Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will make the leap from the podcasting world to late-night TV with a weekly talk show on National Geographic TV starting in April.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the TV version of deGrasse Tyson's show, Star Talk, will maintain the original's mix of science-driven discussion and guests from the pop-culture world. But it will also feature regular commentary from another popular scientist, Bill Nye.
The Los Angeles Times reported that deGrasse Tyson, who also hosted a revival of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, announced his new show during the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in Pasadena.
"Cosmos allowed us to share the awesome power of the universe with a global audience in ways that we never thought possible," deGrasse Tyson said. "To be able to continue to spread wonder and excitement through Star Talk, which is a true passion project for me, is beyond exciting. And National Geographic Channel is the perfect home as we continue to explore the universe."
The show will be taped before an audience inside the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. deGrasse Tyson is currently the planetarium's director.
The network reportedly plans to debut the new version of Star Talk alongside a documentary celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope mission.
"We continue to bolster our programming with series and event specials that are brand definitional," the network's CEO, Courteney Monroe, said. "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."
The Star Talk podcast, which debuted in June 2009, recently completed its fifth season.
[h/t The Mary Sue]
