This is an effort to bring routine, well-vetted scientific information to the American public, on network, prime-time television. Achieving this goal will satisfy a public craving for knowledge, and advance our national dialogue. Currently, on prime-time, there are an abundance of comedy, investigative reporting, reality, and contemporary dramas scheduled, but there is absolutely no representation for modern science or technology.
The importance of this effort cannot be understated. Network Prime Time TV has a unique place in our national conversation. It has been the fulcrum for the advancement of social issues from civil rights to LGBTQ tolerance, and more. Network Prime Time programming also helped expose Americans to a man they would eventually choose to be President of the United States. Because of this influence, it is of paramount importance that high quality scientific coverage be part of the Networks’ repertoire. If Americans chose a president with help from Prime Time, then the networks have a corporate civic responsibility to help educate the public on scientific matters of national and international importance.
One example of the type of programming needed is the rebooted version of Carl Sagan’s original, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (hereafter refered to as CASO) series. It was very well-received by critics and the public. This series was aesthetically beautiful, well-researched, informative, and entertaining. It received critical and public acclaim. When properly ensconced in the human stories of exploration and discovery, as CASO was, scientific information can be presented in a dramatic and inspiring way.
Shows like CASO are craved by the public, but they are rare for several reasons. First, scientific reporting is relegated to expensive cable channels. And even on these channels, “science” shows are less about presenting information. They present topics which are plainly not scientific to those that are extremely speculative. For example, on our science channels, there are shows about dog training and cooking, or there are shows covering conspiracies about extraterrestrials. Where are modern, vetted discoveries presented on a routine basis?
Another reason shows like CASO are rare is because they are extremely difficult to make. They require the artistry of telling a story and doing justice to the dramatic realization of scientific discovery. This is difficult because we search for analogies to convey scientific information and we try to dramatize something that usually isn’t that dramatic: toiling in a lab, or pursuing discovery over decades. This work, however, is human and heroic, and CASO did it justice.
Finally, good science programming is rare because it’s just easier not to produce shows like CASO. CASO required background research, on-location filming, data from across the solar system, scientific vetting, beautiful graphics, and lastly, the artistry in scientific storytelling that Carl Sagan pioneered. The result is an abundance of shows where pop-icons compete in dance, dramas about police departments, hospitals, and political intrigue. We have routine investigative reporting about consumer-protection and murder mysteries. Finally, we have our suite of comedies on all of the basic networks. All of these genres play to different interests and serve a different audience needs. But the need that is consistently neglected by all four networks is that of the public for pure, basic knowledge.
This effort should be pursued for several reasons. First, there is public desire for a dramatized science show. There is a desire for stories that inspire us. This is evident because of the success of shows such as the Voice, and American Idol. Science is rich with inspiration. Advertising will be just as lucrative during such a show as during any other prime-time program because the inspiring human stories of discovery are abundant and will balance the presentation of information. Second, providing a free show about science on network television is noble. Most of our population simply do not have access to professors, astronauts, raw data, and analytical software.
Including the public in our species’ scientific endeavors will enrich everyone. It will deepen our public discourse, and move to a higher priority the pursuit of knowledge and discovery. It can also have far reaching impacts on our society.