Why Is It So? (his eventual stock phrase), was broadcast from 1963 to 1986 and became an instant hit known for its "cool experiments, interesting science, and fantastic hair." The 1960s program became Demonstrations in Physics (also called Science Demonstrations when it was aired on American Public television). Due to budget constraints the offer was withdrawn but an agreement was reached for Miller to host his own science based TV series which was filmed at the University of Sydney where he taught. When asked how much money he wanted he replied he never asked, he listened to an offer then "multiplied it by a factor between two and ten". Shortly after, he was offered a job presenting science for ABC Television. I should have said: "Australian potatoes ain’t worth a damn," and I’d have cornered the potato market!" He later stated " I sat amongst the straws with straws stuck in my hair and ears. The next morning, Miller arrived at his Sydney University laboratory to find one million drinking straws on the floor with a telegram reading " You might find one of these fitting your requirements". For the first time in his career he could not get it to work and loudly exclaimed " Australian straws ain't worth a damn". A paper straw does not have the strength but if you pinch the end, the trapped air acts as a piston, easily piercing the potato. In an improvised physics demonstration he attempted to drive a straw through a raw potato. ![]() Miller's first television appearance in Australia was on Bob Sanders People in 1963. ![]() During the same period, he appeared on a semi-regular basis, performing physics experiments, on Steve Allen's late night TV show in Hollywood, syndicated by Group W. From 1962 to 1964, Miller was Disney's "Professor Wonderful" on new introductions, filmed at Disneyland, to the syndicated reruns of The Mickey Mouse Club. Miller began hosting his educational program, "Why Is It So?" in 1959 on KNXT Channel 2 in Los Angeles.
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