TV REVIEW – ‘BILL NYE SAVES THE WORLD’ (Season 1/2017)

Science. It spurs the imagination when combined with fiction, its innovations have given humanity everything from microwave popcorn, microwave ovens that cook said popcorn, and cheese-in-a-can, to the smartphones we use, televisions we watch, and the rocketry that flies astronauts into space.

At the forefront of modern science education is a mild-mannered, bowtie-laden scientist known as Bill Nye, also referred to as “The Mr. Rogers of Science.”

Most all of you will know Mr. Nye from his original Disney-produced Saturday morning TV show, Bill Nye the Science Guy which ran from 1993-1999 on PBS as well as in syndication on dozens of other stations. Bill Nye the Science Guy produced 100 episodes, and was nominated for an astounding 23 Emmy Awards, winning 19 of them. Fast-forward to 2017, and now he has come back with a new, slightly-less-cheesy, and a tad-more-adult-centered show on Netflix.. Bill Nye Saves the World.

One part Bill Nye the Science Guy, one part cheesy sketch comedy, and one part the channeling of another great show: Penn & Teller’s Bulls**t, Mr. Nye has put a modern, more adult spin on the beloved show we all watched as kids during the 90’s. Actual science topics are discussed with emphasis on research, expert panel discussion and critical thinking, Nye lays down in his own layman term way how the often-confusing world of scientific research happens, and what is real vs. what is not.

It has not been without controversy, however.  The pseudo-science, self-proclaimed skeptics, and even members of the US Government have cherry-picked, and landblasted the show for causing rhetoric, paranoia, and spreading lies.  Which should give you even more reason to watch it to see for yourself the panic that scientific research and education have caused. All 13 episodes of Bill Nye saves the World are available now on Netflix, to watch anytime you feel like. So go forth and do it!

The Bottom Line:
Overall, Bill Nye Saves the World is the logical progression and grown-up version of its presecessor Bill Nye the Science Guy, in pretty much every way possible. Its educational, with some silly comedy that only Bill Nye can produce, entertaining, accessible/easy to understand, and addresses a lot of modern issues with tact, and the use of critical thinking. Sure, it’s seen its share of controversy, as basically everything does nowadays, thanks to a handful of lunatics on the internet, but it’s also very informative, educational, and exceptionally well-produced. While it does lack a bit of the charm of its predecessor, it’s still a very good show that’s absolutely worth watching. – 9.0/10

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-Dave Ward 
Staff Writer: Nerd Nation Magazine
@DaveWard1279