A vivid six-part portrait of the global entertainment industry.
Gina and Jeremy Newson join the media scrum that is the annual Oscars ceremony and collect views on the film awards from stars and directors, including Tom Hanks, James Woods, Quentin Tarantino, Mel Gibson, and Anthony Minghella.
On any given night, thousands of punchlines are hitting or missing their marks all over London. Hattie Hayridge, Donna McPhail, and Rich Hall contribute to this study of the capital's thriving stand-up comedy scene.
The move from obscurity to celebrity status requires the newcomer to enter a Faustian pact in which the riches and glamour of success are paid for in a lack of privacy. Stars recalling this curious trade-off include Bruce Willis, Faye Dunaway, Richard Dreyfuss, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, and Winona Ryder.
The world of daytime talk shows, where people expose their private concerns for public consumption, is one of the most successful and profitable forms of US TV entertainment. Examples from Ricki Lake and The Jerry Springer Show illustrate programme-makers' skill in extracting maximum emotional impact from real-life stories.
In an age dominated by the needs of the entertainment industry, the media are demanding more and more access to actors. Film stars, including Goldie Hawn, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, Meg Ryan and George Clooney, talk about their role in the publicity machine. Plus a consideration of the contrasting marketing campaigns behind Independence Day and the UK relaunch of cult hit Quadrophenia.
Every night, a parade of stars appears on late-night chat shows - but only if there's a book, record or film to sell. Tonight's programme goes behind the scenes at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien to sample the intense pressure of trying to be top-ranking host on the biggest-rated show.
