The new Cosmos

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DId anyone see it? What did you think?

I was moved by the story of Tyson's day with Sagan. I thought the Giordano Bruno story was very effective. I am happy they are doing a new version.

I am not sure the presentation of the history of the universe as a single year was as effective in this version, but that might just be because I the idea is not new to me, this time around.

I wonder if anyone saw it and if they are fans of the original.

My wife and I just watched it this morning On Demand, and I agree, it was very enjoyable. I especially liked Tyson's remembrance as a teenager of meeting his hero, Carl Sagan, and how he was inspired to be the scientist he is today.
Without a doubt, Sagan was the coolest scientist of his day, while Niel DeGrasse Tyson is the coolest scientist alive today.

I loved it, and am so glad that Tyson was chosen to carry on Sagan's legacy. Sure, he doesn't have Sagan's prose, but trying to do the poetic philosopher thing isn't Tyson's style, and it would come off forced. The 2D animation seemed to be a point of contention for some, but I enjoyed it. Now I'm interested in seeing where Neil takes it. Now that the necessary first episode stuff is out of the way and we have our universe, I wonder how deep he'll go into skepticism and some of the potentially divisive or more provocative stuff.

Its good, but too bad they didn't get the great synthesizer composer Vangelis to make the updated soundtrack.
The old analog synthesizer and piano music of the original was excellent. But the new theme music is not so.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80Lwj_ybVno[/youtube]

I agree--I liked the Vangelis soundtrack better.

I think there are some musical homages to Vangelis in the new soundtrack (I heard a musical quotation from the Blade Runner soundtrack in the first episode) but overall it's not anything like as good.

It is on FOX, though.

The treatment of the Giordano Bruno story suggests that they will not shy away from tough subjects.

For all fans of the original series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnFMrNd ... r_embedded

Make sure you watch right until the end.

Fox made this

I'll probably check it out on streaming soon. I really like Neil Tyson Degrasse from his interviews.

Stephen Colbert did a great interview with him last night, concerning his new Cosmos show. Tyson had even recounted the story of when he first met Carl Sagan as a high school student.

I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm always interested in learning about our universe and why we exist with logical facts.

can't wait to check that out. Mental Floss magazine had an excellent feature about the show, too.

It’s always nice when people you have preconceptions about reveal themselves to be as two-dimensional as you’d have expected. The only valid reason to wish this program to be broadcast elsewhere would be for the absence of commercial interruption on PBS.

I think Sagan would have been very proud of this remake. Is it the same? No, of course not, but it is a worthy successor.

Seconded. I loved the original (own the illustrated book of it, too), but really like this version, too.

We saw Neil DeGrasse Tyson at San Diego ComicCon last year in a panel discussing the new show. I have a love-hate thing about the Con for so many many reasons, but this was definitely a LOVE moment.

Seth MacFarlane managed to keep himself low key -- amazing in and of itself. Originally, the program was going to be made for national geographic channel, but MacFarlane (and others I'm sure) thought it might be good to expand the audience. He said that keeping it only on National Geographic or Science and such channels is like preaching to the choir. (I didn't hear about any mention of why PBS isn't involved.) This is the reason given for Fox's involvement (not that this is the only reason, just the official one.)

But Ann Druyan, Sagan's widow, made heartfelt and excellent points about the decision to place her husband's legacy in fresh hands. She actually restoked the fire of Sagan's vision.

I watch a lot of science documentaries -- mainly because i am so ignorant about it -- and I must be absorbing something because I felt familiar with the material being presented, though still fascinated. What I love about Neil is his decency and realness. He loves what he does and he has a gift for translating difficult concepts into understandable ideas.

I can't help but love this show -- it combines my love for astrophysics with my favorite astrophysicist (I've had to forgive him for his role in demoting Pluto to a dwarf planet. I accept it, but it took a while).

Yay!

I have that book, too!
Actually, I have a lot of Sagan's books.

The Cosmic Connection, The Dragons of Eden, Broca's Brain, Cosmos, and the Demon Haunted World are the ones that stand out for me.


That sounds fantastic. I wish I had been there too!



Yay is right!

Tyson is one of my favorites, too. I think my absolute favorite at the moment is Max Tegmark, but Tyson is a close second.

Nice, if not altogether surprising, to find kindred spirits here!