'Cosmos' is back with a new host for a new generation.

[Jim]

My publisher e-mailed this AP wire to me. It may be of interest to some group members.

Friday, March 7, 7:18 p.m. UTC

Los Angeles (AP) - Astronomer Carl Sagan became Mr. Science for a generation after his 1980 series, "Cosmos", took audiences on a groundbreaking TV journey through the universe.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey", the 21st-century edition debuting Sunday, has a head start with a Twitter following of 1.7 million that's just edged by the starry likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Cee Lo Green.

Tyson, a go-to expert for news reports on Earth-threatening asteroids and other science developments, said his public profile frees him from comparisons to Sagan. The educator and author with a gift for conveying the wonder of discovery died in 1996 at age 62.

Tyson, 55, brings to the program his distinguished credentials as director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and an author whose works include "Space Chronicles" and "The Pluto Files".

The new version begins its 13-episode run at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday on Fox and other Fox Networks Group channels including National Geographic, FX and Nat Geo Mundo.

Associated Press

[E.D.]

Saw Tyson on a Moyers episode a while ago talking about the new show (as well as other topics), and think it'll be great. Lots of cool stuff has come about since Sagan shed the coil. No need for comparisons; Tyson can stand on his own.

[Jim]

The first episode of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey more than lived up to the media hype and promotional advertisements preceding its debut.

Mr. Tyson was at his usual personable best - explaining complex scientific terms and theories in an entertaining format that could be easily understood, irregardless of formal education or science background.

The graphics and special effects were of the highest quality and technical accuracy.

At the end of the program, he paid tribute to Carl Sagan, including sharing the story of how he was Mr. Sagan's guest when Mr. Tyson was only 17. He proudly displayed a signed copy of Mr. Sagan's first book, given to him during that visit.

[Robert]

Robert Italia

Well, here's some related news:

Jon Lomberg, Chief Artist for Carl Sagan's original Emmy Award-winning Cosmos TV special (Jon won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement on this series), has given me a flattering "review" of my novel, CRISTOFORI'S DREAM. I asked Jon -- a fierce skeptic in his own right -- to critique the science in the story, and feared he would send the guys in the white coats to my front door. He did not. You can find the whole story here:

http://www.robert-italia.com/#!endors...

Jon's famous painting "Infinite Regression," featured in Sagan's blockbuster book COSMOS, is also featured on my website:

http://www.robert-italia.com/#!inspir...

The painting illustrates one of the more amazing scientific theories from COSMOS presented in MY book (and you thought it was just a Christmas story!). For the scientifically-squeamish, no worries. You don't have to know science to do science (we all do). After all, what is science but the thoughts and dreams of God, and how He "does it"? This is a major theme/debate of the book.

Special thanks to Jon for his kind words and for his valuable time. Check out his website, send him an email (and tell him that I sent you):

http://www.jonlomberg.com/

[Bob]

First, I want to preference my comment with the fact that I love Neil DeGrasse Tyson (I faithfully listen to his Startalk Radio podcast).

I thought the second episode was much better than the first one. The first one seemed to be too much into flashy visuals just for their own sake. The only good visual and part that I liked in the first episode was using the calendar to explain where humans come in.

They did a much better job in this second episode with the tree of life and other visuals.

[Jim]

Bob wrote: "First, I want to preference my comment with the fact that I love Neil DeGrasse Tyson (I faithfully listen to his Startalk Radio podcast).

I thought the second episode was much better than the firs..."

I believe those who have watched both episodes will agree with your evaluation, Bob. Well said.

[Ynes]

I love this show! So far they've done an excellent job on all the episodes.

[Jim]

I thought that inserting the recorded comment by the late Carl Sagan at the very end of the second episode was a touching and sincere tribute to the originator and host of the original Cosmos TV program.

[Jacob]

I actually just read a printed version of the original Cosmos by Sagan a couple of years ago. it was a tough read and I found his monologues on the TV show to be much easier to soak up. possibly it was just the sound of his voice :)