Iconic entertainer James Brown will be the focus of a new A&E documentary series debuting in February.

The two-night James Brown: Say It Loud documentary will air February 19 and 20, and will examine Brown's innovative and influential life through interviews, never-before-seen archival footage and his music catalog, according to A&E. 

Executive produced by Mick Jagger and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, the series traces the trajectory of Brown’s life and career from a 7th grade drop-out to an entertainment legend whose groundbreaking talent and unique perspective catapulted him to become a cultural force, said the network. Featured throughout the documentary are interviews with Bootsy Collins, LL Cool J, The Rev. Al Sharpton, Chuck D, Dallas Austin, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Along with Jagger and Thompson, James Brown: Say It Loud is executive produced by Tariq Trotter, Peter Afterman, David Blackman, Victoria Pearman, Bruce Resnikoff, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman, Charlie Cohen, and Mari Keiko Gonzalez.

Reelz will distribute an additional 90 episodes of its On Patrol: Live police documentary series. 

The series' third season will continue to document in realtime the everyday work of police officers on patrol, said the network, according to Reelz. The network last February greenlit a similar 90-episode order for the show's second season.  

“We are thrilled to renew the program for another year and to see viewers come together on Friday and Saturday nights as On Patrol: Live chronicles police on patrol in communities across America,” Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard said in a statement.

Added Abrams, who hosts the series alongside Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin (ret.), Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson and other guest experts: “There would be no OPL without #OPNation – more than just a dedicated audience interested in the work of law enforcement, these engaged viewers often reach out to help with the show’s ‘Missing’ and ‘BOLO’ (“Be on the Lookout”) segments and they make real contributions in aiding communities and families. It’s one of the most gratifying parts of working on On Patrol: Live and we’re so glad the show will continue.”

On Patrol: Live is produced by Big Fish Entertainment's Half Moon Pictures division, with Abrams, Dan Cesareo, John Zito, Lucilla D’Agostino, Paul Gordon and Joe Venafro serving as executive producers. 

On Patrol Live's third season announcement comes six months after a U.S. District Judge dismissed a motion brought by Big Fish Entertainment to dismiss an A&E copy infringement lawsuit against Big Fish and Reelz over whether On Patrol: Live mirrors A&E's Live PD series, which the network ended in 2020.

National Geographic will team with actor Idris Elba on a new documentary series profiling World War II heroes of color.

The series, The Color of Victory: Heroes of WW2, reveals the untold stories of the people of color who fought in the war and restores their place in the historic narratives of the war, according to the network. Elba will executive produce and narrate the series, which will also showcase how the war experiences of people of color helped shape and inspire post-war movements for freedom around the world, said Nat Geo officials.

Other new Nat Geo series in production include Inside The FBI, which focuses on how an FBI in turmoil fought to solve some of the most notorious crimes of the 20th Century; and Waking the Dead, in which genetic investigation organization the DNA Doe Project seeks to identify some of the unnamed and unidentified bodies in the US, according to Nat Geo. 

The network also announced it will develop a culinary-themed show featuring author Antoni Porowski. The series, No Taste Like Home With Antoni Porowski, will follow the Queer Eye star as he discovers the rich heritages of global celebrities by way of their ancestors’ food traditions and culinary experiences, said network officials. 

The History Channel will mark the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's  assassination with an eight-part documentary series debuting in November.

The series, Kennedy, debuts November 18 and will chronicle the life, enduring legacy and ambitious leadership of the 35th President of the United States, said the network. 

Kennedy, produced by Ashton Gleckman and narrated by Peter Coyote, offers a comprehensive and engaging portrait of a man who left an indelible mark on the nation as the youngest president elected to office, said History. From his early years to his tragic assassination in November 1963, the docuseries covers JFK’s personal life, political career and historic thousand-day presidency in meticulous detail, said network officials.

History will air the first three episodes of Kennedy November 18, followed by three episodes on November 19, and the final two on November 20.

Kennedy continues History's run of presidential miniseries following this year’s FDR, last year’s Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, and 2020's Grant, which remains the network’s most watched, non-fiction miniseries of all time.

Also: National Geographic To Debut ‘JFK: One Day in America’ Docuseries in November

Former WWE Superstar ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin participates in fun challenges and jobs as part of A&E’s new reality series Stone Cold Takes on America, premiering April 30. The series follows Austin as he hits the road to accept challenges from fans to take on everyday tasks as he looks to experience things he missed during his more than two-decade wrestling career. 

Stone Cold Takes on America executive producer and showrunner Mike Nichols talks about the series as well as his experiences in working with the WWE legend as part of an interview with Multichannel News. Here’s what Nichols and A&E want you to know about Stone Cold Takes on America. 

‘Stone Cold Takes On America’ primarily focuses on Steve Austin’s life and experiences post-WWE: “Steve wanted to do something very different in the series. He had this great, rich experience [with WWE], but he missed out on a lot of stuff that everybody else got to do as regular people. So in this series he’s saying, I want to try some things that I missed out while I was living my dream. We’ve seen him wrestle, host shows and do some fun, scripted stuff, but with this series he just wanted to hang out with people. He looks like a hard ass, but in fact he wants everybody around him to be comfortable. He has a terrific sense of humor which we did not see coming and that just made for a fun, lively series.”

Steve Austin steps out of his comfort zone to participate in unique challenges: “He does things you wouldn’t believe that Stone Cold Steve Austin would be doing, and some of the tasks are really tough, physical challenges. He rides trophy trucks and drives dune buggies, which can be dangerous. But then he’s also doing the live weather reports in Reno, and he’s operating a drive through window at a fast food restaurant. Sometimes it’s really adventurous and sometimes it’s very comedic, but it’s his willingness to do those things and put himself out there that makes it fun to watch.”  

Viewers don’t have to be familiar with Steve Austin to watch the series: “If you’re a fan of Steve Austin you will love the series because it’s going to confirm what you were hoping to see. If you’re not a fan of his, you don’t need to be one to like the show, because he’s just fun to watch. He brings this fun energy to everything he does — he’s a guy you want to have a beer with. We would go to different cities and people would be nervous to meet him, but within 10 seconds they were like old friends. He appeals to people whether they know him or not.”

Disney Plus follows actor Chris Hemsworth as he seeks to combat the aging process through healthy living and exercise in a new trailer for the National Geographic-produced series Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, debuting November 16.

The six-part series features the Thor and The Avengers star as he looks to discover the full potential of the human body, said the streaming service. The series puts cutting-edge science of human longevity center-stage, with each series episode following Hemsworth as he takes up physical and mental feats designed by world-class experts, scientists and doctors to unlock different aspects of the aging process.

Limitless with Chris Hemsworth is executive produced by Hemsworth, Ben Grayson, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, Jane Root, Arif Nurmohamed, Ruth Shurman, Bengt Anderson and Matt Renner. ■

A&E will examine groundbreaking hip hop performers as part of a new documentary series set to debut on Memorial Day.

The eight-hour series, Origins of Hip Hop, unspools on May 30 and will focus on the lives and careers of such iconic rap artists as Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Busta Rhymes, Eve, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Uncle Luke and Lil Jon, according to network officials.

Each hour of the series will delve into one of the genre’s biggest stars, tracing their path from where their stories began to their ultimate success, said the network.

“Origins of Hip Hop expands our boundary-pushing nonfiction programming slate and celebrates the artists and sounds that have helped define a genre and culture,” Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive VP and head of programming at A&E, said in a statement. “Alongside our partners at Mass Appeal, we are excited to elevate the voices and stories of this incredible group of artists who helped create and continue to shape the genre today.”

Also: A&E Greenlights Ol' Dirty Bastard Documentary

Origins of Hip Hop is executive produced by Peter Bittenbender and Slane Hatch, along with Bryant, Shelly Tatro and Brad Abramson. ■ 

History will look at the life and legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt as part of a two-part documentary series debuting Memorial Day, the network announced during its Television Critics Association Winter Tour session Wednesday.

The five-hour series, executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Doris Kearns Goodwin, will air across two consecutive nights beginning May 30, said the network. Based on Goodwin’s bestseller Leadership: In Turbulent Times, the miniseries will explore the breadth and depth of one of history’s most interesting men—a cowboy, soldier, statesman, conservationist, adventurer, reformer and author who suffered profound personal loss and became at age 42 the youngest president of the United States, said History.

“History has cemented itself as the premier destination for presidential documentary content that tells the definitive yet complex stories of our most influential leaders – Washington, Grant, Lincoln and now our fourth instalment – Theodore Roosevelt,” said Eli Lehrer, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for The History Channel as a statement. “Teddy was a fascinating man of many contradictions and we are proud to partner again with modern-day leaders in their own right -- Doris and Leo -- to bring this President’s larger-than-life story to our audience.”

The announcement comes on the heels of the network’s upcoming three-night documentary series Abraham Lincoln debuting Feb. 20. ■ 

Showtime in January will air a new documentary series about comedian Bill Cosby directed by comedian W. Kamau Bell.

The docuseries, We Need to Talk About Cosby, debuts Jan. 30 on Showtime, a week after it premieres at the Sundance Festival. The four-part series takes an in-depth look at the revolutionary career and personal descent of one of America’s most famous comedians. 

Bell (CNN’s United Shades of America) explores the complex story of Cosby’s life and work, weighing his infamy as a criminal defendant in a sexual-assault prosecution against his indisputable global influence through interviews with comedians, cultural commentators, journalists and women who share their most personal, harrowing encounters with Cosby, according to the network.

“Kamau has bravely ventured into a very complicated and nuanced area of the Bill Cosby story, which has yet to be explored in this depth,” said Showtime executive VP of nonfiction programming Vinnie Malhotra. “It’s an important and under-reported perspective on the legacy of one of history’s most iconic African American entertainers.”

Added Bell: “As a child of Bill Cosby, I was a huge fan of all his shows and wanted to be a comedian because of him. I never thought I’d ever wrestle with who we all thought Cosby was and who we now understand him to be. I’m not sure he would want me to do this work, but Cliff Huxtable definitely would.”

We Need to Talk About Cosby is executive produced by Bell, Andrew Fried, Katie A. King, Dane Lillegard, Jordan Wynn and Sarina Roma. ■

Smithsonian Channel will bring back its docuseries Ice Airport Alaska for its sophomore campaign on Jan. 9, the network announced Thursday.

The series chronicles the Ted Stevens International Airport in Alaska as it gets hammered by sub-zero temperatures, snowstorms, blizzards, and earthquakes, according to the network.

Ice Airport Alaska highlights the airport’s 110 staff members who work 24/7 just to keep the 33 million square feet of active runway clear of the 6 million tons of snow that fall annually, according to Smithsonian.

HBO will debut its documentary series The Lady and The Dale on Jan. 31, the network said Wednesday.

The four-part documentary, produced by Mark and Jay Duplass, traces the story of entrepreneur Elizabeth Carmichael who rose to prominence during the 1970s oil crisis with her promotion of a fuel-efficient, three-wheeled car known as The Dale, according to the network. 

The Lady and The Dale is executive produced by the Duplass brothers, along with Mel Eslyn, Allen Bain, Andre Gaines, Nick Cammilleri, Alana Carithers and Zackary Drucker.

Also Read: Tiger Woods Documentary ‘Tiger’ on HBO Jan. 10

 HBO has renewed its docu-comedy series How to With John Wilson for a second season, the network said Wednesday.

The series, in which Wilson films the lives of his fellow New Yorkers while attempting to give everyday advice on relatable topics, initially debuted on HBO on Oct. 23 and is currently available on HBO Max.

“John’s lens is so deliberate and dear,” says Gravitt in a statement. “Seeing the audience connect with HOW TO has been an absolute joy. We’re eager to see what 2021 has to offer with him behind the camera.”

HBO next month will premiere a new documentary series from Michael Strahan focusing on a successful football program in Baltimore.

The four-part series, The Cost of Winning, debuts Nov. 10 and tells the story of the St. Frances Academy Panthers football program in Baltimore, which despite being located in the heart of a neighborhood rife with gun violence and grinding socioeconomic challenges, became a source of pride and searing controversy, said the network. The series highlights the team’s expulsion from their private school league for being “too good” -- a turn of events that raised questions of racial bias, said HBO.

Strahan, an NFL Hall of Famer and Good Morning America co-host, along with Constance Schwartz-Morini, serve as executive producers of the series. “We are excited to bring the inspiring story of Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy to life on HBO, and to showcase the adversity and challenges the Panthers endured to save their program,” said Strahan and Schwartz-Morini in a statement. 

Disney Plus on Wednesday debuted two promotional video clips from its upcoming documentary series Marvel’s 616.

The documentary series, which will stream on Disney Plus this fall, explores the intersections of storytelling, pop culture and fandom within the Marvel Universe, according to the streaming service.

The first clip is from the episode “Higher, Further, Faster” directed by actor/director Gillian Jacobs, which shines a light on the trailblazing women of Marvel Comics and how they found ways to tell stories of representation and inclusion. The second clip is from the Paul Scheer-directed episode “Lost and Found,” following the actor and comedian’s eye-opening and hilarious journey to discover the “forgotten” characters of Marvel Comics, according to the service. 

A&E Network has renewed its freshman documentary series Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole for a second season, the network said Thursday.

The series focuses on convicted juvenile offenders who received mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole. The second season will chronicle eight convicted offenders fighting for a second chance. It also gives voice to the families of their victims who must grapple with the possibility that they could soon be released due to a recent United States Supreme Court ruling that such sentences for minors are unconstitutional, according to network officials.

“A&E is proud to continue our legacy as a home of thought-provoking and timely non-fiction programming with season two of Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive VP & Head of Programming for A&E in a statement. “The series shines a light on our nation’s criminal justice system to examine complex cases and their impact not only on those directly involved, but also on communities as a whole.”

A&E said Saturday (Dec. 24) it will not move forward with its upcoming documentary Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in Americaafter discovering that the show's producers paid for access to series participants.

The controversial documentary series, which was to focus on the Ku Klux Klan, had generated negative publicity since A&E announced the series earlier this month. The series was set to premiere Jan. 10.

Network officials said in a statement that the producers of the documentary made payments to participants of the series in "direct violation of A&E's policies and practices for a documentary." A&E on Friday changed the name of the series from Generation KKK and enlisted anti-hate organization Color of Change as a partner in the series. 

A&E's statement on the cancellation of the series is as follows: The documentary ‘Escaping the KKK’ was intended to serve as a close look at anti-hate extractors focused on helping people leave the Ku Klux Klan—the racist hate group with a long history of violence against African Americans and others. Our goal with this series has always been to expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms.  

However, A&E learned last night from the third-party producers who made the documentary that cash payments -- which we currently understand to be nominal -- were made in the field to some participants in order to facilitate access.  While we stand behind the intent of the series and the seriousness of the content, these payments are a direct violation of A&E’s policies and practices for a documentary.  We had previously provided assurances to the public and to our core partners - including the Anti-Defamation League and Color of Change - that no payment was made to hate group members, and we believed that to be the case at the time.  We have now decided not to move forward with airing this project.

A&E takes the authenticity of its documentary programming and the subject of racism, hatred and violence very seriously.  Just because this particular show goes away, the issues of hate in America do not.  We will still seek to fight hate in America through on-air programming including town halls and documentary programs produced in partnership with civil rights organizations, as well as continue to work with the civil rights community to facilitate a deeper dialogue on ending hate through comprehensive educational and outreach campaigns.