‘APPLE’ POWER

David Heil, host of PBS’ “Newton’s Apple,” can afford to be generous when discussing his new competition. His show, acclaimed for its approach to exploring science, is entering its 11th season.

“I think it’s an interesting opportunity,” he says. “The more we experiment with science ideas, the more we all learn. TV is a resource. I know I’m actually happier when I see there are science shows. I’m pleased as punch.”

Heil, associate director of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, is delighted that new shows like “Beakman” and “Bill Nye” will address new issues and topics for kids to turn to “other than soaps and sitcoms.”

He also believes that the new shows will send even more audience members his way.

“The new shows are for specific age groups and maybe some of the kids who initially tune in won’t be in that target audience, and they might give “Newton’s Apple” a try.”

“It will be interesting to see how they (the new shows) mature,” he says magnanimously. “We’re in our 11th season and have a whole new set, a new warehouse filled with stuff.”

The season premiere Nov. 20 captures Heil as he scales a sheer rock cliff at Smith Rocks in Oregon.

For the “Science of the Rich and Famous” segment of the show’s opener, former “Let’s Make a Deal” host Monty Hall talks about weighing the odds and how it’s not difficult to judge probabilities. Hall uses the roll of the dice as an example: You always know the chances of rolling snake eyes, because it’s one in six times one in six, for one chance in 36. The odds are always the same for each new roll.

Future shows will continue to uncover “secrets” of biology, medicine, aerodynamics, archeology and recycling. Feature segments in the new season include spotted owls, reindeer, construction, repairs on Mt. Rushmore, the development and construction of jumbo jets, windsurfing in the Pacific Northwest, permafrost in Alaska, tumbleweeds, astronomical phenomena, carpel-tunnel syndrome, heart attacks, firefighting and, for the TV generation, virtual reality.