• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, January 13, 2012

Longtime “All My Children” star Susan Lucci will host a reality series on Investigation Discovery (ID) profiling “real stories of betrayal” -- from runaway grooms to murdered lovers -- this fall. “Deadly Affairs” will have 10 episodes and filming is slated to start in March.

ID chief Henry Schleiff stated the show is the network’s “answer to addictive daytime soap operas. The network has been on a ratings boom under Schleiff. Discovery CEO David Zaslav frequently cites it as a growth engine.

Fellow Discovery network TLC said Friday it will launch a “docu-sitcom” -- sitcom meets reality show with former “Reno 911!” star Niecy Nash in late March. Nash appeared on TLC last June with a two-hour special about her wedding. The new show goes inside the couple’s home.

TLC is also in production on “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding,” the U.S. version of a British reality show that aired last year. The network said the show will explore aspects of communities that live in a degree of secrecy but throw extravagant weddings.

Animal Planet is prepping a second season of “Tanked,” about a Las Vegas duo who build impressive fish tanks. The network has ordered 20 new episodes with 10 each to air in the spring and summer.

Also on Friday, the National Geographic Channel -- which competes with various networks in the Discovery family -- said it had put into production “Are You Tougher Than A Boy Scout?” from Thom Beers production company. The show will have adults competing with top Boy Scouts in various challenges, such as starting a fire and setting up camp quickly.

Also, under new NGC President Howard T. Owens, the net will launch new series “Wicked Tuna” this spring, going inside the world of Gloucester, Mass.-based blue tuna fishing.