Nat Geo Revamps Factual Series Explorer

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Channel has set a fall premiere for its reimagined version of Explorer, with a team of veteran showrunners being brought in to tweak the long-running format.

The new version of the series will blend field packages with commentary from a diverse group of celebrity guests, experts and correspondents. Filmed before a live studio audience in New York and anchored by host Richard Bacon, Explorer will air worldwide on the network in 171 countries and 45 languages.

At the helm of the revamped series will be Lou Wallach, formerly of The Colbert Report and Talking Dead, and Nick McKinney and Meghan O’Hara, who have produced several feature documentaries and who co-created The IFC Media Project.

National Geographic Studios is producing the show.

“We feel extremely fortunate to have Lou, Nick and Meghan in place to bring our vision of the new Explorer to life,” said Tim Pastore, National Geographic Channel’s president of original programming and production. “We feel confident that together with host Richard Bacon they are creating an insightful, sharp and, above all, an entertaining program unlike anything currently on TV.”

“I could not have asked for a better team to join me in rebooting Explorer,” said Wallach. “We all feel an awesome amount of responsibility to the brands of the network and series and, with this incredible group of inventive and energized minds, we are creating something truly groundbreaking.”