The Ultimate Hopes For the New Cosmos Series 183
StartsWithABang writes "So unless you've been living under a rock, you're aware that it's only a few short weeks until the premiere of the new Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey starring Neil de Grasse Tyson. Many have hopes (and fears) concerning what the series will (and won't) be, but this perspective — on what a 'successful' Cosmos series could mean for the future of humanity — is worth a read for anyone who hasn't given up on dreaming big."
There is at least hope. (Score:5, Insightful)
Neil de Grasse Tyson isn't bad. Not a Carl Sagan, but running a TV show about science is really about building a bridge between the general public and the current science and I think that Neil de Grasse Tyson can do that.
Re:If (Score:3, Insightful)
It's a show that inspired a lot of kids to be scientists
Re:I hope it has a good soundtrack (Score:4, Insightful)
According to the Wikipedia entry for the series, the soundrack will be written by Alan Silvestri. He's a good film composer (I liked his score for Contact) but I think the original Cosmos had a better idea. That series used existing music, mostly classical, for its score. Some of it was removed from the DVD versions due to the expense of getting the rights to it again, but if you saw the original series, the music is one of the things that made the series special. I learned a lot about classical music from that series.
Re:If (Score:1, Insightful)
Well, look at it this way: if it weren't for America, there wouldn't be a Cosmos television series.
What does it mean to be an American? It means you value human achievement. Americans are courageous enough to not only want to explore, but to insist on it. It drove us across the Atlantic Ocean and across North America, and then to the moon.
In the process we invented the modern world, which is one of the things that makes advanced science possible.
Re:Big shoes to fill this one has (Score:4, Insightful)
When is the last time you watched the original Cosmos? There are a lot--and I mean A LOT--of scenes featuring Carl sitting on a beach or in a meadow looking off into the distance with pontificating voice-overs that kinda ramble. Believe me, I'm 42 and I grew up on that series, but having re-watched it recently, I was surprised at the large spans of near bloviation that adorn the show. I absolutely adore the series, I just think it could have used some tightening up during editing.
Also, I graduated from COSMOS to The Mechanical Universe, which--aside from the haircuts of the classroom--would still feel modern by today's standards.
Re:If (Score:3, Insightful)
ou really? Von Braun got the desire to go to moon as soon as he tasted some of that sweet, sweet american freedom? you have no fscking clue about where modern middle class life with all it's modern appliances, industrial production, modern chemistry and everything else originates from do you?
no wonder if you're waiting for tyson to bring you back from the dark ages or some shit like that with "an inspiring tv show".
Was hoping they had finally cloned Sagan... (Score:4, Insightful)
But Neil Tyson is pretty awesome too.
No hopes: It is made in the US (Score:5, Insightful)
... Which means it will start with a 10 minute teaser/cliffhanger to prevent people from leaving during commercials. Then the commercial break. Then a 10 minute teaser, repeating most of what was said in the previous segment, adding like 2-3 minutes new stuff and a new cliffhanger. Commercial break. Then 10 minutes of repetition. Etc. etc.
There are a lot of *seemingly* interesting documentaries being made in the US, but upon inspection they are mostly made to ensure viewers STAY for the COMMERCIALS.
If you watch them without commercials, the look like they were made by retards for retards! :-/
I will probably give it a change, but I guess I will be disappointment... Currently I'm only watching documentaries made by the BBC...