Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts the premiere of the much anticipated return of Cosmos, this version subtitled: A Spacetime Odyssey, on FOX Sunday night, and the show is scheduled to open with a video introduction from President Barack Obama. The President’s speech will invite new generations to fall in love with science and discovery, and will encourage people of all ages to take on new ideas that will help shape the future.
The original television show, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, debuted in 1980 and was co-written by Ann Druyan and Steve Soter. The two were brought back to work on this iteration by none other than Seth McFarlane of Family Guy fame, who was also instrumental in bringing the show to FOX at prime time. The original show was hosted by Druyan’s late husband, the magnetic astronomer, Carl Sagan, and so stepping in to fill his immense shoes is a man with immense clout of his own in Tyson, the foremost pop-culture icon in American astronomy today.
Tyson currently is the director of the Hayden Planetarium and is an astrophysics research associate at the American Museum of Natural History. He has appeared on a litany of late night television shows, such as The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and The Tonight Show, as well as scripted shows like The Big Bang Theory, radio programs like NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, and podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience. He also hosted the Nova miniseries entitled Origins, that laid out theories and explanations about the beginnings of the universe, and narrated a documentary for PBS called 400 Years of the Telescope. He hosts his own podcast, Star Talk Radio, too and brings an impressive resume into his role as narrator for the relaunching of Cosmos.
Sunday begins a 13 episode run for Tyson’s Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, and beyond receiving attention from important people like President Obama, rival network executives will be watching with great interest. If Cosmos can demonstrate success in a prime time television slot, it would be likely that other networks would pursue producing their own science-entertainment programming, and they would be wise to audition other famous scientists such as Bill Nye, who used to have his own show for kids and is currently making waves in the national climate change debate.
Climate change probably won’t make the content cut for Cosmos though, as the topics tend to focus on astronomy, astrophysics, and theories and questions about the universe overall. Out in space, Tyson takes the viewers on a fantastic ride through the galaxy in a virtual space ship, introduces them to complex ideas like the Big Bang and the paradoxes of time, and also revisits the history of some of the most famous figures in science and philosophy.
It is imperative that America refocuses itself to being more scientifically inclined, and it is a happy occurrence that intellectual and charismatic powerhouses like Tyson are attacking the issue head on with Cosmos while President Obama throws his support behind the project as well. Hopefully this will be just the beginning of a new era of science-entertainment programming that helps to inspire Americans and the world.
Opinion By Matt Stinson
Los Angeles Times
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4 Responses
How sad that Tyson talked about the Arctic Ice pack melting when there was a 40% increase between 2012 and 2013. No wonder our kids score so poorly in science. There has been over an 8% increase in CO2 since 1998 and temperatures are flat according to the IPCC. Don’t look for the truth produced by TV, it doesn’t exist. Liberals don’t want the truth they want their way. What a sad country we have become!
May 12, 2014
My first time to watch the show, I am mesmerized. I loved Carl Sagan’s wonderful programs about our fabulous planet and universe. I think Tyson will do well with this. He has incredible power to capture the imagination. His mere presence demands attention. I am thrilled to be watching this program. So informative.
With respect for what Tyson has done for the scientific community, I think the show needs a better host that doesn’t look like he came out of a 80’s sitcom. The content of the series is fantastic so far, and I loved the blurred lines about the creation of humanity. Looking forward to the rest of the show! Great stuff!
Super-psyched to see Cosmos return to TV, especially with Dr. Tyson at the helm! I think he is one of the best science icons today, and he does very well with all the shows and documentaries on Syfy, Science Channel, History Channel, etc. They couldn’t have picked a better host. And with Seth MacFarlane producing; Alan Silvestri scoring the music? Just outstanding – my DVR is already programmed!
And while I am not a political supporter of President Obama, let me say this: I think it is great that he is personally opening the premiere episode and challenging American Youth to be the next Sagan, Tyson, and Hawking. (I also love the selfie of the President with Drs. Nye and Tyson; too awesome!) Challenge our brightest and inspire them with shows like this one, and we’ll all see what great innovations the next generation is capable of creating!