Newton's Apple

Newton's Apple
File:Apple15.jpg
Created by	James Steinbach
Starring	Ira Flatow David Heil Peggy Knapp SuChin Pak Dave Huddleston Brian Hackney Eileen Galindo
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	30 Minutes
Original release
Network	PBS
Release	1983 – 1998

Newton's Apple is an educational television program distributed to PBS stations in the United States that ran for fifteen seasons from 1983 to 1998. Targeted at younger viewers, it was highly regarded. The title came from the story of Isaac Newton's "discovery" of gravity, which supposedly happened when an apple fell from a tree onto his head. The show was produced by Twin Cities Public Television (tpt). For most of the run (when David Heil started his stint as host), the show's theme song was Ruckzuck by Kraftwerk, later remixed by Absolute Music. Later episodes of the show featured an original song.

National Public Radio science correspondent Ira Flatow was the show's first host, later succeeded by David Heil, then assistant director of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Peggy Knapp was a longtime field reporter and served as co-host in the 14th season. The last season was hosted by the team of David Heil, Dave Huddleston, Eileen Galindo, Brian Hackney and SuChin Pak, now a frequent host and pop culture reporter for MTV. An occasional short feature appeared called "Science of the Rich and Famous" in which celebrities appeared to explain a science principle; as examples, rock star Ted Nugent explained guitar feedback, Olympic Gold Medalist skater Scott Hamilton demonstrated the angular momentum of a skater's spin, and Betty White showed how cats purr. DuPont was a sponsor of the show up until 1990, then 3M funded production until 1997. "Newton's Apple" won numerous national awards including the A.A.A.S. Science Journalism Award, the Parent's Choice Award, and in 1989, the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Series. James W. Head III was biology consultant for the series.

A segment in the early years was entitled "Newton's Lemons" which used 1950s era newsreels of a then-futuristic device that had long since been forgotten.

External links

• Twin Cities Public Television: Newton's Apple