"Cosmos," the long-ago PBS classic that turned Carl Sagan's brilliant prose into a magnificent series (and, incidentally, gave Johnny Carson a standard quip deploying Sagan's "billions and BILLIONS" phrase), has been rebooted by Fox and Seth MacFarlane.

And yes, that sounds like a punchline, too.

But watch this promo for "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" with host Neil deGrasse Tyson, and tell me that you, the non-science-or-astronomy-loving viewer, are not just the slightest bit intrigued. It is, as you would imagine, a promo that indicates a mashup of Fox sensibilities with PBS or Discovery Channel ones. And any indication of MacFarlane-esque touches -- which you can well imagine would have sent Sagan screaming into a Black Hole -- are not apparent either.

Which -- yes -- is a good thing.

I have high hopes for this series mostly because deGrasse Tyson is attached, and so is Ann Druyan, Sagan's widow, who had a major role in the production and writing of the original "Cosmos." Also because MacFarlane, for all his fratboy bad-taste excesses, is an astro-nerd at heart, knows and appreciates Sagan's considerable accomplishments.

At least let's hope. A 13-parter arrives early March.

Subscribe to the Entertainment newsletter By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.

The promo, and now, strap yourselves and crank up the volume.

(Newsday app readers, please go to Newsday.com/tvzone to see something by Seth MacFarlane that doesn't offend.)