TCA: Nat Geo’s 'StarTalk' to Return in October

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National Geographic Channel will return its late night series StarTalk in October, the network said Wednesday during its Television Critics Association tour session.

Also, the network will develop a scripted drama Red Planet from producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer about man's first trip to mars, according Nat Geo CEO Courteney Monroe.

StarTalk, hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, will premiere Oct. 25 on the channel. The first guest for the second season will be President Bill Clinton, said Monroe.

In other Nat Geo news, the network will also launch a new documentary Parched, produced by Alex Gibney. The limited series will also be developed into a theatrical release, according to network officials. 

The network also said it has ordered a pilot script dubbed Last Men Out about the last 36 hours of the Vietnam War from executie producers Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson.

Monroe also said she's open to another Killing original movie, but the network has no plans for any additional movies wihtin the franchise. The network's Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus and Killing Lincoln are among the most watched shows in network history. 

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.