Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" to have a follow-up with Neil deGrasse Tyson

[nytemare]

Produced by Seth MacFarlane. Will air on Fox Network in prime time.

I think this is wonderful, and Tyson is a great pick! I hope he has segments with Michiu Kaku and Brian Cox. Since it's prime time on a major network, it seems it will have a much better shot at viewership than on Science Channel or PBS, although surely it will eventually end up on one of those networks. America is in desperate need of some scientific understanding.

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/08/cosmos-to-get-a-sequel-hosted-by-neil-degrasse-tyson/

Also, MacFarlane will be doing a version of The Flintstones.

[hifiguy]

1. If MacFarlane takes it seriously

this is wonderful news. I've long thought that Dr. Tyson is the only person who could fill the late, great Carl Sagan's shoes as a popularizer of real science. Loved "Cosmos" - the most enthralling and thought-provoking thing I had ever seen at that time. Sagan is one of my few true intellectual heroes.

Currently reading Sagan's "The Demon Haunted World" and would love to know what he would have thought about his friend Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion." Sagan seemed to be saying in a less confrontational way many of the same thing as Dawkins.

I second having Michio Kaku as a contributor; he is a fascinating and deep thinker with a rare gift for making really complex science accessible to the intelligent layperson.

[nytemare]

4. Loved "Demon Haunted World"

I have Cosmos on DVD, and can't count how many times I've watched it. Currently, I am reading "Billions and Billions" for a second time. It's quite bittersweet, with an epilogue by his widow Ann Druyan regarding his passing.

I have seen video of Sagan where he is perhaps more confrontational than in his books, or on Cosmos, about various things like the Star Wars program, etc. It may have been actually on the Carson show.

I have also seen Dawkins on a few videos where he was discussing evolution, and he had a joyful expression when trying to convey the beauty of the natural world. His writing, though I find it wonderful, is a little more "in your face" than Sagan.

If you happen to have Netflix, you might want to watch a film called "Agora", which was inspired by one of the segments in Cosmos about Hypatia. She was a mathematician who was killed by angry Christians.

[hifiguy]

5. I don't know if Sagan ever said whether or not he was an atheist

but it is pretty hard to avoid the conclusion that he was. DHW was written 15 years ago and even the great Carl Sagan was not allowed then to say in public the things that Dawkins and Sam Harris now hit the bestseller lists with.

Two things in "Who Speaks For the Earth" literally brought tears to my eyes when I saw it last a few years ago - of sadness hearing the horrifying story of Hypatia and the sacking of the Library at Alexandria and of utter joy and wonder on the little animation of life evolving from microbial forms to the creatures of today as Sagan said "these are just a few of the marvelous things that hydrogen atoms can do given five billion years." I still get chills thinking of it - how much more marvelous, wondrous and life-affirming this is than any tales of angry, vengeful skywizards. "Cosmos" was one of those things, like the music of Beethoven or Mozart, that makes you proud to be a homo sapiens.

[nytemare]

7. Cosmos was a complete work of art.

Down to the musical score.

[RebelOne]

8. According to this list, he is an agnostic.

http://www.celebatheists.com/wiki/Main_Page

[Frank Cannon]

12. MacFarlane is a Sagan fan and is friends with Ann Druyan (Sagan's wife).

In fact, Ann Druyan is also involved in this project.

I actually am excited about this.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. I've seen Tyson speak at a library fundraiser.

Yes, he's the new studmuffin of physics. Charming and knowledgeable.

When he was in high school in NYC, Carl Sagan invited him up to Cornell for the guided tour of the place, and Tyson was very impressed with the idea of mentoring. He wondered why Sagan was so interested in him, and he didn't go to Cornell after all. Tyson has always emphasized being around people who encourage you.

And it might get some serious numbers of viewers if it's on Fox primetime.

[nytemare]

3. I thought the story of Sagan inviting Tyson to Cornell was wonderful.

I saw a video of deGrasse Tyson talking about that visit. He had a look of childlike glee in his eyes as he told it.

[jwhitesj]

6. Carl Sagan is one of my heroes

I love the cosmos. He was a brilliant man and I hope that anything that is done in his honor is done in a way that Carl Sagan himself would approve of. I have my doubts Fox will be able to do that.

[nytemare]

9. His widow, Ann Druyan, is involved in the project.

And, as with Seth MacFarlane, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson, I think they will treat this project with the respect it deserves. He wanted to help people understand the joys of science. And, he is living on in this chance to make science understood by viewers on a prime time viewing slot, on a major network. I think Fox is a lot better than their Fox News affiliate.

[jwhitesj]

10. That's good to here

I'm glad that Ann and Neil or going to be a big part of this. I have tremendous respect for the both of them. I'm not as familiar with Seht MacFarlane's work in science and academic studies though, but most importantly, if Ann thinks it's ok, then it's ok by me.

[nytemare]

11. I surely look forward to it, but I think it will be 2013.

By the way, welcome to DU! :hi: