Nat Geo Network Making its First Comedy

W460

The National Geographic Channel, not usually a place you'd look for laughs, is making its first comedy.

The network said Wednesday that it is making a miniseries, "History of the World ... For Now," that takes on the broadest of possible topics with the help of cartoons, puppets and the like. It is expected to air next winter.

"I know it may sound like oil and water, but I refuse to believe our sophisticated National Geographic audience is not ready" to experiment with a new genre, said Tim Pastore, the network's president of original programming and production.

The network is making it with producers John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, whose previous credits include HBO's "Silicon Valley" and Fox's "King of the Hill."

Nat Geo also said it is making a four-hour miniseries, "Saints & Strangers," about the settlers who came to America on the Mayflower. It is expected to air around Thanksgiving.

Eric Overmyer, an executive producer of "Saints & Strangers," said there's a lot to learn about the settlers beyond the shorthand stories told in history books.

"I think we'll open eyes," he said.

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