Alec Baldwin to host National Geographic specials

Alec Baldwin will be the host of the National Geographic Channel's weekly "Night of Exploration" programming block, the network announced Thursday.

The "30 Rock" actor will begin his on-air duties June 14 at 8 p.m. ET with the two-hour special "Crossing the Ice," which follows two Australian adventurers as they attempt to become the first to tackle the journey from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, completely unassisted.

"Alec has the perfect combination of energy and gravitas that we think our Night of Exploration viewers will love," said David Lyle, CEO, National Geographic Channels. "Each week, he will introduce the compelling stories of people around the globe whose drive to climb higher, dive lower or dig deeper never cease to amaze."

The "Night of Exploration" block, which launched in January, "introduces viewers to the trailblazers who are working on the unexplored frontiers of human imagination and innovation," the network said. Other upcoming episodes include "Mystery Bear of the Antarctic," "Secrets of the Lost Gold" and "Journey to the Edge of the Universe."

Baldwin, 55, is no stranger to National Geographic Channel, in 2010, he narrated the network's "Great Migrations" miniseries.