Dark Side of the 90s

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

The Southern California sun, action and laser-focus on beauty makes ``Baywatch`` appeal to more than a billion people worldwide.

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

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.

For almost 50 years, SNL has launched comedy careers, but if one's lucky enough to get in, one may never get out alive.

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.

As 1990s talk TV evolves from the cerebral ``Donahue`` to the trashy ``Jerry Springer,`` the new format fuses combustive relationships, shock and violence to entertain the masses.

The story of how the upstart Fox Network forever changed television, and continues to have prevalence decades later.

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.

When ``Cops`` hits the airwaves, the gritty reality of police work becomes a phenomenon and, despite being the longest running prime-time live-action series, it is mired in controversy.

The Viper Room is 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 makes it headline news.

With sex, attempted murder and betrayal, nothing personifies the tabloidification of 1990s America better than the story of how Amy Fisher shot Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the head.

Ken Shamrock and the UFC are joined at the knuckle; dubbed human cockfighting, the UFC fights senators and scandals in a battle that almost ends the sport before it begins.

Thirty-six states ban 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.

In the '90s, 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.

Arsenio carves out a niche in the white, late-night world by showcasing hip hop artists and emerging talent.

Sub Pop's classic 90s indie ethos is tested when they chase mainstream money; the story of grunge is told through the eyes of the little record label that starts it all.

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.

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.

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

Nineties 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.