The Icons That Built America

The daytime talk show scene in the 1980's is almost exclusively aimed at a stay-at-home female audience where the host is expected to feature conversational topics and polite discussion. But a young politician-turned-TV host rewrites the rules when an unexpected fight breaks out between his guests. And in the world of late-night, a young midwestern comic, who idolizes Johnny Carson, struggles to rise to the top as his irreverent comedy and antics finds its footing with a completely new audience.

Fitting into the clean-cut roles that comedians occupied in the 1950s, two up and coming standups make names for themselves. As society shifts and counter-culture movements take hold, both men realize they need to adapt their comedy to better fit their world views. But as they change, they face an uphill battle to stay true to themselves while making an impact in the comedy world.

In 1987, a small-time drug dealer forms a hip-hop based group in his hometown of Compton, California. The group's provocative brand of "reality rap" draws backlash from the government and law enforcement as they try to push the boundaries of what hip-hop can be. A few years later, a Seattle-based rock band pioneers a new sound that channels the suburban angst and disillusionment of the era. After the band's mainstream breakthrough, the group must resist the external forces the of the music establishment, while battling their own inner demons--before it all comes crashing down.