The ’90s: The Last Great Decade

The ’90s: The Last Great Decade is a documentary on the National Geographic Channel (NGC) that examines the 1990s. It is a three part documentary that runs for six hours.[1] TV Guide describes it as: “A retrospective of the people and events that marked the 1990s.[2] "The Daily News" describes it as: "Flashback recalls years both grand and giddy, including cyberbiz, Bill Clinton, Anna Nicole Smith, Roseanne Barr and Vanilla Ice." [3][4]

It is narrated by Rob Lowe [5] and originally aired on July 6–8, 2014 at 9 PM.[6][7][8] After airing on NGC in the US, it then aired on Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo in 171 countries.[5][9] It was produced by Nutopia. The executive producers are Peter Lovering, Jane Root, Fred Hepburn, Erik Nelson, Michael Cascio; series producer, Glenn Barden.[10][11] The National Geographic site describes the series: "The '90s: The Last Great Decade? revisits the decade through "inside out" storytelling and analysis via 120 original interviews—from unsung heroes behind the decade's most riveting stories to the biggest names in politics, tech, movies and music.” [12]

It pulled in 1.10 million viewers on the Sunday night it first aired and was the second highest-rated July telecast in the National Geographic Channel rating history.[11][13]

Episode list

Descriptions from National Geographic Channel Website.[14]

Episode 1

Great Expectations "Through candid and original interviews, the first two hours of The '90s, narrated by Rob Lowe, jumps right into the action of the high-tech Gulf War. From there, the miniseries charts the soap operas of Bill Clinton's nomination and Roseanne Barr's fights with her network; the unlikely rise of Vanilla Ice and Kurt Cobain; and the revolutionary broadcasts that transformed the LA Riots, the Anita Hill hearings and the trial of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer into major TV events.” [15]

Episode 2

Friends and Enemies "In the second installment, America becomes ever more divided and fragmented. In Waco, Texas, a religious cult becomes a lightning rod for a fear of big government invading our homes. The awful sight of dead American soldiers being dragged through the streets of Somalia's capital divides America on its role in the world. Even in women's figure skating we find ourselves divided along class lines with the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan saga and with the rise of Jerry Springer's reality show." [16]

Episode 3

Politically Incorrect "The decade is racing to the finish line on an information superhighway now seemingly paved with gold. But bombs, computer bugs and the political sex scandal to end them all threatens to ruin a president and spoil the end-of-the-century party. A new generation of tech entrepreneurs are getting rich quicker than ever before as the dot com bubble grows. Sexual taboos are breaking as Viagra hits the market with an unlikely endorsement by failed presidential candidate Bob Dole." [17]

Episode 4

America Goes to War "The 90s were 10 years of irrational exuberance, when all the questions seemed to have been answered and everything seemed possible. With a star-studded cast of actors, academics and celebrity interviewees — we tell the opening chapter of this decade. A time when everybody got wired, war went high-tech, reality TV became way too real and everyone became a celebrity." [18]

Episode 5

Reality Bites "With a star-studded cast of actors, academics and celebrity interviewees, we tell the story of the early 90s’ growing obsession with sex, celebrity and reality TV. While some women, like Anita Hill, are fighting against becoming sex objects, others like Anna Nicole Smith can’t wait to get their clothes off. While the cast members of ”The Real World” revel in the media spotlight, the glare of publicity proves too much for Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, the definitive rock icon of the 90s." [19]

Episode 6

Enemy Within "As the 90s progress, America becomes more divided and fragmented. In Waco, an obscure religious cult becomes a lightning rod for a fear of big government invading our homes. Meanwhile, the awful sight of naked, dead American soldiers being dragged through the streets of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, causes President Bill Clinton to step back from the role of world policeman, and divides Americans on what role the country should play. Even in the unlikely realm of women’s figure skating, Americans are divided along class lines by the Tonya and Nancy saga. And that class warfare dominates TV with the rise of Jerry Springer and his reality TV. Every aspect of American private lives is being exposed, no matter how embarrassing." [20]

Episode 7

Shock and Awe "In the 90s, new attitudes and new technology equal more freedom, more fragmentation, more diversity, but also more conflict. America is shocked by the deadly Oklahoma City bombing. The nation becomes more polarized as O.J. Simpson goes on trial. While the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives for the first time in a generation, a liberal consensus is also strengthening, and when Matthew Shepard is murdered in a homophobic attack, America unites in condemnation. Meanwhile, Rudy Giuliani orders a cleanup operation in New York City and the hip new sitcom “Friends” is an overnight hit. Two Stanford graduates already have an eye on the future, creating a revolutionary search engine for a fast-growing tool: the Internet." [21]

Episode 8

Exposed "It’s the countdown to the end of the century and the party of all parties, but pre-millennium tension is rising. A routine trip to the Philippines results in an attempt on the U.S. president’s life. He avoids injury, but the bomb is discovered to belong to Al Qaeda, a terrifying new enemy. The following year its leader, Osama bin Laden, is interviewed by two journalists for CNN, and declares war on the U.S. government. But President Clinton has other things on his mind. In the early weeks of 1998, a story is unleashed implicating him in a sexual affair with intern Monica Lewinsky. News of the scandal breaks on the Internet, another victory for new technology." [22]

Episode 9

The Countdown "Heading toward a new millennium, Americans are still riding the wave of irrational exuberance, surfing on the success of the dot-com bubble. The world falls in love with a heartbroken Princess Diana, is mesmerized by the 90s most tragic fairytale and grieves at her passing. Americans are shocked by the senseless killings at Columbine and surprised by the 1998 midterm elections. “The West Wing” reaches TV screens, while the Lewinsky affair lingers on. The realization that a computer bug could spell disaster for the world stokes pre-millennium tension, fueling fears of the end times." [23]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.avclub.com/review/national-geographic-channel-purees-90s-pours-rob-l-206366
  2. ↑ http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/663583
  3. ↑ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/90s-great-decade-tv-review-article-1.1852857
  4. ↑ http://www.signiant.com/blog/streamlining-the-massive-video-archive-behind-nat-geos-the-90s-the-last-great-decade/
  5. 1 2 http://deadline.com/2014/04/rob-lowe-tapped-to-narrate-nat-geo-miniseries-the-90s-the-last-great-decade-718239/
  6. ↑ http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=283195
  7. ↑ http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/07/06/nat-geo-the-90s-last-great-decade-watch-seinfeld-25th-anniversary-friends-backstreet-boys/
  8. ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/experience/weekend/entertainment/remembering-the-90s-was-it-the-last-great-decade/12018613/
  9. ↑ http://brief.promaxbda.org/content/nat-geos-the-90s-the-last-great-decade-gets-one-great-global-marketing-camp
  10. ↑ http://variety.com/2014/tv/reviews/tv-review-the-90s-the-last-great-decade-1201250607/
  11. 1 2 http://www.thewrap.com/nat-geos-90s-last-great-decade-tv-ratings-80s-miniseries/
  12. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/
  13. ↑ https://tv.yahoo.com/news/nat-geos-90s-last-great-decade-ratings-edges-202100194.html
  14. ↑ "Episode guide". nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  15. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/great-expectations/
  16. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/friends-enemies/
  17. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/politically-incorrect/
  18. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/america-goes-to-war/
  19. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/reality-bites/
  20. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/enemy-within/
  21. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/shock-and-awe/
  22. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/exposed1/
  23. ↑ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/episodes/the-countdown/

External links

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