Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Kool J. . His Nickname Started on a Comedy Show. Bill Nye - Wikipedia Nye has written over a dozen books in his career, including: Nye holds three United States patents:[121] one for ballet pointe shoes,[72][122] one for an educational magnifying glass created by filling a clear plastic bag with water,[123][124] and one for a device for training an athlete to throw a ball. Bill Nye goes planet-gazing and takes a serious look . Known for its "high-energy presentation and MTV-paced segments",[5] the program became a hit among kids and adults, was critically acclaimed, and was nominated for 23 Emmy Awards, winning 19, including Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming for Nye himself. Bill Nye's real name or birth name is William Sanford Nye. He began freelancing for a sketch comedy show called "Almost Live!" where he earned his nickname after correcting a fellow host who mispronounced the word "gigawatt." Bill Nye is an American science educator and mechanical engineer best known for hosting the television program Bill Nye the Science Guy. [133] In 2011, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP) gave Nye their highest award, In Praise of Reason. [27], Even though Nye was regular on Almost Live!, he was only doing freelance work for the program. The debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham on the question "Is Creation A Viable Model of Origins?" was held February 4, 2014, at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.. Ken Ham, founder and chief executive officer of the Young Earth creationist (YEC) ministry Answers in Genesis (AiG), challenged Bill Nye, a science educator best known for hosting the 1990s television series Bill Nye the . In addition to producing the new content, Noggin acquired all 100 episodes of Bill Nye the Science Guy; this made it the first-ever program acquisition by the channel. [9][10][11][12] Jenkins-Nye was among a small elite group of young women known as "Goucher Girls", alumnae of Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, whom the Navy enlisted to help crack codes used by Japan and Germany. [36], In addition to the TV show, Nye published several books as The Science Guy. In one study, it was found that viewers of the program made more observations and sophisticated classifications than non-viewers. Bill Nye: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. "[23] PBS declined to distribute The Eyes of Nye, and it was eventually picked up by American Public Television. My attendance tomorrow should not be interpreted as an endorsement of this administration, or of Congressman Bridenstine's nomination, or seen as an acceptance of the recent attacks on science and the scientific community. Birthday: November 27, 1955 (Sagittarius). [34] While portraying "The Science Guy", Nye wore a powder blue lab coat and a bow tie. "[23], In conjunction with the production of Bill Nye the Science Guy, KCTS-TV conducted several research studies that evaluated how effective the program was as an educational tool. Nye made headlines for a video posted to YouTube on August 23, 2012, in which he explains that the denial of evolution in the United States is generally unique compared to the rest of the world's advanced nations. [115], In the 2017 PBS documentary Bill Nye: Science Guy, Nye revealed his family's plight of ataxia. He started writing and acting. Later Nye returned to Wisconsin and for several years wrote for the New York World. [41] The show, which eventually premiered in 2005, lasted only one season. Updates? He made the show for the KCTS television show. Bill Nye: The Science Guy - Stop the Rock! When he was based in Seattle, working for Boeing, Nye began doing stand-up comedy some nights after work. With its quirky humor and rapid-fire MTV-style pacing, the show won critical acclaim and was nominated for 23 Emmy Awards, winning nineteen. How Bill Nye Became a World-Famous Science Guy | Work + Money Bill Nye Visits the Ark Encounter | Answers in Genesis Bill Nye's Net Worth (Updated March 2023) | Wealthy Gorilla ( 1993-04-14) -. Nye Labs, the production offices and set where the show was recorded, was in a converted clothing warehouse near Seattle's Kingdome. "I mentioned how I planned to talk about bridges and bicycles and so onstuff that, as an engineer, I'd been interested inand [Sagan] said, 'Focus on pure science. The program became part of a package of syndicated series that local stations could schedule to fulfill Children's Television Act requirements. Bill Nye the Science Guy ran from 1993 to 1998, and was one of the most-watched educational TV shows in the United States. "[5][8][9] As a result, Nye was subsequently asked to give scientific answers to the show's call-in questions. [72] He became the organization's second Executive Director in September 2010 when Louis Friedman stepped down. [109] Nye attended the 2018 State of the Union Address after being invited by Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine. He then quit his engineering job to focus on comedy. They had no idea what it was for, but they're cool, so they did. Because of the segment's popularity, Bill Nye was given a show of his very own called "Bill Nye the Science Guy" which was aired from 1993-1998. Bill Nye's Net Worth 2023: Age, Height, Income, Wife, Kids Bill Nye Wins Over the Science Crowd at Evolution Debate - NBC News I've changed my mind about genetically modified organisms. He has written two bestselling books on science: Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation (2014) and Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World (2015). In the early 1990s, he became a host of his personal show Bill Nye, the Science Guy which was targeted to promote science among children. American science communicator (born 1955), This article is about the American science educator. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Bill, Birth Year: 1955, Birth date: November 27, 1955. "It was kinda funny, because they were in my studio one day to record a song. The showwhich proudly proclaimed in its theme song that "science rules! [21], During Nye's 10-year college reunion in 1987, he went to great lengths to meet with Carl Sagan at Cornell. The show didn't air until a year later, so it wasn't until then that they understood what this was really for. "[100], In July 2017, Nye observed that the majority of climate change deniers are older people, and said: "So we're just going to have to wait for those people to 'age out', as they say. The experience made Edwin a sundial enthusiast, with his son later becoming one himself. [104] His California house is solar-powered, and often feeds extra power back into the public power grid, something he enjoys showing visitors. Shafer suggested. [21] The final episode aired in 1999, well after production ended in 1997. "When we did The Eyes of Nye, the budget started out really big, and by the time we served all these little problems at KCTS, we had a much lower budget for the show than we'd ever had for the 'Science Guy' show which was made several years earlier. How the Science Guy got his start in Seattle | king5.com Also a successful author, he remains a popular public figure and vocal member of the science community. So, how old is Bill Nye in 2023, and what is his height and weight? The sun on Mars. While the shows were aimed to catch the attention of younger audiences, it gained viewership from adults as well and were even used as effective educational aids for school science classes. "They had a . The Interviews: An Oral History of Television, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series, TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming, War in the Gulf: Questions & Answers with Peter Jennings. Bill graduated from the Cornell University with a mechanical engineering degree and began his engineering career at Boeing Corporation in Seattle where he created a hydraulic resonance suppressor tube used on 'Boeing 747' airplanes. In 1998, Nye appeared in Disneys movie The Principal Takes a Holiday. In the film, he played the role of a science teacher. Now he has incorporated philosophical ideas into his upcoming book and Netflix show. What I'm saying is the planet's on fucking fire. Got it? Career Bill Nye started his career working at Boeing Corporation as an engineer which was located near Seattle. [44], His next series, The End is Nye, was ordered by Peacock in March 2021. "Soundtrack of Science" Parody song: Chemical Reactions "Don't Try This at Home" Parody of "State of Attraction" by Paula Abdul, During its run, Bill Nye the Science Guy was nominated for 23 Emmy Awards, winning nineteen. How old is Bill Nye? Nye guest-starred in the 127th episode of Jonathan Van Ness's podcast Getting Curious in September 2019. [5], As Nye produced more demonstrations for Almost Live!, he began to develop the idea of a show featuring his "Science Guy" persona; KING-TV declined his proposal, though he eventually received assistance from station alumni James McKenna and Erren Gottlieb. Bill Nye was born William Sanford Nye on November 27, 1955, in Washington D.C., USA, to Jacqueline Nye and Edwin Darby Nye. He also hosted the 100 Greatest Discoveries show and began appearing in videos for several attractions at Walt Disney World and Epcot, including one with Ellen DeGeneres. Humor is everywhere, in that there's irony in just about anything a human does. In The Climate Code, he spoke about saving energy. In the early 2000s, he helped develop sundials that were used in the Mars Exploration Rover missions. [7] Nye eventually left Boeing in 1985 to join Shafer and Keister in writing and performing for Almost Live!, a then-fledgling sketch comedy television show produced by local NBC affiliate KING-TV. Feb. 5, 2014, 9:51 AM PST / Updated Feb. 5, 2014, 11:06 AM PST. Bill Nye Height, Weight, Age, Girlfriend, Family, Facts, Biography Each half-hour show begins with a cold open, where Nye introduces the episode's theme, which leads into an opening credit sequence, and featuring Nye in a computer animated scientific world, along with his head spinning, radio frequencies, and plastic toy dinosaurs flying. [120] In the United Kingdom, it was distributed on VHS by ViewTech, Bristol. American science educator William Sanford Nye, better known as "Bill Nye the Science Guy," was born in Washington, D.C., on November 27, 1955, to Jacqueline and Edwin Darby Nye. [19], Nye started doing standup comedy after winning a Steve Martin lookalike contest in 1978. As of May 2017, the 1996 episode "Probability" is edited from its original airing, with a segment removed featuring a cast member saying there are only two genders. Disney Keeps 80% of Streaming Revenue By Calling It 'Home Video' Along with his TV programs, Nye has written several children's books about science. [5] Together, the group pitched the show as Watch Mr. Wizard meets Pee-wee's Playhouse, though the latter part was later replaced with MTV after the arrest of actor Paul Reubens for indecent exposure in 1991. You're not children anymore. (with Bill lip-syncing), "Inertia is a property of matter", and "T-minus seven seconds". Over its five-year run, the show won 19 Emmy Awards; Nye personally received seven Emmys for writing, performing and producing. [6] He starred in a documentary about his life and science advocacy, Bill Nye: Science Guy, which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2017; and, in October 2017, was named a NYT Critic's Pick. "I tried wearing a straight tie. Bill Nye, pseudonym of Edgar Wilson Nye, (born Aug. 25, 1850, Shirley, Maine, U.S.died Feb. 22, 1896, Arden, N.C.), journalist and one of the major American humorists in the last half of the 19th century. Days after a wide-ranging debate on creationism and evolution between Bill Nye and Ken Ham, the event is driving an online conversation. When surveyed whether Nye was a scientist or actor and comedian, most students asserted he was a scientist, though many said both. [65] Also in 2018, Nye made a second guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory as himself, together with fellow scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson, in the first episode ("The Conjugal Configuration") of the show's final season. [30], In 1993, collaborating with James McKenna, Erren Gottlieb and Elizabeth Brock, Nye developed a pilot for a new show, Bill Nye the Science Guy, for the Seattle public broadcasting station KCTS-TV. He was made the vice president of The Planetary Society in 2005. In fact, he's got a new black comedy educational series titled The End is Nye, and it might just prepare you for the end of the world. who said Thursday on his show The 700 Club, "Let's be . Did Bill Nye Really Get Arrested? The Age-Old Rumor - Distractify [130] Nye also received an honorary doctor of pedagogy degree during a commencement ceremony at Lehigh University on May 20, 2013. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. He corrected Keister on his pronunciation of the word "gigawatt", and Keister responded, "Who do you think you areBill Nye the Science Guy? If you look back on all the teachers that you liked, I am sure you will find they were very entertaining. "ran from 1993 to 1998 in national TV syndication. [76], From 2001 to 2006, Nye served as Frank H. T. Rhodes Class of '56 University Professor at Cornell University.[17][77]. [55] In November 2008, he portrayed himself in the fifth-season episode "Brain Storm" of Stargate Atlantis, alongside fellow television personality and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. 15 Things You Never Knew About Bill Nye The Science Guy - ScreenRant [123], Despite Disney's involvement in the series, the series has not been available on Disney+ due to a dispute with Nye over revenue sharing. How Many Degrees Does Bill Nye Have? Let's Look At His Credentials Starring: Bill Nye, Karlie Kloss, Derek Muller Watch all you want. [40] "KCTS went through some distress", Nye recalled. Writing in his own person, rather than in the guise of a foolish character, Nye reveals his own kindly but droll nature. )", "The March for Science was a moment made for Bill Nye", "Firebrand for Science, and Big Man on Campus", "Transcript of Oral History of Jenkins, S.S. (Bud)", "Jacqueline Jenkins-Nye, 79, World War II code breaker", "Talk About Badass: Bill Nye's Mom Was a Code Breaker During WWII", "Bill Nye is from the District but devoted to the other Washington's football team", "Janet Reno and Bill Nye appointed CU Rhodes Class of '56 Professors", "Maybe This Is Why Bill Nye Never Became An Astronaut", "How Bill Nye Became The Science Guy. This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 19:52. [1] As part of the agreement, the profits of the show were split between Disney and the production team, with Disney owning full distribution rights across broadcasting, home video, and digital streaming. [111] On October 28, 2020, Nye took to Twitter endorsing Joe Biden for president, urging his followers to vote on behalf of climate change and science. His voice is also heard in a voice-over as part of the 'DINOSAUR' attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Bay Lake, Florida. [60], On February 28, 2014, Nye was a celebrity guest and interviewer at the White House Student Film Festival. After Nye and Sheldon leave, Leonard receives a selfie of the two having smoothies, and later gets a text from Sheldon asking for a ride home, as Nye has ditched him at the smoothie store. His enthusiasm for science deepened after he took an astronomy class with Carl Sagan. The organization was particularly interested in Mars. 67 Year Old #3. "[20], A famous incident on the show led to Nye's stage name. [2] After the show's first run was completed, Nye continued to portray the Science Guy character for a number of short interstitial segments for the cable television channel Noggin, which aired during rebroadcasts of Bill Nye the Science Guy. [7] Known as MarsDial, in addition to tracking time, it had small colored panels to provide a basis for color calibration. 2 on iTunes", "Bill Nye the Science Guy and Disney Feud over Streaming Revenue", "Software can help kids weather summer doldrums". [49] In 2007, he also hosted an eight-part Discovery Channel series, Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye. Bill Nye is an American science educator and mechanical engineer best known for hosting the television program Bill Nye the Science Guy. The closing credits roll over bloopers from the episode. [87][88][89] In July 2016, Ham gave Nye a tour of the Ark Encounter the day after it first opened to the public. He eventually became a writer and performer on Almost Live.. A video game based on the series was released in 1996, and a subsequent television show for adults, Bill Nye Saves the World, was broadcast two decades later. His most recent series, The End is Nye, premiered August 25, 2022, on Peacock and Syfy. During that time, Nye co-developed MarsDial, which is a sundial created for the Mars Exploration Rover missions. ( 1999-02-05) Bill Nye the Science Guy is an American science education television program created by Bill Nye, James McKenna, and Erren Gottlieb, with Nye starring as a fictionalized version of himself. [5][12] KCTS-TV commissioned a pilot for Bill Nye the Science Guy, which aired on April 14, 1993, on the station itself before airing on PBS stations nationwide for the rest of the month. How old is Bill Nye? - My Age Calculator ", "Bill Nye's Early Life and Career 1955-1992", "Bill Nye Claims Disney Withheld $28 Million in 'Science Guy' Profits", "Bill Nye files lawsuit claiming Disney owes him over $9 million", "Bill Nye comeback: hope and dismay in Seattle", "That Science Guy is back, in 'Eyes of Nye', "Bill Nye Is Getting His Own Talk Show on Netflix", "Bill Nye Saves the World Gets Netflix Premiere Date, Star-Studded Trailer", "Bill Nye Saves the World Season 3 Trailer and Release Date", "Dancing with the Stars Sends Bill Nye Home", "America's Most Smartest Model: Season 1, Episode 4: Night of the Hairy Grizilla Monster", "The Weather Channel Will Deepen Commitment to Forecast Earth and Related Content on All Platforms", "Bill Nye's new lab-centric talk show has nice chemistry", "First Pics Of Jewel Staite's Hot Date On Atlantis", "Repower America Bill Nye, The Science Guy", "Make Eye Exams Part of the Back to School Routine", "Bob Newhart and Bill Nye to guest star on 'Big Bang Theory', "Students Are Stars at White House Film Festival", "Bill Nye Will Join the March for Science", "How Can We Twerk on Climate Change? He has been honored by many universities with several doctorates because of his contribution to science. It was produced by television station KCTS and McKenna/Gottlieb Producers and distributed by Buena Vista Television with substantial financing from the National Science Foundation. In 2010, he was chosen as the new representative of a new permanent exhibition at the Chabot Space & Science Center, California. [58], In 2013, Nye guest-starred in The Big Bang Theory episode "The Proton Displacement". in the '80s and '90s. Disney was allowed to continue to classify streaming and download revenue from Bill Nye's show as "home video" revenue, a judge ruled. [9] His persona's first on-air appearance, as it is contemporarily known, occurred on January 10, 1987, by circumstance when the primary guest for that night's performance of Almost Live! [17], After graduating from Cornell, Nye worked as an engineer for the Boeing Corporation and Sundstrand Data Control near Seattle. He is an actor and writer, known for Bill Nye the Science Guy (1993), Flubber (1997) and Stargate: Atlantis (2004). He worked together with James McKenna, Elizabeth Brock and Erren Gottlieb for KCTS where they used to plan and create the show. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He had like a rockandroll kind of voice, so it sounded pretty slick. [32] The series was produced by Walt Disney Television and Rabbit Ears Productions, and distributed by Disney. [57] He joined the American Optometric Association in a multimedia advertising campaign to persuade parents to provide their children with comprehensive eye examinations. In 2005, he created a show called The Eyes of Nye which was a science show that targeted adults. Known for its quirky humor and rapid-fire MTV-style pacing, the show won critical acclaim and was nominated for 23 Emmy Awards, winning nineteen. "[110] Nye endorsed Jay Inslee during the 2020 Democratic primaries, until Inslee suspended his campaign on August 21, 2019. "After they approved it, I hired singers because I wanted to make it better. He began moonlighting as a comedian while working at Boeing. Nye hosted the show, which aimed to teach science to a preteen audience: Each of the 100 episodes focused on a specific topic, making them valuable resources for schools. After the show ended, Nye went on to work on other television shows, including The Eyes of Nye, a science show aimed at an older audience, and the Planet Green Network's Stuff Happens program.