Running Wilde is an American television sitcom created by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely and Will Arnett and starring Arnett as Steven Wilde, a filthy-rich, immature playboy trying desperately to win (or buy) the heart of his childhood sweetheart, an über-liberal humanitarian who got away - all told through the perspective of a 12-year-old girl.
The series aired in the USA on Fox from 21 September to 28 December, 2010. There are 13 half-hour episodes in one season.
Running Wilde originally aired in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Series channel from 13 January to 7 April, 2011, on Thursdays at 19h30. It later aired on DStv's Vuzu channel. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Running Wilde premiered on Vuzu on Friday 19 October 2012, at 23h00. Thereafter new episodes broadcast on Fridays at 22h30 and on Saturdays at 21h00.
Synopsis
From the Emmy Award-winning creator and the star of the critically acclaimed series Arrested Development comes Running Wilde, a romantic comedy starring Will Arnett as Steven Wilde, a filthy-rich, immature playboy trying desperately to win (or buy) the heart of his childhood sweetheart, Emmy Kadubic (Keri Russell), the über-liberal humanitarian who got away - all told through the perspective of a 12-year-old girl.
Steve Wilde has never performed a selfless act. But why should he? He's rich! The son of an oil tycoon, Steve hasn't had to work a day in his life and has always gotten everything he's wanted – with one exception: the love of Emmy.
The daughter of a former Wilde housekeeper, Emmy is an earnest do-gooder who has spent her adult life trying to save the world.
And though Emmy is content living with an indigenous tribe in the Amazon rainforest, her 12-year-old daughter, Puddle (Stefania Owen), just wants to be a normal kid experiencing her adolescence in a normal place. And she would speak up except for the fact that she hasn't spoken in a few months.
When Wilde Oil's expansion in the rainforest threatens her adopted tribe, Emmy decides to attend Steve's self-thrown "Humanitarian of the Year" award ceremony in hopes of convincing him to help her cause... and also maybe because she still has a thing for Steve.
But same-old Steve is unwilling to help because fighting Wilde Oil (aka Dad) means putting his meal ticket in jeopardy. Rather than run the risk of letting Emmy slip away again, Steve pulls out all the stops to win her heart.
To do so, he enlists the only other people in his life who can help: Oxford-accented neighbour and "frenemy" Fa'ad Shaoulian (Peter Serafinowicz); Migo Salazar (Mel Rodriguez), Steve's employee/sidekick/errand-boy; and (reluctantly) the scheming Mr. Lunt (Robert Michael Morris), Steve's "manny"-turned-secretary as well as the biggest protector of Steve... and his own job.
Despite having everything he ever wanted, Steve knows he can't buy love and happiness, which falls in sharp contrast to Emmy, who has nothing but love and happiness.
So with Emmy committed to doing good for nothing, and Steve being a good for nothing, will this hopelessly mismatched pair ever be able to reconcile their differences?
Running Wilde is produced by Tantamount Studios, Five Hole Pictures and Principato-Young Management in association with Lionsgate Television. The series is written and created by Mitch Hurwitz, Jim Vallely and Will Arnett.
Hurwitz, Vallely, Arnett, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum, Peter Principato and Paul Young serve as executive producers. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo directed and served as executive producers on the pilot episode.
Seasons
There are 13 half-hour episodes in one season
Season 1
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 13 Jan 2011 | Finale: 7 Apr 2011 | Thursdays, 19h30
Channel: Vuzu | Premiere: 19 Oct 2012 | Finale: 30 Nov 2012 | Fri, 22h30 / Sat, 21h00