# Whose was your favorite "science guy" growing up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121 "2014-12-13T14:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/21 "2014-12-13T16:26:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t remember Mr. Wizard except for cultural references, nor do I remember Bill Nye, and science was my favorite subject. 3-2-1 Contact and Chicago City Colleges science programming was basically where I got my info, from my recollection. I was born in '75. Was I just born in between the two science guys or did I just somehow miss them? I do remember Newton’s Apple, though. oh, and Square One. 1983-1990: Mr. Wizard’s World on Nickelodeon. We didn’t have cable, but my grandparents did, and Grandpa would tape it for me to watch at home or when I was visiting them. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/22 "2014-12-13T16:31:01Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > When and where did his show come on? He looks exactly like a mad scientist. I think it was on local public television stations. Some of the tapes have a “Thirteen” logo, which I believe is New York’s public TV station. My eighth grade science teacher used to bring tapes to class for us to watch. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/23 "2014-12-13T16:33:07Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This one is easy! Professor Julius Sumner Miller— “physics is my business”! > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcZyW-6-5o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcZyW-6-5o) > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3epidOGI6Y&list=PL10ED1BADAF69310A&index=43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3epidOGI6Y&list=PL10ED1BADAF69310A&index=43) YEAH! Julius Sumner Miller ruled! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/24 "2014-12-13T16:40:42Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This one is easy! Professor Julius Sumner Miller— “physics is my business”! > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcZyW-6-5o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcZyW-6-5o) > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3epidOGI6Y&list=PL10ED1BADAF69310A&index=43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3epidOGI6Y&list=PL10ED1BADAF69310A&index=43) THIS! And thank you for helping me remember his name. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/25 "2014-12-13T16:46:24Z")
Bill Nye, with Mr. Wizard a close second. The latter still had his TV show going when I was in 1st or 2nd grade or so, and the former hit PBS when I was in junior high. ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/26 "2014-12-13T17:51:00Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This one is easy! Professor Julius Sumner Miller— “physics is my business”! > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcZyW-6-5o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcZyW-6-5o) > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3epidOGI6Y&list=PL10ED1BADAF69310A&index=43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3epidOGI6Y&list=PL10ED1BADAF69310A&index=43) Add me to the list! He seems happiest when an experiment failed. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/27 "2014-12-13T17:52:42Z")
> [@txjim](#): > > Add me to the list! He seems happiest when an experiment failed. They ALWAYS failed! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/28 "2014-12-13T17:56:17Z")
Spock. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/29 "2014-12-13T18:00:23Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Spock. Seriously? I scrolled all the way to the bottom to see my answer taken? I guess I’m not being truthful anyway. It was the engineering department I used to pretend to be in. Sciences seemed so stuffy. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/30 "2014-12-13T18:02:40Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > They ALWAYS failed! Why is it so??? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/31 "2014-12-13T18:03:30Z")
I always got a kick out of **this guy** , too: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0JEMWN8SKJg/hqdefault.jpg "1985 - Star Hustler") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JEMWN8SKJg) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/32 "2014-12-13T19:04:24Z")
[QUOTE=txjim] Add me to the list! He seems happiest when an experiment failed. [/QUOTE] \ The experiment did not fail, rather, I failed to meet the requirements of nature.\ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/33 "2014-12-13T19:43:14Z")
Ted in Police Squad! No, really, when I was growing up, it was Don Herbert, aka Mr. Wizard. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/34 "2014-12-13T19:49:18Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This one is easy! Professor Julius Sumner Miller— “physics is my business”! > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcZyW-6-5o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCcZyW-6-5o) > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3epidOGI6Y&list=PL10ED1BADAF69310A&index=43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3epidOGI6Y&list=PL10ED1BADAF69310A&index=43) You must be from my generation. I used to watch him as Professor Wonderful on reruns of the Mickey Mouse Club. I looked forward to taking his physics class when I started attending El Camino College, but he retired from the position the year before I got there. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/35 "2014-12-13T20:28:37Z")
When I was a little girl in the 1950s, I wanted to marry Mr. Wizard (AKA Don Herbert). He was good-looking, kindly, and very, very smart. My second choice would’ve been Dr. Research (AKA Frank C. Baxter), of the Bell Laboratory Science Series. Dr. Baxter was not as good-looking as Mr. Wizard, but he seemed to be just as smart and kind. Quite a few years later, I married a non-famous science guy who is good-looking, kindly, and smart. If it hadn’t been for my girlish crushes on science nerds, I probably wouldn’t have ended up with such a great husband. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/36 "2014-12-13T20:28:41Z")
When I think of “science guy,” the first thing that comes to my mind is The Professor on Gilligan’s Island. 🙂 Fictional, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/37 "2014-12-13T20:45:05Z")
I’m another Mr. Wizard fan, here. And from what I’ve seen of Bill Nye, I’m not impressed. He seems to place a much higher priority on “making science seem zany” than on “teaching science”, and the episodes I’ve seen have had nearly as much wrong as right. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/38 "2014-12-13T20:51:08Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > When I think of “science guy,” the first thing that comes to my mind is The Professor on Gilligan’s Island. 🙂 Fictional, I know. He was always my favorite character (right up there with Mary Ann :o ). Seriously, I’ll bet he inspired a lot of young people to take an interest in science. I should also mention my friend and mentor Dr Sherman Schultz, who was for many years Professor of Astronomy at Macalester College in St Paul, MN.\* He did a show on the local PBS station back in the days when it was still known as “the educational channel.” I remember reading Roy Chapman Andrews’ books on dinosaurs back when I was just a little kid. What a fascinating life he led! I also had the pleasure of attending one of Dr Karlos Kaufmanos’s famous lectures on the Star of Bethlehem 30-odd years ago. My God, could that man tell a story! \*He was also the namesake for Shermy in _ **Peanuts** _. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/39 "2014-12-13T20:58:15Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I loved me some 3-2-1 Contact but I don’t think the show had any one host. The format as I remember it was short science videos. Wow, I haven’t thought of 3-2-1 in forever. I loved me some 3-2-1 Contact. I think I became a scientist in large part due to that single program. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121/40 "2014-12-13T21:16:49Z")
Mr. Wizard on Nickelodeon for me in the 80s. For whatever reason the time he showed how calories are in food by burning breakfast cereal always stands out in my memory. Beakman was pretty cool when he came along. Good energy, and that’s the first time I saw the swinging bowling ball in the face trick. I was a little older, and Mr. Wizard had covered much of the same material. Bill Nye? I love him, but by the time he got his show I had outgrown those types of shows, and his image was tainted for me by seeing him do sketch comedy on _Almost Live_. In fact it was on that show that he first used the “science guy” persona, especially in one segment showing how futile jumping in a falling elevator would be by crushing an egg in a scale experiment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-was-your-favorite-science-guy-growing-up/707121.md?page=3)