Explorer: Nat Geo Series Returning in New Format

Explorer is back. This week, National Geographic Channel announced the series will return in November with a new format.

Hosted by Richard Bacon, the docuseries features a “mix of intrepid field pieces, roundtable discussions and in-depth interviews in a continuation of the series’ legacy of pushing the boundaries of journalism.”

The new season of Explorer will take viewers to Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and the world’s first beer pipeline. New episodes debut on November 14th at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

From Nat Geo:

(LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 27, 2016) – National Geographic Channel’s long-running, critically-acclaimed series EXPLORER, which has long represented the best of the network for more than three decades, will return in a newly reimagined format on November 14, 2016 at 10:00 pm ET/PT. Hosted by Richard Bacon (@richardpbacon), and taped in front of a live studio audience in a state-of-the-art studio in New York City, cable television’s longest-running documentary series will use a mix of intrepid field pieces, roundtable discussions and in-depth interviews in a continuation of the series’ legacy of pushing the boundaries of journalism. This new evolution of EXPLORER, produced by National Geographic Studios, will air on a weekly basis on National Geographic Channel around the world in 171 countries in 45 languages and in Spanish on Nat Geo Mundo.

“We are excited about the significant expansion in the scope and ambition of EXPLORER, which emulates National Geographic’s ongoing commitment to topical, entertaining and, most importantly, vital reporting,” said Tim Pastore, president of original programming and production, National Geographic Channel. “This is a new chapter for the legendary series, and we are investing heavily in this brand to bring viewers important topics that will both inform and entertain.”

In each episode, studio host Richard Bacon will anchor segments and panel discussions as well as a mix of entertaining and hard-hitting investigative stories from all over the world by field correspondents including Bryan Christy (National Geographic Explorer, “Explorer: Warlords of Ivory”), Ryan Duffy (Vice, AOL/Huffington Post), Francesca Fiorentini (AJ+, Al Jazeera Media Network), Jena Friedman (“Daily Show with Jon Stewart”, “Late Show with David Letterman, Justin Hall (“Explorer: Battle for Virunga”), Billie Mintz (“Jesus Town, USA”), Tania Rashid (Current TV, Vice News), Tim Samuels (BBC Television) and Baratunde Thurston (“Daily Show with Trevor Noah”).

Among the stories these field pieces will explore are the following:

· Indonesia’s remote Toraja people practice mysterious and elaborate funeral rituals, which Billie Mintz learns are actually the focal point of a surprisingly modern and lucrative cottage industry.

· Host Richard Bacon digs into the old saying that “an army travels on its stomach,” by getting up close and personal with the history, development and technology behind the meals that feed American troops in combat.

· Across the U.K., children are being interrogated at school about their personal beliefs and religious practices and, in some cases, being torn from their homes because the government believes they are being radicalized. Francesca Fiorentini investigates this counterterrorism strategy, known as “Prevent,” that is leading some critics to ask: Have we moved into the Orwellian realm of punishing thought crimes?

· Jena Friedman visits the first pipeline in the world that will exclusively pump beer. The brainchild of Belgian beer baron Xavier Vanneste, owner of a 500-year-old brewery, this new technology will pipe beer directly from the brewery to the bottling plant and, in turn, help both the town and the environment by eliminating the beer trucks that were clogging the narrow streets.

“I think our unbelievably talented group of field correspondents would join me in saying that I’m incredibly proud to be a new part of the National Geographic family,” said Bacon. “To me, National Geographic is a remarkable brand with an incredible legacy, and EXPLORER has always has been, and will continue to be, a huge part of that. There is an enormous responsibility on all of us to maintain this legacy. But seriously, no pressure.”

Leading EXPLORER behind the scenes is a creative team well-versed in studio shows that tackle timely topics on a global scaled, including executive producer Lou Wallach, formerly of The Colbert Report and The Talking Dead, and showrunners Nick McKinney and Meghan O’Hara – industry veterans who have produced several feature documentaries and were also the co-creators of The IFC Media Project.

Launched in 1985, before there even was a National Geographic Channel, EXPLORER has encapsulated more than 2,000 films and has been honored with nearly 60 Emmys and hundreds of other awards. The series has taken viewers to more than 120 countries, opening a window on hidden parts of the world, unlocking mysteries both ancient and modern, and investigating stories of science, nature and culture. Emboldened by the highly-respected yellow border, the series’ hallmark is incredible inside access to some of the world’s most exclusive, dangerous or unbelievable people and places.

Explorer is produced for National Geographic Channel by National Geographic Studios. For National Geographic Studios, executive producers are Lou Wallach, Jeff Hasler and Brian Lovett. For National Geographic Channel, vice president of production and development is Kevin Tao Mohs; and president, original programming and production, is Tim Pastore.”

What do you think? Are you a fan of National Geographic’s Explorer? Will you watch the new season?