![]() Once “Cosmos” was a go, Druyan and co-writer Steven Soter spent 11 months crafting the 13 episodes. The project was also boosted by the rising profile of Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, who has rapidly evolved into a kind of rock star scientist thanks to his captivating appearances on “The Colbert Report” and “The Daily Show.” “I think I maybe helped them get the meeting a little quicker,” he says when pushed. MacFarlane, whose shows have been tremendously successful for the network, is adamant his involvement had little to do with getting such an easy greenlight. But as he considered Fox’s corporate resources and global reach, he realized there was “no better platform.”Īfter hearing the pitch, Fox executives gave the series a 13-episode order and granted Druyan full creative control. “For about 12 seconds I thought that was the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard in my life,” Tyson recalls. MacFarlane immediately suggested bringing it to Fox. Instead, Tyson asked if he’d lend his support to the “Cosmos” reboot, thinking the funnyman might be able to pay for a pilot. MacFarlane, eager to use some of his TV fortune to fund scientific research, reached out to Tyson for ideas. ![]() “I wanted to be able to protect Carl’s legacy,” she says. ![]() But MacFarlane, the force behind the bawdy animated series “Family Guy” and “American Dad!”, says there has always been overlap between the “two worlds of nerddom” of animation and science.ĭruyan and Tyson had tried for several years to revive “Cosmos.” Despite interest from several networks, development stalled because Druyan was determined to retain creative control. When the follow-up was officially announced at Fox’s upfront presentation last May, many were shocked to learn the “We Saw Your Boobs” guy was attached to such a high-minded project. In that regard, “Cosmos” benefits from an executive producer, Seth MacFarlane, with a large fan base and résumé full of hits. And in an era of dwindling audiences, “Cosmos” is the type of bold event programming that networks are willing to try to retain viewers who might otherwise flee to cable or online services like Netflix. “I think the best of entertainment nourishes you as well.”Īs he points out, “Cosmos” may be an unusually intellectual project for mainstream TV, but it also grapples with subjects that are, in the most literal sense of the word, universal. “I don’t think all entertainment should be empty calories,” says Fox Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly. This “Cosmos” arrives in a much different climate: Two and a half years after the end of the shuttle program, NASA’s budget continues to dwindle, now comprising less than one half of 1% of all federal expenditures, and fewer kids dream of becoming astronauts. The first “Cosmos” premiered at a time of great public enthusiasm for space exploration, when memories of Neil Armstrong’s historic walk on the moon remained fresh. Tyson, strolling along the scenic California coastal cliffs of Monterey - just as Sagan did in the opening minutes of the original - is talking about bringing the franchise to a new generation, but with a command that can also be interpreted as a mission statement. With these words, host and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson kicks off the new documentary series, “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.” Premiering on Fox, the National Geographic Channel and eight other affiliated networks Sunday night, it is a follow-up to “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,” the groundbreaking and hugely popular 1980 PBS series hosted by astronomer Carl Sagan.
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