Do You Remember: Tarzan

With the release this past Friday of the box office film The Legend of Tarzan, based on the fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, starring True Blood star Alexander Skarsgard and The Wolf of Wall Street star Margot Robbie, it seemed only right to focus this month’s “Do You Remember” on the short-lived TV series Tarzan that aired for one season.

The series, created for television by Eric Kripke (the man behind Supernatural and Revolution), premiered on The WB, of course now known as The CW, on October 5, 2003. The series was set in modern-day New York, focusing on NYPD detective Jane Porter, whose ordinary life was disrupted when a routine case unexpectedly leads her to John Clayton (aka Tarzan). After being proclaimed dead for 20 years, John Clayton was found in the jungles of Africa by his billionaire uncle, Richard Clayton, who is the CEO of the powerful Greystoke Industries. Held against his will at his uncle’s home, Tarzan escaped and prowled all over the city, helping others in need. Upon meeting Jane, he began to follow her from her home to crime scenes, simultaneously assisting her with her police cases.

Jane Porter and Tarzan

The stars of the show were then unknown Calvin Klein model-turned actor Travis Fimmel (star of Vikings and the upcoming Warcraft box office film) – who played John Clayton/Tarzan and unknown actress Sarah Wayne Callies (who has since gone on to star in Prison Break, The Walking Dead and The Colony) as Jane Porter.

Also among the cast were Lucy Lawless (of Xena fame) as Kathleen Clayton, John’s aunt; Mitch Pileggi (of The X-Files fame) as Richard Clayton, John’s uncle and Miguel A. Nunez, Jr. (of Tour of Duty fame) as Detective Sam Sullivan. There was also another fresh-faced cast member, then unknown Leighton Meester (of Gossip Girl fame), who appeared as Nicki Porter, Jane’s younger sister.

Notable guest stars included Tim Guinee (The Good Wife and Elementary), Sterling K. Brown (Army Wives and the upcoming This Is Us), Kevin Durand (Lost and The Strain), K.C. Collins (Lost Girl and Saving Hope) and Kathleen Munroe (Call Me Fitz and Resurrection).

The series only ran for eight episodes from October 5, 2003 through November 23, 2003.

Do you remember Tarzan?