Exclusive: Investigation Discovery's Killer New Crop of Original Series

Fast-growing network Investigation Discovery is ramping up its commitment to guilty-pleasure crime-themed programming. The network is set to announce that it will add 15 new series to its 22 returning series next season, including previously announced shows hosted by Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum Charisma Carpenter and NBC News anchor Tamron Hall.

New shows include Southern Fried Homicide, about crime south of the Mason-Dixon Line, hosted by actress Shanna Forrestall; Darkness Out of Town, which chronicles murder that takes place in the countryside; The First Kill, about initial murders that inspired killing sprees; and The Bad Old Days, about real-life killings from the 1950s and 1960s.

Also on the docket: Imposters, about criminals and schemers who have conned their way into wealth through deceit; A Stranger in My Home, about forming relationships with people who turn out to be criminals; Beauty Queen Murders, which is exactly what it sounds like; Evil-in-Law, which looks at mother-in-laws who overstep their bounds; and Fear Thy Neighbor, stories of what happens when the guy down the street turns out to be a psycho.

Among the previously announced series, Carpenter's show, Surviving Evil, looks at stories of women who fought their attackers and survived. (Carpenter herself survived a violent crime in San Diego in 1991). Hall hosts Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall, an original newsmagazine about crime investigation. Jerry Springer hosts Tabloid, a look at bizarre larger-than-life stories. And Elder Skelter recounts senior citizens who have committed crimes.

Returning ID shows include On the Case with Paula Zahn, Redrum, Wives with Knives, On Death Row, Frenemies: Loyalty Turned Lethal and Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry?

"Other networks might dabble in our programming genre, but our signature storytelling and the volume of original productions have made ID a major entertainment destination, especially for women," says Investigation Discovery president and general manager Henry Schleiff (who also oversees Discovery's Military Channel and Destination America).

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