Vice (TV series) explained

Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:10
Num Episodes:164
List Episodes:List of Vice episodes
Genre:Documentary
Creator:Shane Smith
Based On:Vice Media
Starring:Shane Smith, Gideon Yago, Thomas Morton, Jake Hanrahan, Isobel Yeung, Ben Anderson
Theme Music Composer:Nick Zinner, Ben Vida & Hisham Bharoocha
Open Theme:Doomed
Location:Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea, Iraq, Nigeria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Brazil, Myanmar, Mexico, South Sudan, Los Angeles, New York (HQ)
Budget:$13.2 million
Channel:HBO (seasons 1–6)
Showtime (season 7–10)
Editor:Danny Gabai
Runtime:27–43 minutes

Vice (stylised as VICE) is a documentary television series created and hosted by Shane Smith of Vice magazine. It covers topics using an immersionist style of documentary filmmaking on Showtime. It premiered on April 5, 2013, on HBO. The show's second season aired in 2014 and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special.[1]

The show originally was executive-produced by Bill Maher, Shane Smith, and Eddy Moretti, and CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria was credited as a consultant.[2] [3]

On May 7, 2014, HBO renewed the series for two more seasons. The 14-episode third season began March 6, 2015, one week after the hour-long "Killing Cancer" aired on February 27. Vice sixth season aired on April 6, 2018.[4] On March 25, 2015, HBO announced Vices renewal through Season 7.[5]

The show's cancellation was announced on February 1, 2019, making the sixth season its last season on HBO.[6] However, on September 24, the series was picked up by Showtime and resumed on March 29, 2020.[7] On July 30, 2020, the series was renewed for an eighth season that premiered on March 7, 2021.[8] [9] On February 7, 2022, the series was renewed by for its ninth and tenth season.[10] In July 2023, the series was removed from the Showtime streaming app, with Vice News shopping it to other outlets.[11]

Synopsis

The show follows Vice journalists and founders, Shane Smith and Suroosh Alvi with segment hosts Ryan Duffy and Thomas Morton as they went to different parts of the world. They interviewed people on political and cultural topics. Subjects included political assassinations, young weapons manufacturers, child suicide bombers, Indian and Pakistani border politics, the Chinese one-child policy, climate change, and bonded laborers in Pakistan's brick kilns, featuring the work of human and labor rights activist Syeda Ghulam Fatima.

Correspondents

Release and reception

The first episode aired on HBO on April 5, 2013, and was available for free via YouTube.[24] The series is the first televised program for VICE, featuring Vice staff as correspondents.

Politics, culture, and drugs are the main focuses of the Vice series. The show has received both positive and negative reviews because of its unique, provocative presentation and style. Some compare it to a gonzo type of journalism.[25] [26] Maureen Ryan of The Huffington Post wrote a negative review of the show, due to its presentation.[27] Rolling Stone magazine has written that: "It feels a little like your buddy from the bar just happened to be wandering through eastern Afghanistan with a camera crew."[28] In June 2013, the show was covered extensively in mainstream media for documenting a basketball game with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Vice correspondents have filmed from the inside of crack-cooking kitchens in Atlanta to Haitian secret societies in talk of zombie powder.[29]

Vice News Tonight

See main article: Vice News Tonight.

Vice News Tonight is a nightly news program that debuted on October 10, 2016, on HBO, marking a significant expansion of Vice Media's news coverage. This spin-off was designed to offer a more concentrated news format, focusing on delivering timely updates and in-depth analysis of current events. The show quickly established itself with a distinctive approach, combining Vice Media’s renowned immersive journalism with the immediacy of daily news reporting.

The program featured a mix of hard news, investigative pieces, and special reports, reflecting Vice's commitment to exploring complex and often underreported stories. With its focus on providing a comprehensive view of global and domestic issues, Vice News aimed to engage viewers with its unique perspective on the news.

In 2020, Vice News Tonight underwent a relaunch and was reintroduced on the Vice cable network. This transition was part of Vice Media’s strategy to adapt to changing media consumption trends and maintain its presence in the competitive news landscape. The relaunch allowed the program to continue delivering its distinctive brand of journalism on a platform closely aligned with Vice Media's broader content ecosystem.

The shift from HBO to the Vice cable network represented a strategic move to leverage Vice Media’s existing resources and audience reach. The program retained its core focus on in-depth reporting and investigative journalism, now with an updated format to fit the new platform.

Despite the change in network, Vice News Tonight continued to offer viewers an engaging and informative news experience, staying true to its roots while evolving with the times. The show’s ability to adapt and maintain its unique journalistic approach underscores Vice Media’s commitment to delivering high-quality news content.

Pulled episode

It was reported in June 2023 that Showtime pulled an episode of the series originally scheduled to air on May 28, 2023. The episode, "The Gitmo Candidate & Chipping Away", was scheduled to air four days after Ron DeSantis officially announced he was entering the 2024 Presidential race. In the scrubbed promo for the episode, it described Seb Walker investigating claims that DeSantis witnessed acts condemned by the United Nations as torture during his time as a JAG officer in the Navy at Guantanamo Bay.[30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]

Series overview

See main article: List of Vice episodes.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HBO's 'VICE' Wins Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series or Special. 18 August 2014 . Sounds & Picture. 7 November 2014.
  2. Web site: About Vice . . June 26, 2015.
  3. Web site: HBO gave us our own TV show . Vice.com . 10 May 2012 . Vice Media . April 28, 2013.
  4. News: HBO Sets 'Vice' Season 6 Premiere Date; Actor Michael Kenneth Williams To Investigate Juvenile Justice System. Evans. Greg. March 7, 2018. Deadline. February 21, 2019.
  5. Web site: VICE Renewed for Four Expanded Seasons at HBO, Adds Daily Newscast. TVLine. Roots. Kimberly. March 26, 2015. 12 February 2017.
  6. Web site: Vice Media eliminates 10% of its workforce, including its flagship HBO show. Wall Street Journal. Hagey. Keach. February 1, 2019.
  7. Web site: Petski. Denise . Showtime Acquires 'Vice' Weekly Newsmagazine For Spring Premiere. Deadline. September 24, 2019.
  8. Web site: Showtime(R) Renews Emmy(R) Nominated Documentary Series "Vice" for a Second Season. The Futon Critic. July 30, 2020.
  9. Showtime to Premiere Second Season of "Vice" on Sunday, March 7 at 8 PM ET/PT. Showtime. The Futon Critic. January 14, 2021.
  10. Web site: White . Peter . 'Vice' Renewed At Showtime For Seasons 3 & 4 . . February 7, 2022.
  11. Web site: Porter. Rick. 'Vice' to Seek New Home After Being Pulled From Showtime. July 13, 2023. March 21, 2024. The Hollywood Reporter.
  12. Web site: Krishna Andavolu. Showtime. June 20, 2023. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028172326/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/krishna-andavolu. October 28, 2021.
  13. Web site: Ben Anderson. Showtime. June 20, 2023. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20230127114841/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/ben-anderson. January 27, 2023.
  14. Web site: Hind Hassan. Showtime. June 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230527040719/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/hind-hassan. May 27, 2023.
  15. Web site: David Noriega. Showtime. June 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230127054630/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/david-noriega. January 27, 2023.
  16. Web site: Paola Ramos. Showtime. June 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230527052124/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/paola-ramos. May 27, 2023.
  17. Web site: Alzo Slade. Showtime. June 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230322093257/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/alzo-slade-. March 22, 2023.
  18. Web site: Julia Steers. Showtime. June 20, 2023. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20230207144905/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/julia-steers. February 7, 2023.
  19. Web site: Ben C. Solomon. Showtime. June 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230620051523/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/ben-c-soloman. June 20, 2023.
  20. Web site: Vegas Tenold. Showtime. June 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230204193023/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/vegas-tenold. February 4, 2023.
  21. Web site: Gianna Toboni. Showtime. June 20, 2023. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20230127220530/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/gianna-toboni. January 27, 2023.
  22. Web site: Seb Walker. Showtime. June 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230620060815/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/seb-walker. June 20, 2023.
  23. Web site: Isobel Yeung. Showtime. June 20, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230321180303/https://www.sho.com/vice/cast/isobel-yeung. March 21, 2023.
  24. Web site: Watch the first episode of our HBO show . Vice.com . 9 April 2013 . Vice Media . April 28, 2013.
  25. News: Goodman. Tim. Vice brings its brand of provocative, let's-go-find-danger journalism to HBO as a half-hour newsmagazine.. . May 4, 2013.
  26. Web site: Flint . Jos . HBO's 'Vice' news targets Gen Y with edge and absurdity . https://archive.today/20130615091314/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130412/ENT10/304120322 . dead . June 15, 2013 . . May 4, 2013 .
  27. Web site: Ryan . Maureen . 'Vice' On HBO: News And Stuff, Bro-Style . . 5 April 2013 . April 28, 2013.
  28. Van Syckle . Katie . HBO Courts Danger With Gonzo 'Vice' Show . . April 28, 2013.
  29. Green . Penelope . Nesting, the Vice Media Way . The New York Times . 11 June 2015 . 7 April 2019.
  30. Web site: Porter. Rick. Showtime Pulls 'Vice' Episode on Ron DeSantis. June 4, 2023. The Hollywood Reporter. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724043759/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/ron-desantis-vice-episode-pulled-showtime-1235506705/. July 24, 2023.
  31. News: Daniels. Karu F.. Showtime pulled 'Vice' episode about Ron DeSantis at Guantanamo Bay without explanation. June 5, 2023. New York Daily News. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240209042500/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/showtime-pulled-vice-episode-ron-214900149.html. February 9, 2024.
  32. Web site: Burris. Sarah K.. Special about 'Ron DeSantis' time at Guantanamo Bay cancelled with no explanation. June 5, 2023. MSN. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605023847/https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/special-about-ron-desantis-time-at-guantanamo-bay-canceled-with-no-explanation/ar-AA1c7RzR. June 5, 2023.
  33. Web site: Cobb. Kayla. 'Vice' Episode Pulled by Showtime Contained the Full Exchange of Ron DeSantis' Explosive Guantanamo Bay Interview. June 5, 2023. TheWrap. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230606232814/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/vice-episode-pulled-showtime-contained-171750350.html. June 6, 2023.
  34. Web site: Dicker. Ron. Showtime Drops Ron DeSantis Documentary Shortly Before Air Date Without Explanation. June 5, 2023. HuffPost. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605104308/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/showtime-ron-desantis-documentary-pulled_n_647da976e4b091b09c33a7c4. June 5, 2023.
  35. Web site: Petski. Denise. Showtime Pulls 'Vice' Episode About Ron DeSantis. June 5, 2023. Deadline Hollywood. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230613153104/https://deadline.com/2023/06/showtime-pulls-vice-episode-ron-desantis-gitmo-1235408612/. June 13, 2023.

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