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Rox (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Rox is an independently produced TV series, first shown on the Bloomington, Indiana
Public-access television
cable TV in 1992. The show quickly garnered a cult following in Bloomington, home to Indiana University
and its tens of thousands of students. Numerous news articles were written about the show and its producers, in particular when they found themselves pushing the bounds of free speech. In a few cases, Bloomington's Public-access TV administrators felt bound to disallow some of the show's more controversial material, citing the long-standing precedent that broadcast media should be subject to more rigorous standards of public decency than print media. This controversy served to cement the show's celebrity among its already-loyal fan base. Rox's producers signed a contract with Free Speech TV
, allowing 19 episodes to be broadcast on FSTV's satellite channel starting in the summer of 2005.
The show recently returned for a fourth season after an eight year hiatus, and is now distributed almost exclusively by the internet
. Each of the fourth season episodes is available for download on the Rox Website, and material from older episodes is also made available as space allows. The first episode, appropriately titled Episode Number One, appeared on television on July 7, 1992. The ninety-first and ninety-second episodes, Property is Theft (Parts I and II), have recently been released on DVD.
; he mixes drinks which both J and B then drink. B's role is that of the editor
. His responsibilities include editing, combining, and creating the finished show. Both J and B serve as narrators and occasionally interviewers during the show itself.
Rox's producers describe the TV series as "A serial art-life/life-art documentary project. With mixed drinks." A theme in the earliest episodes was a fairly repetitive (and humorous) request for viewers to mail alcohol
(for sampling and use on the show, of course) to 711 East Cottage Grove in Bloomington, Indiana
. This was both the place of production for the earlier episodes (in the basement, no less) and the home of Joe Nickell ("J"). Later shows have shifted focus somewhat to more socio/political issues, probably due to the changing age and focus of the show's two producers.
alcoholic beverage and Lime Jello
). "Drinx" featured on Rox do not always strive to taste good, but instead work toward the much more easily achieved goal of being "potable". In fact, the popularity of the Rox television show brought about the catchphrase "Distinctly Potable", praising a drink's "drinkability", while delicately skipping over the issue of taste.
(*With the exception of the infamous Episode #59 "J & B Get Baked", in which the sole drug imbibed is marijuana**.)
(**The "J&B Get Baked" episode also was one of the show's first encounters with mainstream media, as the episode featured the stars smoking marijuana on the steps of Bloomington's courthouse. Portions of the episode were shown/mentioned by everyone from MTV to Howard Stern. The duo did consult a lawyer about the potential for arrest from said act and were advised that there was no way to prove through the videotape what they were actually smoking.)
(* James Theodore "Jim" Reichert appeared as the first "special guest" on the show in episode #70, titled Head Jobz. J stated that Jim was his roommate at one point and talked about Jim's job at Sega Midwest Studio. Footage of a Sega 32X
game Aftershock, which was in development and being created by Sega Midwest Studio, was shown during the episode. Due to Sega Midwest Studio filing for bankruptcy in 1995, the game was never released, though it has been stated by Jim that he has a prototype cartridge with all of the game data on it**.)
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV in 1992. The show quickly garnered a cult following in Bloomington, home to Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and its tens of thousands of students. Numerous news articles were written about the show and its producers, in particular when they found themselves pushing the bounds of free speech. In a few cases, Bloomington's Public-access TV administrators felt bound to disallow some of the show's more controversial material, citing the long-standing precedent that broadcast media should be subject to more rigorous standards of public decency than print media. This controversy served to cement the show's celebrity among its already-loyal fan base. Rox's producers signed a contract with Free Speech TV
Free Speech TV
-External links:...
, allowing 19 episodes to be broadcast on FSTV's satellite channel starting in the summer of 2005.
The show recently returned for a fourth season after an eight year hiatus, and is now distributed almost exclusively by the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Each of the fourth season episodes is available for download on the Rox Website, and material from older episodes is also made available as space allows. The first episode, appropriately titled Episode Number One, appeared on television on July 7, 1992. The ninety-first and ninety-second episodes, Property is Theft (Parts I and II), have recently been released on DVD.
Overview
Rox stars (and is produced by) Bart Everson (frequently referred to by his first initial, "B") and Joe Nickell (likewise referred to as "J"). J's role during each show is that of bartenderBartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
; he mixes drinks which both J and B then drink. B's role is that of the editor
Video editing
The term video editing can refer to:* Linear video editing, using video tape* Non-linear editing system , using computers with video editing software* Offline editing* Online editing...
. His responsibilities include editing, combining, and creating the finished show. Both J and B serve as narrators and occasionally interviewers during the show itself.
Rox's producers describe the TV series as "A serial art-life/life-art documentary project. With mixed drinks." A theme in the earliest episodes was a fairly repetitive (and humorous) request for viewers to mail alcohol
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
(for sampling and use on the show, of course) to 711 East Cottage Grove in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
. This was both the place of production for the earlier episodes (in the basement, no less) and the home of Joe Nickell ("J"). Later shows have shifted focus somewhat to more socio/political issues, probably due to the changing age and focus of the show's two producers.
Drinx
One constant in every Rox show is the presentation of at least one mixed drink*, which is then usually consumed by those present when the drink is mixed. The mixed drinks featured have run the gamut from the traditional "Banana Daiquiri" to the bizarre "Zima Slimeball" (a mixture of ZimaZima
Zima is a clear, lightly carbonated, alcoholic beverage, made and distributed by the Coors Brewing Company, ultimately MillerCoors. Introduced in 1993, it was marketed not as a beer, but as an alternative to beer, an early example of what is now often referred to as alcopop. Its domestic production...
alcoholic beverage and Lime Jello
Gelatin dessert
Gelatin desserts are desserts made with sweetened and flavored gelatin. They can be made by combining plain gelatin with other ingredients or by using a premixed blend of gelatin with additives...
). "Drinx" featured on Rox do not always strive to taste good, but instead work toward the much more easily achieved goal of being "potable". In fact, the popularity of the Rox television show brought about the catchphrase "Distinctly Potable", praising a drink's "drinkability", while delicately skipping over the issue of taste.
(*With the exception of the infamous Episode #59 "J & B Get Baked", in which the sole drug imbibed is marijuana**.)
(**The "J&B Get Baked" episode also was one of the show's first encounters with mainstream media, as the episode featured the stars smoking marijuana on the steps of Bloomington's courthouse. Portions of the episode were shown/mentioned by everyone from MTV to Howard Stern. The duo did consult a lawyer about the potential for arrest from said act and were advised that there was no way to prove through the videotape what they were actually smoking.)
Recurring characters
- "XY", Bart Everson's girlfriend (and later wife)
- "Anal", Joe Nickell's brother, and frequent camera operator.
- "El Jefe", described as a "burger-flipping heroin addict".
- "T Black", anarchist clown and on-again off-again homeless dude
- "Worm", recurring housemate and ingenue of sorts
(* James Theodore "Jim" Reichert appeared as the first "special guest" on the show in episode #70, titled Head Jobz. J stated that Jim was his roommate at one point and talked about Jim's job at Sega Midwest Studio. Footage of a Sega 32X
Sega 32X
The Sega 32X, codenamed Project Mars, is an add-on for the Mega Drive/Genesis video game console by Sega. Its aim was to increase the lifespan of the aging Mega Drive/Genesis system, which was facing stiff competition from the SNES...
game Aftershock, which was in development and being created by Sega Midwest Studio, was shown during the episode. Due to Sega Midwest Studio filing for bankruptcy in 1995, the game was never released, though it has been stated by Jim that he has a prototype cartridge with all of the game data on it**.)