About This Episode

What can we learn about time travel or the multiverse from Stewie and Brian on Family Guy? Find out when Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews his friend (and fellow COSMOS: A SpaceTime Odyssey Executive Producer) Seth MacFarlane. You’ll discover what drew Seth to science as a kid in the first place. Neil and Seth reminisce about how they met, and how Neil became the science consultant on the episode where Stewie goes back to the Big Bang. Seth explains how he was able to do three parody episodes of Star Wars, and got the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation to be in an episode. In studio, the two Chucks – co-host Chuck Nice and frequent guest astrophysicist Charles Liu – discuss the cartoon laws of physics, the history and technology of animation, political correctness, scientific literacy and aliens. You’ll also hear the story behind COSMOS for Rednecks, along with Seth’s hilarious Carl Sagan impression. Speaking of animation, Simon Singh, author of The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets, calls in to discuss the pervasive use of advanced mathematics in the longest running American animated program and sitcom of all time. Plus, Bill Nye visits Forbidden Planet, a NYC comic book shop, and dons his very own super hero cape.

NOTE: All-Access subscribers can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: The Science of Family Guy with Seth MacFarlane.