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.
EP2 MTV & The Real WorldJun 21, 2022
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.
EP3 Cops: Bad Boys, Bad BoysJun 28, 2022
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.
EP4 UFC Pt. 1: No Holds BarredJul 05, 2022
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.
EP5 UFC Pt. 2: To Live or Die in the OctagonJul 05, 2022
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.
EP6 Tabloid TVJul 12, 2022
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.
EP7 Black Sitcoms' Last LaughJul 19, 2022
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.
EP8 The Rise of Rush LimbaughJul 26, 2022
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.
EP9 Y2K: Paranoia Will Destroy YaAug 02, 2022
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.
EP10 Morning Show WarsAug 09, 2022
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.