Barbara Walters and Wendy Williams are coming to Investigation Discovery, the network announced Thursday during their presentation at the Television Critics Assn. summer press tour.
On Friday, Oct. 9, at 10 p.m., ID will bow “Death by Gossip With Wendy Williams,” executive produced and hosted by the daytime media personality. According to ID, the series uncovers crimes fueled by rumors and sordid half-truths that lead to betrayal and even murder, with six stories of harmless whispers turned deadly acts.
“There’s nobody better than the daring diva of daytime, Wendy Williams, to offer this cautionary tale to those who indulge in chatter and innuendo,” said Henry Schleiff, group president, Discovery Networks. “Jealousy, drama and betrayal — no one tells those tales like ID, and now with Wendy on board, our arsenal of homegrown experts has grown that much more entertaining.”
“Everyone loves a little dish now and then, but in these cases, guilty pleasure can become motive for murder,” says Wendy Williams, host and executive producer of the series.” I’m an ID addict, and I dare anyone not to be intrigued by the real-life stories we tell every week.”
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On Monday, Nov. 2, at 10 p.m., “Barbara Walters Presents American Scandals” will premiere. Each one-hour episode will delve into the vault of Walters’ most memorable one-on-one interviews, unveiling new perspectives and information. From the brutal killings conspired by the Menendez Brothers, to Jim Bakker’s sexual affair and imprisonment for fraud, to the murder of celebrity diet doctor Herman Tarnower, Walters answers the lingering questions we all still have, reveals where the key players are now, and uncovers the details behind the iconic tales through interviews with individuals who have never spoken before.
Investigative correspondent Chris Hansen will host a new newsmagazine show for ID, “Killer Instinct With Chris Hansen,” premiering Monday, Aug. 17, at 10 p.m. Through access to key witnesses, loved ones and law enforcement officials, Hansen will guide viewers through every twist and turn of an unfolding criminal drama. After deconstructing the case, “Killer Instinct” follows Hansen as he pieces the jigsaw puzzle back together again with added insight drawn from visiting the scene of the crime, interviewing key players, and uncovering never-before-seen archived material.
ID has also ordered a documentary special and a limited series from journalist and Al Jazeera America anchor Tony Harris: “Behind Closed Doors: Shocking Secrets,” a special report on the state of domestic violence in the U.S., premiering in October; and a collaboration with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and its founder, Morris Dees, “And Justice for All” (working title), which will showcase iconic stories from the organization’s case files. The SPLC is a civil rights organization that has been fighting hate and bigotry through litigation and education, and tracking hate groups across the country for more than four decades.
Rounding out ID’s new slate, director Joel Schumacher exec produces “Do Not Disturb: Hotel Horrors,” which takes viewers behind closed doors to explore the shocking crimes that happened inside hotels, weaving together cinematic-style reenactments, crime scene footage and commentary from hotel staff, true-crime experts and the victim’s family and friends. The show premieres Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 9 p.m.
