Laura Ling to investigate on E!

Entertainment channel E! has hired Laura Ling, who was detained with a Current TV colleague in North Korea last year, to host the series "E! Investigates" starting December 8, the New York Times reported.

On the show, which takes a look at the hard-news side of pop culture, Ling will explore such topics as teen suicide and the lives of military wives.

Ling, 33, told the Times she was thrilled to get a chance to reach a younger audience with serious topics, while staying "a little bit closer to home" after