New Series & Event Specials Heading to HISTORY

NEW YORK: HISTORY has unveiled its lineup of new original series and event specials set to join its programming roster, among them the 13-episode Pawning History and two-hour The Naturalized.

In the way of series, from Emmy Award-winning producer/director Jane Root comes America: The Story of Us. The 12-parter will provide an unprecedented look at the U.S., from the origins of the country to infrastructure and technological development, exploring the people, places and things that shaped the country’s history. Other series given the go-ahead include Pawning History, a 13-episode show that centers on the only family-owned pawn shop in Las Vegas, where three generations of men—grandfather, father and son—clash while running the business together; Madhouse (working title), spotlighting a quarter-mile racetrack in Winston-Salem, NC, where daring local drivers show their love of cars and ingenuity as they retool, redesign, rebuild and re-customize their cars for the big race on Saturday night; and WWII in HD, featuring thousands of hours of color archival footage, restored using advanced HD technology, never seen by most Americans. Further greenlit series are Nostradamus Effect, examining today’s global events and relating them back to a particular prophecy, and Mysteryquest, which looks to explore the unexplained.

The People Speak is a multi-tiered marketing and programming event, including a documentary film, co-branded nationwide educational outreach and a wide-ranging interstitial branding campaign from HISTORY and The People Speak Organization, Voices of a People’s History of the United States. The film features appearances from celebrities such as Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Viggo Mortensen, as well as musical performances by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder.

Also given the greenlight as a special, The Naturalized follows six adults from six different countries who all share one goal: to become an American. The two-hour special is produced by Jon Stewart’s Bubulah Productions. Holy Grail in America investigates a story that begins in medieval Europe and culminates in a present-day search for answers. Based on the 2008 special History of the Joke with Lewis Black, Surviving the Holidays with Lewis Black is a two-hour special that skewers the 35 days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Another special on order for HISTORY is 24 Hours After: The Kennedy Assassination. The project re-examines this pivotal day in history, using details found in new public documents to reveal a VP thrust into the role of commander-in-chief and left to make critical decisions with limited information.

Among the series returning to HISTORY are Original Productions’ Ice Road Truckers and Ax Men, How the Earth was Made from Pioneer Productions and The Universe, produced by Fight 33 Productions. Also heading back to the lineup will be Monsterquest from Whitewolf Entertainment, Ancient Discoveries from Wild Dream Films and Modern Marvels from Actuality Productions.

"The network’s goal is to establish itself as the number one nonfiction cable network in adults 25 to 54," said Nancy Dubuc, the executive VP and general manager of HISTORY. "We are proud to take HISTORY on a journey of vast proportions. With today’s mass of options, brand is key, and we sit atop one of the best in the media landscape. We are honored to work with top talent such as Mark Burnett, Thom Beers, Chris Moore (Project Greenlight and Good Will Hunting), Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, famed producer Jane Root and many others. Together we are partnering on innovative, game-changing television."

Dubuc continued: "It is critical that as a brand we continue to redefine what history means for a new generation, to broaden the boundaries of HISTORY. Our viewers come to us with a passion for knowledge as they search for their place in the world. HISTORY continues to stand out in the sea of choices, particularly in these challenging, history-making times, as the critical, authentic voice that viewers demand."