The problems with Bill Nye Saves the World involve format choices, not Nye himself. He's still very much the draw, and the series is nothing if not a great reminder of why Nye has maintained such a devoted following over the years. He's sort of the Mister Rogers of his day, with just the right blend of dorky charm and plainspoken honesty. That charm hasn't diminished over the years. Nye is still a lot of fun to watch as he bumbles about the stage in suit coat and bow tie, encourages his correspondents to "blow it up" after their discussions and generally comes across as a kooky but very knowledgeable uncle. The hip new theme song from Tyler, The Creator only adds to the effect.
The series has attracted some controversy already, thanks to Nye's habit of "getting preachy" about subjects like the anti-vaxxer movement and gender identity. But the show never comes across as particularly political. Nye is basically pro-science and anti-ignorance, and his rants tend to be more about encouraging viewers to rely on common sense and evidence rather than making grand, controversial statements. In the case of "Designer Babies," Nye gets surprisingly personal as he discusses his own family's medical history and the importance of genetic testing in screening for disease. It's no mistake that the show is often at its best when it simply puts Nye on stage and allows him to do his thing. He's goofy, but clearly passionate about the subject matter.
With that in mind, it's a little bizarre how much the new series puts the spotlight on actors other than Nye. Each episode features a fairly lengthy video segment hosted by one of five correspondents - Karlie Kloss, Derek Muller, Nazeem Hussain, Joanna Hausmann or Emily Calandrelli. Each of these correspondents hails from a TV or comedy background (or modeling, in the case of Kloss) so they certainly have the qualifications. But it just isn't the same seeing these clean-cut, attractive but largely personality-lite hosts filling in for Nye. These slick professionals just don't have the same effect as the ordinary, unassuming kids that used to assist Nye on the original series.The roundtable discussions generally fare better, as at least Nye is still acting as moderator there. But the quality of discourse tends to vary from episode to episode depending on subject matter and the personalities of the guests. Honestly, it's tough to get a good debate going when the topic is something like "Is alternative medicine a proper substitute for real medicine?". In other episodes like "Cheat Codes for Reality," Nye raises an interesting question like "Do violent video games promote violent behavior?' but then tables the discussion before it can truly get going. But in some cases the guests do get a a heated argument going. The episode "Earth's People Problem" is a good example, as overpopulation isn't an issue with any particularly easy or straightforward solution.
And that's really the other major problem with the series other than the inconsistent focus on Nye himself. Some topics simply make for better episodes than others. Did alternative medicine or the anti-vaccination movement really deserve their own episodes? In both cases, Nye's opening segments pretty well lay out everything viewers need to know about the topics, and the rest is just added fluff. At the very least, it seems like those two episodes could and should have been combined into one. But in other cases (like the climate change-themed "Earth Is a Hot Mess" or the artificial intelligence-focused "Machines Take Over the World"), 30 minutes seems woefully inadequate to cover all the necessary bases. Only occasionally does the show strike the proper balance when it comes to properly exploring the subject matter in the time allotted.
Perhaps as a result, Bill Nye Saves the World never seems quite sure what audience it's trying to cater to. The humor is just risque enough that the show is really suitable for the same elementary school audience as Bill Nye the Science Guy. But the scientific topics discussed are often very broad and generalized - the sort of stuff that the average, high school-educated adult should be readily familiar with. So at times it does feel like Nye is still stuck in his old kids' show mindset when I really wish he'd delve a little deeper. On the other hand, the US is becoming a notoriously science illiterate place, so maybe this is what passes for educational material for adults nowadays.
Assuming Bill Nye Saves the World returns for a second season, the show could definitely stand to have a creative overhaul. I'd like to see Nye either commit to targeting an adult audience weaned on reruns of Bill Nye the Science Guy or stick to making a fully all-ages friendly update to that series. I'd also like to see less emphasis on guests and correspondents and more on Nye simply doing his science thing. Now, as before, that's the real draw.
Verdict
If nothing else, Bill Nye Saves the World proves that the beloved celebrity scientist hasn't lost his mojo. His unique brand of dorky charm and earnest, straightforward intellectualism is as appealing now as it was back in the '90s. But the new series makes some questionable format choices, from shifting the spotlight to less entertaining correspondents to tackling subjects to broad to be effectively covered in a mere half-hour. There's clearly a lot of fine-tuning needed if the series returns for a second season.
