Discovery Highlights New Shows for ID, Science Channel

Discovery Communications’ TCA presentation included the documentary special Son of Sam: The Hunt for a Killer, coming to Investigation Discovery (ID), and the Science Channel series Mysteries of the Missing.

Marking the 40th anniversary of the capture of David Berkowitz, ID has lined up Son of Sam: The Hunt for a Killer, which traces the parallel stories of a serial killer’s unsuspecting victims and the dedicated detectives who worked tirelessly to capture the madman who left six young people dead, seven wounded and a city in chaos. It premieres on August 5 at 9 p.m. The network also revealed the latest installment in its An American Murder Mystery franchise, presented in partnership with Weinstein Television, Jupiter Entertainment and American Media: Drew Peterson: An American Murder Mystery. The two-hour special, slated to launch August 27 at 9 p.m., delves into the dark and secret life of Drew Peterson, his short-lived marriage to Stacy, and the mysterious and questionable circumstances surrounding the death of his previous wife, Kathleen Savio. ID is also bringing back Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall for a fifth season of ten all-new episodes, kicking off September 3.

Discovery Channel is presenting the all-new scripted anthology series Manhunt: Unabomber with a two-hour premiere on August 1 at 9 p.m. On August 10, the network has lined up First in Human, a three-part, six-hour medical doc series that takes viewers inside the crucial beginning phase of scientific research. It is narrated and executive produced by Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, Hidden Figures).

Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino, a veteran of two missions to the Hubble Space Telescope and four space walks, will host Science Channel’s Great American Eclipse special, airing August 21 at 9 p.m. Massimino will also serve as guide to The Planets, about our closest neighbors in the solar system, premiering August 22 at 10 p.m. MythBusters heads back to Science Channel this fall with all-new episodes and an all-new team. Brian Louden and Jon Lung, featured on MythBusters: The Search, are on board. Terry O’Quinn (Lost, The Patriot) pursues plausible explanations to some of the most infamous disappearances of all time in Mysteries of the Missing. The series premieres August 26 at 10 p.m.

Animal Planet has a new series lined up as well: Rescue Dog to Super Dog, in which shelter canines are given a second chance to become a service-dog-in-training to a person with a disability who needs assistance. The show premieres on Animal Planet on August 12 at 10 p.m.