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Science Series - One of the first programs to focus on science was ZOO
PARADE/NBC/1950-57. It starred Marlin Perkins, the director of the Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo who broadcast live from the zoo with educational segments
explaining the behavior and characteristics of a variety of mammals, and
reptiles. Perkins later starred in the successful wildlife series WILD
KINGDOM/1963-71 sponsored by Mutual of Omaha.
Perhaps, the most popular
science program to appear on early television was the children's program
WATCH MR. WIZARD/NBC/SYN/1951-65/NIK/1983-90 starring Don Herbert as Mr.
Wizard who explained the principles of science using only the simplest of
equipment found in any home. Herbert's neighbor's 11-year-old youngster
Willy was one of the first (in a long line) of young assistants (both boys
and girls) who helped Mr. Wizard with his on-air experiments.
Some
contemporary TV science program include BILL NYE, THE SCIENCE GUY/SYN/1993-2002
with Bill Nye, a former engineer at Boeing) and BEAKMAN'S WORLD/SYN/1992-93/TLC/CBS/1993-96
with Paul Zaloom as a nerdy scientist.
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