Surprisingly, despite the fact that their titles are indeed quite similar, there is no official connection between the two popular children's series.

The titles are similar enough, in fact, that the former series, "Sid the Science Kid," could have been subject to some kind of legal action, were it not for the fact that it would have boiled down, in part, to PBS suing itself.

Both series were co-produced and distributed by PBS. It's possible, however, that the other co-producers involved are the reason there aren't more overt links between the two shows.

The Jim Henson Company, which was the main creative force behind "Sid the Science Kid," and Disney, which helped produce "Bill Nye the Science Guy," are frequently in competition with each other in the kids-show market.

Though they have occasionally co-operated -- they nearly merged in 1989, but the deal fell apart around the time of Jim Henson's death -- they remain separate companies whose properties, though they may even appear on the same network, are nonetheless competitors.

"Bill Nye the Science Guy" is the older of the two shows, having premiered as a series in 1993 (though Nye debuted his character, Bill Nye the Science Guy, in a six-minute bit on the local Seattle talk show "Almost Live" in 1987).

"Sid the Science Kid," on the other hand, didn't premiere until 2008.

Both series are highly regarded for providing entertainment and education together -- not always an easy task, as most teachers will tell you.

However, it must be said that "Bill Nye the Science Guy" was more highly regarded at the time of its airing, if we use awards as a measurement. Bill's show won 23 awards during its five-year run, including an amazing 19 Daytime Emmys. "Sid the Science Kid," on the other hand, was a perennial awards show bridesmaid, nominated for six Daytime Emmys, but never winning.

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