Nat Geo Slates Neil deGrasse Tyson Talk Show, Event Miniseries

PASADENA/WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Channel is prepping its first-ever late-night series, Star Talk, hosted by renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, in addition to lining up a brand-new event miniseries, History of the World.

The Star Talk series is based on Tyson's popular podcast of the same name. The show, set to launch in April, will feature celebs, comedians and scientists discussing the latest developments in the vast universe. The series will be produced by National Geographic Studios and will be taped in front of a studio audience at the American Museum of Natural History’s Hayden Planetarium, where Tyson serves as director. Tyson previously served as host of the hit Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, which was a global success.

Also announced for Nat Geo, History of the World (working title) will use comedy, animation and documentary storytelling to explore a range of topics about how the world came about, how it was populated, the evolution of man and more. The miniseries event is being produced for National Geographic Channels by Altschuler & Krinsky Works (Silicon Valley, King of the Hill) and National Geographic Studios. 3Arts Entertainment (Parks and Rec) is also involved in the production.

“Cosmos allowed us to share the awesome power of the universe with a global audience in ways that we never thought possible,” said Tyson. “To be able to continue to spread wonder and excitement through Star Talk, which is a true passion project for me, is beyond exciting. And National Geographic Channel is the perfect home as we continue to explore the universe.”

“After the global success of Cosmos as one of the most watched series in our history, we are thrilled to be partnering with Neil again on Star Talk—his wildly popular podcast that transcends science and crosses over into pop culture—once again satisfying the audience’s passion for adventure and exploration,” said Courteney Monroe, the CEO of National Geographic Channels. “We continue to bolster our programming with series and event specials that are brand definitional, and Star Talk is the perfect opportunity to offer our audience an edgy, late-night alternative with the credibility and authenticity that are the hallmarks of our network.”

“As we continue to develop and evolve our brand, we’re always looking to push style and format boundaries, and History of the World is the perfect example,” said Tim Pastore, NGC's president of original programming and production. “This docu-comedy series will not only have the signature National Geographic storytelling that is both authentic and credible, but we’ll also inject a unique sense of humor giving the history of the world a little bit of heart… and hopefully lots of laughs.”

“We have a long legacy in producing award-winning documentaries that inspire viewers to care about the world,” added Brooke Runnette, the president of National Geographic Studios. “But we want to make sure we’re using every kind of storytelling device to get these important stories across—including comedy. We’re excited about this opportunity to work with great partners to bring the History of the World to viewers in a completely new and engaging way.”

“Dave and I are thrilled that National Geographic is helping us launch a show that looks at the history of the world in a comedic way,” said John Altschuler, executive producer for Altschuler & Krinsky Works. “Who would have thought that all those years doing cartoons, sitcoms, silly movies and puppet shows would actually pay off in one show?”

Additionally, National Geographic Channel has set a summer premiere for Dino Autopsy, a two-hour special that will use special effects to simulate a T-Rex dissection.

The special will present a full-size, anatomically correct dinosaur, based on the very latest research and findings. The model will be life-like inside and out, giving scientists the chance to touch it, smell it, scan it, X-ray it and cut it open from head to toe for the first time. The title will seek to answer such questions as whether the T-Rex had feathers, how it fed with its tiny arms and how it procreated.

Dino Autopsy will air internationally on National Geographic Channels in 171 countries and in 45 languages. Impossible Factual produced the show for National Geographic Channels International (NGCI). Paul Woodling will exec produce for Impossible Factual, with Ed Sayer executive producing for the network.