L David Matheny wrote:
"Jay Kadis" wrote in message ...
snip
I've been a bit disappointed with TV's approach to science. Yes, Mythbusters
is quite entertaining and uses a scientific approach to answering questions,
but it is not science in the traditional sense. Science is not very entertaining
to watch. It is meticulous and tedious and not really a spectator sport. And
the answers are often still ambiguous.

Even Nova has swung in the direction of entertainment from where it started,
but since the main goal of these shows is entertainment that may be expected.
I think the Nova Science Now program comes closest to providing a real
science education, though.

-Jay

Unfortunately I don't get Mythbusters, but I've found many dry Nova shows
to be absolutely fascinating, including the one which recounted a solution to
Fermat's Last Theorem. I watched it three times. Nova Science Now is
well done, and I've always liked Krulwich's way of cutting to the heart of
things, but it's dumbed down compared to classic Nova, which I consider
to be the gold standard. It seems that almost all aspects of PBS are being
*******ized, probably due to lack of public support. They're out of touch.



Not lack of public support, rather manipulation by the current
administration--the 'global warming doesn't exist' crowd--which has been
loading down the board of directors with Bush appointees of late.

jak