Cosmos: the sequel

[davekill]

So, it's high time someone made a sequel to it, and now someone is! In partnership with Sagan's colleagues Ann Druyan (who is also his widow) and Steven Soter, Seth MacFarlane — yes, that Seth MacFarlane — is going to produce a new 13-part series to serve as a sequel and modern update to Sagan's masterpiece.

Taking over the hosting duties will be none other than well-known astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who has served as host of NOVA ScienceNOW on PBS for the past five years, so he has plenty of experience making science accessible to the general public. It would be difficult to think of anyone who would be better able to succeed the late, great Carl Sagan.

The folks working on it will take their time and do it right — it's not scheduled to air until sometime in 2013.

The producers of the show say the new series will tell "the story of how human beings began to comprehend the laws of nature and find our place in space and time." They go on to boast: "It will take viewers to other worlds and travel across the universe for a vision of the cosmos on the grandest scale. The most profound scientific concepts will be presented with stunning clarity, uniting skepticism and wonder, and weaving rigorous science with the emotional and spiritual into a transcendent experience."

That's the good news. The bad — or at least, potentially bad — news is that, because of MacFarlane's involvement, the series will air in prime time, and on Fox.

Now, in one way I'm all for showing it in prime time on a major network, because it'll be that much more likely that people who routinely ignore the Discovery Channel, the Science Channel and, yes, PBS will actually see it.

I'm less thrilled, though, that it will have to compete with other, more mainstream prime-time shows — and it'll be on Fox, which doesn't have the greatest track record for giving shows a chance to pull their ratings up once they go down.

Now, maybe the fact that MacFarlane is involved — and Joss Whedon isn't — will help. I certainly hope so.
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/08/cosmos-to-get-a-sequel-hosted-by-neil-degrasse-tyson/

Hear Dr. Neil deGrase Tyson's 40 minute interview this week on Science Friday with Ira Flatow.
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201203024

[ricdude]

:jawdrop:

AWESOMESAUCE-O-MATIC-NESS-I-TUDE!!!

[Bromptonboy]

Hmmm, I am cautiously optimistic.  Michiu Kaku would have been a good choice for this as well.

[Rico]

Great news!

[davekill]

I think he would make Carl Sagan proud.

Just ordered his latest book 'Space Chronicles: Facing The Ultimate Frontier'
36 chapters of why we need an active manned space program.


http://www.amazon.com/Space-Chronicles-Facing-Ultimate-Frontier/dp/0393082105

"Neil deGrasse Tyson is a rare breed of astrophysicist, one who can speak as easily and brilliantly with popular audiences as with professional scientists. Now that NASA has put human space flight effectively on hold—with a five- or possibly ten-year delay until the next launch of astronauts from U.S. soil—Tyson's views on the future of space travel and America's role in that future are especially timely and urgent. This book represents the best of Tyson's commentary, including a candid new introductory essay on NASA and partisan politics, giving us an eye-opening manifesto on the importance of space exploration for America's economy, security, and morale. Thanks to Tyson's fresh voice and trademark humor, his insights are as delightful as they are provocative, on topics that range from the missteps that shaped our recent history of space travel to how aliens, if they existed, might go about finding us."

[davekill]

http://youtu.be/Fl07UfRkPas

[Bryancd]

Hmmm, I am cautiously optimistic.  Michiu Kaku would have been a good choice for this as well.

Yeah, I like Kaku as well but I think DeGrasse is terrific and will paly better on Fox to a more mainstream audience.

[turtlesrock]

DO YOU REALIZE HOW CRAZY IT IS
THAT WE'VE BEEN
TO THE MOON??
:D

[Bromptonboy]

Well, at any rate, I am all for this.  I like deGrasse - and he will be good at bridging in non-geeks to the show.  This is one of those 'Holiest of Holy' shows to me - so I hope they do it right.  I am excited to think what they can do with modern effects.

I love Seth McFarlane - I am hoping he isn't too irreverent...

[davekill]

DO YOU REALIZE HOW CRAZY IT IS
THAT WE'VE BEEN
TO THE MOON??
:D

Your right - and that it was before most people on the forum were born.

[WillEagle]

Hey! Isn't Dr. Tyson the one who said Pluto wasn't a planet!! Poor Pluto.

[M-5]

Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson is the man!

[turtlesrock]

Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson is the man!

agreed! i love seeing him on nova science now.