<p>I am so depressed! An icon from my youth, Mr. Wizard, died today. <a href=“http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/obits/stories/2007/06/13/metobherbert0613a.html[/url]”>http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/obits/stories/2007/06/13/metobherbert0613a.html</a>
I loved his science show, and have a book (from 1959) on my/my s’s shelf right nearby. My s used to get up at 6 am to watch him. I know this generation had Bill Nye, the science guy, but our generation has lost a legend.</p>
<p>jym: Thanks for posting this. I watched him, too, and thought he was great. I always thought the Bill Nye show was awful, to be honest–too much flash and quick editing. But Mr. Wizard was really one-of-a-kind; really a wonderfully put together show, and he was great at it.</p>
<p>Agreed, Jack. Mr. Wizard was a class act. Someone posted that Bill Nye occasionally filled in for a class at Cornell, which is kinda cool, but I still think Don Hebert is one who will be hard to be topped. I am surprisingly sadder than I thought I would be at this news. I feel Like I’ve lost another piece of my youth (which faded away a long time ago!)</p>
<p>Yes, I agree. ^</p>
<p>We never allowed our kid to watch Bill Nye (or much TV as a small child for that matter); I suspect Bill Nye contributed to ADD in the schools. 
Really–what teacher in real life can compete with all that flash and quick editing? In contrast, I remember Mr. Wizard as being so calm and so careful–especially about explaining everything–and what he did really did seem like magic; sad they don’t make shows like that anymore. [Just read the obit, though, and wasn’t aware he did a show on cable in the 1980’s.]</p>
<p>Yes. Mr. Wizard’s demeanor was kinda like Mr. Rogers, except without the sweater :)</p>
<p>Ok…I had to come out of hiding for this topic (I outed myself…tried very hard)…</p>
<p>I too was a Mr. Wizard fan (of the '80’s version though)…</p>
<p>I recall getting up before 6am every morning with my siblings and turning on the tv to watch Mr. Wizard…</p>
<p>Today when I heard the news, I called my mom and said that my childhood hero had died. She sounded puzzled because she always thought of Mr. Rogers as my childhood hero (whose memorial service I really wanted to attend, but for some reason wasn’t in Pittsburgh at the time). I said no, my other childhood hero, Mr. Wizard. My mom had completely forgotten that we watched him religiously during our early childhood.</p>
<p>Jym, I completely agree with you on your last comment. He was my Mr. Rogers without the sweater. Plus, I have to give him at least a little credit for helping me become a scientist today! :)</p>
<p>I hope he went peacefully and his family finds peace during the grieving process!</p>
<p>Edit: Oh yeah, and I never got into Bill Nye…never understood why people liked him better than Mr. Wizard :rolleyes:</p>