Is Neil Degrasse Tyson the best person to host the Cosmos remake?

[Yarn]

In 2013, the famous Cosmos science show will be back, this time hosted and to some extent designed by famed Astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson.

As the best known Astrophysicist in the country who can walk and who hosts TV shows, Tyson is the most obvious choice, but i'm not sure he is adequate. He is a great entertainer and explainer. Tyson is fun. But Sagan brought a lot more to the show than that. Sagan was also great at manipulating emotions and cosmic perspectives to produce powerful ennobling motifs and conclusions.

Per instance, I just can't see Tyson, who generally tries to be uncontroversial, doing something like this:

[Dan74]

I don't have high hopes for the new Cosmos show. Last I read it was being broadcast on prime time TV (FOX if I remember correctly), likely meaning it's going to be heavily watered down.

[Yarn]

It also means it is going to reach a broader audience, meaning it will have increased capacity to do good, regardless of whether it will seem relatively shallow to the more heavily educated.

[Jack]

I can't imagine the intent is to recreate exactly the content and tone of the original series. Sagan had a unique style that anyone else would sound foolish trying to emulate. I would hope this new series addresses topics not even in existence when Sagan was alive and allows Tyson to approach those topics in his own style. He is a good speaker and has a reputation as a popularizer of science, like Sagan. Of all the current well-known figures in science he would be my first choice for such an assignment.

The show may not be as popular as the original due to society's increasing lack of respect for and understanding of science in general. I guess we'll see if Tyson and Cosmos can have an effect on reversing that trend.

[Yarn]

I concede that I don't have an alternative.

Probably Tyson will be better in some ways and worse in others, and when the comparisons are made in retrospect to having seen both series they will say that. His take on things, which is less majestic, but perhaps more shovel ready, is well worth hearing and the series will do some amount of good.

[Jack]

Here's what could be considered Tyson's version of Sagan's well-known "star stuff" comment...



One can only hope the new Cosmos doesn't go for the new-agey ending that this video does.

[ruksak]

I can't imagine the intent is to recreate exactly the content and tone of the original series. Sagan had a unique style that anyone else would sound foolish trying to emulate. I would hope this new series addresses topics not even in existence when Sagan was alive and allows Tyson to approach those topics in his own style. He is a good speaker and has a reputation as a popularizer of science, like Sagan. Of all the current well-known figures in science he would be my first choice for such an assignment.

Tyson is a pretty cool cat for an egghead. However Sagan, man that fella was smooth as glass and had that intangible, unique charisma that carried through his narration in a way that no one could be expected to mimic.

Charisma and tone aside, Tyson is extremely well versed in the field he is addressing, unlike Patrick Stewart, for example.

He's (Tyson) as good of a choice as there could possibly be to fill the role.

[ruksak]

Not sure how many of you are aware that the above meme (a quite popular one) is actually Tyson?

[crimethinker]

He's probably the best alive today, but I'm not sure of the necessity of resurrecting the "Cosmos" title. I mean, he's going to use a different script with different materials, isn't he? Why isn't his documentary titled something different? Is it to appeal to a specific audience who associate Cosmos with Sagan?

[gallo]

In 2013, the famous Cosmos science show will be back, this time hosted and to some extent designed by famed Astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson.

Great! To me he seems to be quite an excellent educator. He would be my first choice for such a show.

As the best known Astrophysicist in the country who can walk and who hosts TV shows, Tyson is the most obvious choice, but I'm not sure he is adequate. He is a great entertainer and explainer. Tyson is fun. But Sagan brought a lot more to the show than that. Sagan was also great at manipulating emotions and cosmic perspectives to produce powerful ennobling motifs and conclusions.

So you reject Tyson before he has begun. Interesting.

Per instance, I just can't see Tyson, who generally tries to be uncontroversial, doing something like this:

I can.

I don't have high hopes for the new Cosmos show. Last I read it was being broadcast on prime time TV (FOX if I remember correctly), likely meaning it's going to be heavily watered down.

On FOX??? You've got to be kidding! I think that watered down doesn't cover the half of it. The show is doomed to failure unless it can attract viewers from outside the normal viewer demographic for FOX. FOX viewers don't care about and don't understand science. They know beforehand that Dr. Tyson will be trying to lure them away from the true faith.

It also means it is going to reach a broader audience, meaning it will have increased capacity to do good, regardless of whether it will seem relatively shallow to the more heavily educated.

Broader audience - possible. Broader minded audience - not a chance.

[IMG]Not sure how many of you are aware that the above meme (a quite popular one) is actually Tyson?

Meaningful because? He was talking about Newton.

[Senor Hoint]

Broader audience - possible. Broader minded audience - not a chance.

I "like" this

[Yarn]

I think I may have spoken too soon.