Cultureshock

On the ninth anniversary of his tragic death, this heartbreaking and celebratory documentary is a fast-moving cultural critique on the day that Michael Jackson passed away–one that collectively broke the hearts of the Internet and our culture.

This documentary takes a look at the rise of the raw and salacious real-life television theater of tabloid talk shows like “The Jerry Springer Show” and “Geraldo.” The film explores how these series laid the groundwork for reality television shows today.

Comedian and Emmy Award® winner W. Kamau Bell (“United Shades of America”) steps behind the camera to direct this film about how Chris Rock changed the face of comedy with his seminal 1996 special “Bring the Pain.” In his own words, Rock recounts how after being fired from SNL and upstaged by Martin Lawrence at his own show, he looked to challenge himself in a way he never had before. Rock pushed himself creatively, leading to the development of more personal and provocative material. He performed tirelessly in small clubs, perfecting his new technique. The result was his HBO special, widely considered a revelatory work with a bold style that changed the conversation about race in popular culture, as well as the face of comedy forever.