Almost twenty years after PBS’ Bill Nye the Science Guy went off the air, Bill Nye is returning to television! Netflix announced today that in spring 2017 they’ll be premiering Bill Nye Saves the World, a talk show exploring the intersection of science and pop culture. According to Netflix’s synopsis,
Each episode will tackle a topic from a scientific point of view, dispelling myths, and refuting anti-scientific claims that may be espoused by politicians, religious leaders or titans of industry.
The streaming service promises that the show will feature Nye’s “unfiltered style” along with experiments, demonstrations, and special guests.
“Since the start of the Science Guy show, I’ve been on a mission to change the world by getting people everywhere excited about the fundamental ideas in science,” Nye said in a statement. “Today, I’m excited to be working with Netflix on a new show, where we’ll discuss the complex scientific issues facing us today, with episodes on vaccinations, genetically modified foods and climate change. With the right science and good writing, we’ll do our best to enlighten and entertain our audience. And, perhaps we’ll change the world a little.”
Interestingly, the show features both a Head Science Writer (astronomer, author, and award-winning science communicator Phil Plait) and a Head Comedy Writer (Mike Drucker, who has served on both of Jimmy Fallon’s talk shows, Late Night and The Tonight Show). It speaks to the various beats they’re looking to hit. In addition, Netflix’s announcement tweet was appropriately cheeky:
In 2017, we’re doing a talk show with @BillNye. It’s an experiment. pic.twitter.com/gE4bOIhV6a
— Netflix US (@netflix) August 31, 2016
No word yet on guests, though it would be fun if fellow talk show host Neil deGrasse Tyson popped in for the inaugural episode. In the meantime, check out an excerpt from Nye’s Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World.
Photo via Brandon Hill
