HEMISPHERES:
Let’s talk about
your new show. It’s interesting that
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Neil deGrasseTysonwithSethMeyersand comedianSethReiss (playing theplanetPluto) on “LateNightwithSethMeyers”
neildegrassetyson
the
HEMI
q&a
you’ll be discussing the complexities of
the universe with not only laypeople,
but entertainers.
NEILDEGRASSETYSON:
Yes.Myguests
are hewn from pop culture—that’s
the prerequisite. Our conversations
will explore ways in which science
has influenced people’s lives. Was
thereascience teachersomeone liked
or didn’t like in primary school?Was
there a space mission that affected
them insomeway?Thegoal is tohave
people recognize—in a very casual
setting—that science is everywhere.
HEMISPHERES:
There will be an
emphasis on comedians on the show.
Isn’t there a concern that astrophysics
will become a vehicle for humor, that
the sciencewill become peripheral?
TYSON:
Ideally, I’ll have the steering
wheel and I’ll let a conversation go
intocomedy if it feelsgood, but then I
will need tobring itback tomyscien-
tific points. If someone’s on a roll, I’ll
give thema littleextra room, because
peoplewho are smiling and laughing
are more eager to learn. Also, who
doesn’t like comedy?
HEMISPHERES:
You’ve gained a repu-
tation for breaking down complicated
scientific principles into a form that
ordinary people can grasp. With that
inmind, what’s awormhole?
TYSON:
Well, first youwouldneed to
know that space—three-dimensional
space—can be
“Ihavehad
conversations
withcolleagues lately
aboutgettingback
in thegame, so I can
beascientistagain,
rather than just
playingoneon
television.”
filled with funhouse mirrors,
goal-bound footballs and
road-hazard fog—allowinghim
to bring the loftiest scientific
principles down to earth. And
he has an unusual (possibly
unique) knack for making
astronomy seem fun.
This showmanship is very
much a means to an end.
Ultimately, Tyson is not using
science as a springboard for
a late-night talk show; he is
using the late-night format as
a vehicle to bring science to
the masses. As he explained
to Hemispheres: “My mission
is tofind things thatwillmake
people smile and raise their
eyebrows and scratch their
heads and ask questions.”
