Dark Side of the 90's

Épisode 1 - Trash TV: Dirty and Deadly Talk

15 juillet 2021 - 4/5

As 90's Talk TV evolved from the cerebral (Donahue) to the trashy (Jerry Springer), the new format fused combustive relationships, shock and violence to entertain the masses.

Épisode 2 - The Viper Room: Hollywood's Sanctuary

22 juillet 2021 - 4/5

The Viper Room was a refuge for Young Hollywood to hide from the prying eyes of the press, until one fateful night when the death of a rising star instantly made it headline news.

Épisode 3 - TV for Teens

29 juillet 2021 - 4/5

The Fox Network made its mark by grabbing the attention of the nation's youth.

Épisode 4 - Beanie Babies Go Bust

5 août 2021 - 3.5/5

90's parents and kids bonded over collecting playful plush toys known as Beanie Babies until the toy's creator, Ty Warner, used the internet's power to create a frenzied market.

Épisode 5 - Grunge and the Seattle Sound

12 août 2021 - 3/5

SubPop's classic 90's indie ethos was tested when they chased mainstream money. The story of grunge told through the eyes of the little label that started it all.

Épisode 6 - Baywatch: Sex Sells

19 août 2021 - 3.5/5

The world’s first influencer was a TV show. Baywatch’s Southern California sun, action, and laser focus on beauty made it appeal to more than a billion people worldwide.

Épisode 7 - A Tale of Two Cults

26 août 2021 - 3/5

Doomsday cults emerged in the '90s, seizing on Y2K fears. While we watched the tragic Waco massacre on TV, Heaven's Gate leader Marshall Applewhite made his own plan.

Épisode 8 - Hip Hop: The East vs West Media War

2 septembre 2021 - 3.5/5

90's hip hop had an uphill fight for airplay and recognition. When the media finally caught on, they told a story that twisted the narrative with sometimes dangerous consequences.

Épisode 9 - Secrets of the Runway

9 septembre 2021 - 3.5/5

90's supermodels were part rock stars, part royalty, and all dusted in cocaine. But off the runway, many were abused by men using their power to conceal an ugly secret.

Épisode 10 - Internet 1.0: Don't Believe the Hype

16 septembre 2021 - 3.5/5

In the 90’s, the surge of internet-exclusive companies captured the dreams and greed of American investors. In its wake, one beloved mascot was killed — the Pets.com puppet.

Épisode 1 - Arseniooo Hall!

14 juin 2022 - 3/5

Arsenio carves out a niche in the white, late-night world by showcasing hip hop artists and emerging talent. Despite his success, Arsenio becomes a casualty in the late-night wars.

Épisode 2 - MTV & The Real World

21 juin 2022 - 3/5

MTV's The Real World is television with something to say--with a soap opera twist. But when MTV gets rich from reality TV, they trade in realness for fart jokes and hot tubs.

Épisode 3 - Cops: Bad Boys, Bad Boys

28 juin 2022 - 5/5

When COPS hits the airwaves, the gritty reality of police work becomes a phenomenon. Despite being the longest-running prime-time live-action series, COPS is mired in controversy.

Épisode 4 - UFC Pt. 1: No Holds Barred

5 juillet 2022 - 3/5

Ken Shamrock and the UFC are joined at the knuckle. Dubbed “human cockfighting,” the UFC will fight senators and scandals in a battle that almost ends the sport before it begins.

Épisode 5 - UFC Pt. 2: To Live or Die in the Octagon

5 juillet 2022 - 3/5

36 states have banned “no holds barred” fighting, and the UFC’s future is grim. Star fighter Ken Shamrock is also in trouble and needs a guardian angel to get him back on his feet.

Épisode 6 - Tabloid TV

12 juillet 2022 - 3/5

With sex, attempted murder and betrayal, nothing personifies the tabloidification of '90s America better than the story of how Amy Fisher shot Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the head.

Épisode 7 - Black Sitcoms' Last Laugh

19 juillet 2022 - 3/5

Black comedies explode in the 90s, with sitcoms written and produced by Black creators, featuring Black casts. But no culture is immune to the toxicity of fame and power.

Épisode 8 - The Rise of Rush Limbaugh

26 juillet 2022 - 3/5

Rush Limbaugh is conservative radio's first megastar, claiming to have "talent on loan from God." He creates a divide in America that we see unfolding today.

Épisode 9 - Y2K: Paranoia Will Destroy Ya

2 août 2022 - 3/5

At the end of the decade, the fear of an apocalypse looms. Two men become the stars of the real-life action thriller known as the Y2K scare.

Épisode 10 - Morning Show Wars

9 août 2022 - 3/5

Morning TV is the profit center of the news divisions that produce them; "Today" and "Good Morning America" battle for dominance where there's no room for failure.

Épisode 1 - Tyson: The Rise and Fall of Kid Dynamite

16 juillet 2024

Tyson reshaped boxing, becoming a pop culture sensation, feared for his violence and seeming invincibility; but in the end, he'll face the greatest opponent of his life: himself.

Épisode 2 - Friends: The One About The TV Show

23 juillet 2024

Friends is must-see TV but some of the cast struggle under the weight of sudden and massive fame with painfully public addictions, and at least one near-death experience.

Épisode 3 - NYPD Blue

30 juillet 2024

NYPD Blue forever changes TV with its use of nudity, violence and profanity. Heavy scrutiny from special interest groups will nearly get it cancelled before it ever even airs.

Épisode 4 - Robert Downey Jr. - The Comeback Kid

6 août 2024

Robert Downey Jr. turns his troubled backstory into a superpower. While battling a string of addictions, Downey reinvents himself into one of the most celebrated actors today.

Épisode 5 - SNL

13 août 2024

For almost 50 years, SNL has launched comedy careers. But if you're lucky enough to get in, you may never get out alive.

Épisode 6 - Infomercials: Shams and Scams

20 août 2024

Infomercials mark the Golden Age of the Con Job. These shameless 90's scam artist vie to become top dog in a cut throat industry--leaving a trail of misery in their wake.

Épisode 7 - Spice Girls

27 août 2024

The Spice Girls are one of the biggest pop acts ever. But behind the glitz and glamour, they battle blackmail, eating disorders, death threats, abusive relationships and addiction.

Épisode 8 - Agassi & 90's Tennis Prodigies

3 septembre 2024

Enfant terrible Andre Agassi leads a handful of prodigies to shake up the stodgy sport of tennis. Athletes become international celebrities, but their fame comes at a cost.

Épisode 9 - Scores Strip Club: Girls & Gambinos

17 septembre 2024

Scores becomes a celebrity hangout. But when the club attracts the costly “protection” of the Gambino crime family, getting out of bed with the mob means getting in with the FBI.

Épisode 10 - Rave Culture: Under the Influence

24 septembre 2024