Neil deGrasse Tyson Talk Show: NatGeo Has New Late-Night Venture On Tap

Neil deGrasse Tyson is bringing his podcast Star Talk to a whole new audience this spring. The National Geographic Channel announced a new talk show based on Star Talk will enter into the competitive fray of late-night television.

Fans of Tyson’s podcast will recognize the mix of pop culture and science in the new version of Star Talk. The Hollywood Reporter says celebrities, comedians, and scientists will all have a place on the program, which will tape at Tyson’s home base, the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Neil deGrasse Tyson won’t be the only well-known name on the program when Star Talk debuts in April. He’s said to bring on Bill Nye for a “minute-long rant” every night. Nye and Tyson will exercise their performing chops in front of a live audience.

But despite his devotion to science and his history of upsetting people of faith — he sent out a tweet on Christmas Day 2014 that wished Isaac Newton a happy birthday — Tyson was clear he doesn’t want Star Talk to turn into a brawl between science and faith, or between science and science, for that matter.

“The goal is for you to learn, not to watch a fight.”

Most television audiences got to know Tyson as the host of the Cosmos reboot last year. The astrophysicist made an impression for his work on the series that re-imagined the original program hosted by Carl Sagan. Tyson is an experienced talk show guest, with appearances on The Daily Show and Real Time with Bill Maher to his credit.

The National Geographic Channel will give Tyson’s debut a boost by airing it in conjunction with a special to commemorate 25 years of the Hubble Space Telescope’s mission. CEO Courteney Monroe told an audience at the Television Critics Association press tour that the new venture with Tyson meets the channel’s standards of programming while offering audiences entertainment.

“After the global success of ‘Cosmos’ as one of the most watched series in our history, we are thrilled to be partnering with Neil again on ‘Star Talk’ — his wildly popular podcast that transcends science and crosses over into pop culture — once again satisfying the audience’s passion for adventure and exploration. We continue to bolster our programming with series and event specials that are brand definitional, and ‘Star Talk’ is the perfect opportunity to offer our audience an edgy, late-night alternative with the credibility and authenticity that are the hallmarks of our network.”

Neil deGrasse Tyson is the head of the Hayden Planetarium and holds its Frederick P. Rose Directorship.

[Image AP/Richard Drew via Huffington Post]