Dark Side of the 90's

Trash TV: Dirty and Deadly Talk

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.

The Viper Room: Hollywood's Sanctuary

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.

TV for Teens

The story of how the upstart Fox Network forever changed television.

Beanie Babies Go Bust

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.

Grunge and the Seattle Sound

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.

Baywatch: Sex Sells

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.

A Tale of Two Cults

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.

Hip Hop: The East vs West Media War

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.

Secrets of the Runway

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.

Internet 1.0: Don't Believe the Hype

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.

Arseniooo Hall!

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.

MTV & The Real World

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.

Cops: Bad Boys, Bad Boys

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.

UFC Pt. 1: No Holds Barred

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.

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

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.

Tabloid TV

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.

Black Sitcoms' Last Laugh

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.