Rox (TV series)

Rox
Created by Joe Nickell and Bart Everson
Starring Joe Nickell "J" (bartender) and Bart Everson "B" (editor)
Country of origin USA
No. of episodes 91
Production
Running time varies
Release
Original network BCAT (Bloomington Community Access) (then Internet)
Original release July 7, 1992 – present

Rox (originally titled J&B on the 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.

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 bartender; 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.

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 Zima 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.)

Recurring characters

(* James Theodore "Jim" Reichert appeared as the first "special guest" on the show in episode #1, later making more lengthy appearances in episodes #34 ("J & B's Freshman Orientation Program") and #70 ("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**.)

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