The History Channel has decided that what its lineup of dad-coded programming really needs is more dads, specifically famous ones from the 1980s. Kevin Bacon, Ted Danson, Dolph Lundgren, and Tom Selleck have all signed on to host new series for the network, bringing their combined decades of screen presence to shows about strange fortunes, extraordinary origins, great machines, and crime.
This is part of A+E Global Media’s upfront presentation for the 2026-27 season, and it represents a doubling down on the strategy that has made History Channel the destination for men who want to learn things while also feeling like they’re watching something their wives won’t steal the remote for. The network already hosts Danny Trejo (Mysteries Unearthed), David Duchovny (Secrets Declassified), Dan Aykroyd (The UnBelievable), Ving Rhames (History’s Deadliest), Dennis Quaid (Holy Marvels), and Henry Winkler (Hazardous History). Adding Bacon, Danson, Lundgren, and Selleck is like assembling the Avengers of actors your dad recognizes.
Bacon’s show, History’s Strange Fortunes With Kevin Bacon, will recount odd financial stories from American history. We’re talking about a gold miner who found a $1 million nugget and a circus hypnotist who became an infamous con artist through an epic heist. This is perfect for Bacon, who has spent his career playing working-class strivers and con men. He understands the psychology of people who chase impossible dreams, and now he gets to narrate their stories with that distinctive voice that sounds like gravel being gently stirred.
Danson’s Extraordinary Origins With Ted Danson delves into the backstories behind significant inventions, discoveries, and innovations. This is Danson returning to his Cheers roots—educational television with a side of charm. He’ll explore how the modern world was built, presumably while making dry jokes that land better than they should. Danson has aged into the perfect host persona: knowledgeable but not pedantic, engaged but not overly earnest.
Lundgren’s History’s Greatest Machines With Dolph Lundgren premieres June 1 and explores the impact of machines on history—the printing press, the Model T, early personal computers. This is the most inspired casting of the four. Lundgren studied chemical engineering before becoming Ivan Drago, and he brings genuine intellectual curiosity to the role. Watching a 6’5″ Swedish action star explain the Gutenberg press with the same intensity he brought to killing Apollo Creed is exactly the kind of television that makes the History Channel essential.
Selleck’s Crime and Justice With Tom Selleck takes deep dives into consequential criminal cases in American history over ten episodes. This is Selleck returning to his Magnum P.I. and Jesse Stone wheelhouse—law, order, and moral complexity. He’s the right age and temperament for this kind of hosting: authoritative without being rigid, interested in the human stories behind the headlines.
All four actors will serve as executive producers on their respective series, which means they’re not just lending their voices but their creative input. This is crucial for the History Channel brand—these shows need to feel like passion projects, not paycheck gigs. Bacon’s involvement with History’s Strange Fortunes suggests he finds genuine appeal in these American oddities. Danson’s commitment to Extraordinary Origins implies he believes in the power of understanding how we got here.
The network also announced 102 Minutes Inside the Towers, a documentary timed to the 25th anniversary of 9/11 offering perspectives from World Trade Center survivors, with Robin Roberts executive producing; and Mistakes That Made America, a digital series about blunders that reshaped culture and innovation. These join the celebrity-hosted shows in a lineup that balances entertainment with education, nostalgia with new information.
What unifies all four hosts is their specific generational appeal. Bacon, Danson, Lundgren, and Selleck all peaked in the 1980s but have maintained relevance through smart career choices and consistent work. They’re not has-beens; they’re elder statesmen. Their presence on History Channel validates the network’s approach and attracts viewers who might not otherwise tune in for documentaries about the printing press.
The History Channel has evolved from its origins as “the Hitler Channel” (all World War II, all the time) to a broader purveyor of American history, science, and culture. These new shows continue that evolution, using star power to make potentially dry subjects accessible. Whether it’s Bacon tracing the path of a gold nugget or Lundgren explaining the Model T, the goal is the same: make learning feel like entertainment, make history feel like story.
Watch for History’s Strange Fortunes With Kevin Bacon, Extraordinary Origins With Ted Danson, History’s Greatest Machines With Dolph Lundgren, and Crime and Justice With Tom Selleck coming to the History Channel in 2026-27. Your dad’s favorite actors are about to become his favorite teachers.
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