Science nerds rejoice. Bill Nye is coming to Miami!
Recently, Bill Nye published a National Geographic documentary entitled “Explorer: Bill Nye’s Global Meltdown.” If you haven’t watched the documentary it is highly suggested that you do so. It is co hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger and brings our global warming epidemic to the forefront of national attention.
In the film, Nye sits co-pilot in a helicopter flying over the Miami beach coastline.
“This is the most at-risk coastline in the U.S.,” says Nye as he passes by the tourist filled beaches off of Collin’s Avenue. He continues his rant with theatrics and hand gesturing.
Soon after, Nye is seen on land speaking with beachgoers along Collins Avenue, briefly asking them about climate change. Some bizarre exchanges include a beach goer who isn’t concerned about global warming because “he’s in Miami.”
Watch Magic City’s Preview of Bill Nye’s Appearance
In Tallahassee, Nye sits down with Florida Rep. Mike Hill (R-Pensacola Beach), whose flat declaration (“We’ve gone through these cycles before – warming and cooling, warming and cooling – and the Earth has always survived”) is enough to send Nye spiraling. In one scene, Nye appears scruffy and depressed, bow-tie undone, puffing a cigarette on a highway.
Bill Nye Brings His Message to Miami
After Bill Nye’s previous experience in Miami, he has decided to bring his message and his bow-tie back to the beautiful coastline. On Friday Jan 15, Nye will bring his science and showmanship to the Magic City Comic Con for a Q and A in which he will be promoting his new book “Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World.”
Nye is just one of the many entertainers who will be featured. The Magic City Comic Con will feature the work of 90 science-fiction, anime, fantasy, film and comic-book celebrities over the course of the weekend of Jan 15-17.
Mike Broder’s Bold Move to Lure in The Science Guy
Mike Broder is the founder of Magic City. He is quoted to call the appearance of Bill Nye a “coup.” Bill Nye very rarely makes convention appearances and Broder took it into his own hands to bring Nye to South Florida. Broder bid $10,000 over the summer for a crowdfunded Bill Nye documentary on Kickstarter to lure the engineer back to town. It worked!
“The bid originally said $10,000 to make him substitute science teacher for a day at a grade school,” Broder says. “I wanted him to do a Q and A onstage instead. In a way, he’ll be teaching our class, which is 23,000 die hard fans.”
To Broder, the appearance brings attention and audience to the Magic City show. However, it also brings a sense of nostalgia to the target age demographic for the convention attendees. Nye’s appearance taps into Magic City’s audience, but also brings attention to the polarizing issue of climate change in South Florida.
Many of the millennials grew up watching Bill Nye in class and on television. This generation is already very familiar with his message and his science. Bill Nye does hold a special place in their hearts. Many of the crowd will attend the Comic Con simply to see Bill Nye in person.
However, others are not so thrilled.
“I grew up in Fort Lauderdale as a teenager, so I’ll tell you, we have a freaking erosion problem,” says Broder, whose Magic City Facebook page has drawn “nasty comments” about Nye’s appearance. “He has an opportunity to talk to an audience about evolution and climate change, and I’m sure he’ll upset a few apple carts.” says Broder
Also Appearing at Magic City Comic Con
Other celebrities include “Doctor Who” actors Jenna Coleman and Billie Piper, which Broder calls the other big-ticket draws at Magic City. There is also World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler Ric Flair, along with Kristian Nairn, the lumbering gentle giant Hodor on “Game of Thrones”; and puppeteer Carol Spinney, the iconic voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on “Sesame Street.”
More attractions this year include cosplay contests, a Super Geek Film Festival, a “Dating a Cosplayer 101” session and a screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with original actors Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn and Nell Campbell.
Acknowledging that the caliber of talent appearing here “seems similar” to Florida Supercon, Broder says Magic City is designed as a “competitor,” not a companion, to the popular summer convention he also manages.
“Magic City is like a young upstart, so I want to treat it like, ‘How do I make it better than Supercon?’ ” Broder says. “The tier of guests that are coming speak to that point.”
Magic City Comic Con will run noon-2 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 10:30 a.m.- 2 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, and 10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17 at Miami Airport Convention Center, 711 NW 72nd Ave., in Miami. Admission costs $35-$40 for single-day ticket, $75-$250 for weekend pass. Call 305-261-3800 or go to MagicCityComicCon.com.
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