In the wake of the Attica Prison Uprising, BB King performs for the prisoners at Sing Sing Prison in 1972. The Thanksgiving Day concert sparks a new conversation about prisoner rights. Documentarian Daivd Hoffman recalls his time behind the camera, watching BB King perform, and how he softened the hearts of otherwise life-hardened men. Meanwhile, with the surly Sonny Liston as a role model, George Foreman rises in the ranks as a heavyweight. He fights the Champ, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, and is held hostage in Venezuela.

FILM/VIDEO REFERENCES

Muhammad Ali poem from the Cathal O’Shannon TV show (available on YouTube)

Sing Sing Thanksgiving, documentary by David Hoffman (available on YouTube)

BOOKS

“The Rumble in the Jungle” by Lewis Erenberg

“Angela Davis: an autobiography” by Angela Davis

“Hit Me, Fred” by Fred Wesley (autobiography)

“Smokin’ Joe” by Joe Frazier and Phil Berger (autobiography)

“Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier” by Mark Kram Jr.

“By George” by George Foreman (autobiography)

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In their epic showdown, “The Fight of the Century,” Muhammad Ali takes on the Champ, Smokin’ Joe Frazier. It’s a stunning exhibition of strength, pain, and violence. Their fight is covered by many great writers, who transform Ali into an avatar of the age as they celebrate his ascendance as the People’s Champ. A new boxing contender enters the scene: the giant George Foreman while Miriam Makeba wins hearts as she’s dubbed Mama Africa by her fans.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

"Ali: A Life" by Jonathan Eig

"The Fight" by Norman Mailer

"Ego" (Life magazine Cover Story, March 19, 1971) article by Norman Mailer

"The Redemption of the Champion" (Life magazine, Sept 9, 1966), article by Gordon Parks

"Shadow Box" by George Plimpton

"Ringside: A Treasury of Boxing Reportage" by Budd Schulberg

"The Greatest, My Own Story" by Muhammad Ali (autobiography)

"Smokin’ Joe" by Joe Frazier and Phil Berger (autobiography)

"Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier" by Mark Kram Jr.

"By George" by George Foreman (autobiography)

Miriam Makeba FBI file (available online at: https://vault.fbi.gov/miriam-makeba)

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Ali’s time in exile only strengthens his position as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. James Brown plays his first show in Paris, and his dancer, Lola Love!, recalls seeing The Godfather of Soul for the first time at The Apollo Theater. Muhammad Ali befriends heavyweight champion, Joe Frazier, only to realize that in order to win his title back, he must face his comrade in the ring.

FILM REFERENCES

“When We Were Kings” (documentary, 1996) directed by Leon Gast

“Soul Power” (documentary, 2008) directed by Jeffrey Kusama–Hinte (available on YouTube)

BOOKS

"The Greatest, My Own Story" by Muhammad Ali (autobiography)

"King: A Life" by Jonathan Eig

"Smokin’ Joe" by Joe Frazier and Phil Berger (autobiography)

"Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier" by Mark Kram Jr.

"The Rumble in the Jungle" by Lewis Erenberg

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A season of assassinations sparks a loud cry for change. Young Cassius Clay befriends Malcolm X, joins the nation of Islam, changes his name to Muhammad Ali, and refuses to fight in Vietnam. Meanwhile, James Brown’s Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud becomes an anthem for Black America, and Hugh Masekela escapes the evils of apartheid.

FILM/VIDEO REFERENCES

Nelson Mandela “Ready to Die” speech April 20, 1964 (available on YouTube)

Miriam Makeba UN Address speech March 9, 1964 (available on YouTube)

”The Hate that Hate Produced”, documentary (1959) WNET Mike Wallace (available on YouTube)

BOOK REFERENCES

Muhammad Ali books (Cassius Clay period):

Ali: The Greatest, My Own Story by Muhammad Ali

Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig

King of the World by David Remnick

Hit Me, Fred by Fred Wesley (autobiography)

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Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s heavyweight title fight is considered one of the greatest sporting events of all time. What’s less well known is that five weeks earlier in the very same stadium, James Brown headlined an epic, three-day long, pre-fight music festival. Rumble braids together both boxing and music history for a compelling account of Muhammad Ali’s growth into both The People’s Champ and the GOAT. For his first title fight, he takes on the “bad man” Sonny Liston.

REFERENCE BOOKS:

Ali: The Greatest, My Own Story by Muhammad Ali

Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig

Rumble In the Jungle by Lewis Erenberg

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After a wild two-month tear through North America, the Stones play the last gig of the STP tour at NYC's Madison Square Garden. Their entourage work overtime to ensure that it's the craziest rock show to ever hit the Big Apple. After their final bows, the band is exhausted. What's more, they're disheartened by the overly glitzy showbiz crowd that turns up at their tour wrap party, which doubles as Jagger's 29th birthday. As they come to grips with aging, they also grapple with their gradual drift towards the mainstream. The STP trek birthed the modern rock tour, but it also hastened the Stones' transformation from a rock band to a business venture. The bonds that kept the motley 40-person crew together evaporate and everyone goes their separate ways. Reintegration into everyday life is lonely and confusing, and everyone copes in different ways as they struggle to make sense of the life-altering experience they'd just shared — one that could never be duplicated. 

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The Stones organization is rocked to its core when terrorists bomb one of the band's equipment vans in Montreal. The STP squad are relieved to make it out of Canada alive, but they soon discover that their problems are just beginning. The flight to Boston for that night's concert is diverted to Rhode Island due to bad weather. Already late, Mick and Keith get arrested at the airport after a scuffle with a photographer. With 18,000 rowdy fans ready and waiting at the Boston Garden, a riot seems imminent — until they get a hand from a higher power. 

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