerkat Manor. Animal Planet will air a 13 hour marathon of all episodes on the day after Thanksgiving. Here’s a preview of it, with some input from Sean.

“These are incredibly affectionate and humanlike creatures, at least in terms of how they express themselves when getting along — and maybe when not,” said series narrator Sean Astin. “There are all these real-life dramas going on.”

Astin said his favorite meerkat is Carlos. “He’s a roving male from the Lazuli group, and he’s looking for affection with a Whiskers female,” Astin said. “He’s kind of a playboy. That’s funny to me.”

[…]

Naming animals can be a double-edged sword, Astin said: It’s fun because it gives the creatures a human dimension, but there’s a greater sense of sadness when they’re injured or killed.

“It can be beautiful, affectionate and heartwarming, but occasionally brutal, violent and dangerous,” Astin said of the show. “TV is a window to watch these animals in a little patch in the Kalahari.”

The marathon will begin at 7AM on Nov. 24th.