In February 2017, NBCUniversal confirmed that it planned to revamp the Oxygen network into a true crime channel (both scripted and unscripted) with women as its primary target audience. The change will be accompanied by a larger re-branding later in the year, which may or may not keep the Oxygen name. The network has yet to determine the fate of its current non-true-crime programming, like “Bad Girls Club.”
Unveiling its first upfront slate as the retooled Oxygen today, included is a new project from “Law & Order: SVU” star Ice-T, and several others.
The Ice-T series will be titled… wait for it… “Ice Cold Murders” (although that’s a working title; but, really, it’s perfect!). Ice-T will both host and executive produce (via his Final Level Entertainment) the series, which will “expose outrageous tales and shocking true stories involving sex, money, murder and sometimes a fatal cocktail of all three,” says the press release. In addition, it will include “captivating reenactments” that will “spotlight the very dark side of playing with fire and the tangled webs of lust, greed and death.”
Also of note is a new series titled “Final Appeal” which will be hosted by Brian Banks, the star football player with NFL aspirations who was wrongfully convicted pf rape, and spent five years behind bars until he was fully exonerated a decade later. Banks, along with former prosecutor, Loni Coombs, will attempt to unravel details of criminal cases where the defendants claim to have been wrongfully convicted. The series is produced by Peacock Productions with Sharon Scott, Elizabeth Waller, Melody Shafir and Siobhan Walshe serving as executive producers.
There’s also “Mysteries and Scandals,” hosted and executive produced by Soledad O’Brien – a new true crime series that investigates Hollywood’s most intriguing criminals, murders and cases of corruption, exploring infamous headlines that captured the nation’s attention using archival footage, new interviews and stylized depictions of past events.
The series is produced by Wilshire Studios with Jason Sklaver and Soledad O’Brien exec producing.
The rest of the new Oxygen’s programming slate follows:
New Series:
What Happened to…Jessica Chambers? (working title)
This active crime investigation docu-series takes a deep dive into the mysterious death of Jessica Chambers, the Mississippi teen who was doused with gasoline and set on fire in December of 2014. The series is inspired by the investigative journalism of BuzzFeed News’ Senior National Reporter Katie J.M. Baker, who reported Chambers’ story, uncovering developments and helping raise awareness about the case. Executive Produced by two-time Emmy and Peabody Award winner Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper), the series looks at the mystery and unanswered questions surrounding Chambers’ death, which has made it one of the most-talked about cases on the internet. In 2016, a grand jury indicted Quinton Tellis, 27, charging him with capital murder. Tellis has pled not guilty to the charge. A trial date has been set for October of 2017, which Wilshire Studios plans to cover as part of production. Produced by Wilshire Studios and BuzzFeed Motion Pictures with Joe Berlinger and Matthew Henickserving exec producing.
Criminal Confessions
This series delves into the psychological showdown that takes place inside actual police interrogation rooms and dissects what happens to yield a confession. Each hour-long episode takes viewers through the twists and turns of a real homicide case from the crime scene to the suspects’ questioning to the ultimate confession. The police officers and detectives assigned to each case will reveal their methodology while interviews with the suspects’ and victims’ friends and family will shed light on the crime. In every case, the interrogating officer will “break” the suspect and get a shocking reveal of what really happened. Produced by Wolf Reality and Shed Media with Dick Wolf, Tom Thayer, Pam Healey, John Hesling and Adam Kassen serving as exec producers.
The Disappearance of
A series of multi-part documentaries that dive headfirst into a rabbit hole of unexplored leads, missing evidence and unnerving suspicion surrounding the most puzzling cases of young women who have gone missing. The first two cases in the franchise center on missing student Natalee Holloway, and missing nursing student Maura Murray. The six-part The Disappearance of: Natalee Holloway series will be produced by Brian Graden Media with Brian Graden, Dave Mace, LB Horschler and Alex Weresow serving as exec producers. The Disappearance of: Maura Murray, also a six-part series, hails from Texas Crew Productions with David Karabinas, Eric Begley and Sonia Slutsky exec producing.
Patricia Cornwell’s True Conviction (Working title)
Patricia Cornwell, a world-renowned author who has sold more than 100 million books worldwide and has built an entire career on extensive scientific research and unprecedented forensic detail, has assembled an all-star team of world-class experts in the fields of psychology, forensics, and clinical pathology. Together, they will apply their collective knowledge toward a real life case where the stakes are life and death. Produced by All3 Media with Greg Goldman and Patricia Cornwell attached as exec producers.
The Price of Duty (Working title)
A look at the most haunting cases of homicide detectives’ careers. Each episode takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride to the front lines of the investigation, retracing their first steps on the crime scene to the final bust and the emotional aftermath that they still carry today. Produced by Intellectual Property Corporation and Turn Left Productions with Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Todd Crites and Jackson Nguyen onboard as exec producers.
Acquisition
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered(Working title)
Hosted by NBC News’ Craig Melvin, each episode incorporates the classic elements of drama and great storytelling: good guys, bad guys, conflict with the highest stakes, suspense and resolution. Hear the chilling tales directly from those most affected and involved, including investigators tasked with cracking the case and the families confronting tragedy. In every story we tell, we help the real people who lived the events share their journeys with you. Produced by Peacock Productions with Sharon Scott and Andy Cashman serving as exec producers.
In Development
Retried
This true-crime series follows a group of legal experts lead by Nancy Grace as they reassess an adjudicated murder case to see if they can uncover new information that could potentially lead to a retrial. Each week, the team will tackle one new case, studying key moments from the trial, inadmissible evidence, and crucial facts that were never made public. Could the reexamination ultimately produce a different theory, or did our justice system get it right the first time? Produced by Leepson Bounds Entertainment with David Leepson, Stephanie Lydecker, Nancy Grace and John Terenzio exec producing.
Kept Alive
This investigatory series explores the true stories of missing person cases where the attacker convinced the world their victim was still alive by impersonating them. Through text messages, social media posts, and more, the murderer or murderers were able to divert suspicion of foul play. On each case, family, friends, key witnesses and the detectives assigned will unravel the tangled mystery and expose the mistakes that finally brought a killer to justice. Produced by All3 Media and Maverick with Adam Greener, Simon Knight, Greg Lipstone, and Emily Mayer attached as executive producers.
