Most of us remember how thrilling it was in the early 80s when Carl Sagan’s exhilirating glimpse of (pretty much) all things galactic appeared on PBS, and the intervening decades has only enhanced its distinction. Now, his widow Ann Druyan along with Steven Soter & Seth MacFarlane have announced a 13-part sequel to be broadcast in 2013 on Fox.
They say the new enterprise will tell [“the story of how human beings began to comprehend the laws of nature and find our place in space and time. 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.” ]
Also not surprisingly, the host will be none other than Neil De Grasse Tyson, probably the closest popular equivalent to rival Mr. Sagan’s stature in the public and scientific community.
COSMOS was one of the very few television series which changed my life for the better; I'm still indebted to Carl Sagan for a wonderful, transformative experience.
Here's hoping COSMOS II (or whatever they're going to call it) measures up to the heights of it's predecessor.
Twas Mr. Sagan who first responded to young Mr. De Grasse's exploratory letter re entering college - and the visionary former paved the way for the enterprising latter to actually do so?
The Positive: Looks like Sagan's old "space ship to the stars". Thumbs way up! The Negative: Looks like they are infusing politics and religion into the series. Thumbs way down!
The Positive: Looks like Sagan's old "space ship to the stars". Thumbs way up! The Negative: Looks like they are infusing politics and religion into the series. Thumbs way down!
I thought keeping the spaceship idea was a nice touch as well. I did catch a couple religious things in there, but considering that Seth MacFarlane had a hand in getting it put together and is executive producing (and is himself a strong proponent of science and humanist values) and that Neil deGrasse Tyson is also an agnostic/humanist, I think the religious references will stem more from an anthropological perspective.
will tell [ “the story of how human beings began to comprehend the laws of nature and find our place in space and time. 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.” ]
Keep those hailing frequencies open …
Mr. Sagan 
