Sup Doc: A Documentary Film Podcast
Ep 35 OJ: MADE IN AMERICA with comedians Greg Edwards/Harmon Leon
On EP 35 hosts Paco Romane and George Chen examine O.J.: Made in America a 2016 American five-part documentary miniseries produced and directed by Ezra Edelman for ESPN Films and their 30 for 30 series. The documentary explores many of America’s greatest fixations–race, sports, sex and celebrity–through the life of O. J. Simpson, from his emerging football career at the University of Southern California and why America fell in love with him, to being accused of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and his subsequent acquittal, and how he was convicted and imprisoned for another crime 13 years later.
The documentary begins with Simpson’s arrival at USC as an emerging football superstar and ends with his incarceration in 2007 for robbery. Throughout the documentary, Simpson’s life–the football success, television career, relationship with Nicole Brown, the domestic abuse, Nicole and Ron Goldman’s murder, the trial–runs parallel to the larger narrative of the city of Los Angeles, which serves as host to mounting racial tensions and a volatile relationship between the LAPD and the African American community.
We are thrilled to have as our guests our talented friends – comedian Greg Edwards (Thug Notes) and via phone with author/comedian Harmon Leon (Infiltrator).
Greg Edwards is a fearless comedian from the state of Virginia. Greg moved to San Francisco in 2001 and became a fixture on the Bay Area comedy scene. Greg is known for his distinctive voice, one-liners, awkward views and social commentary. He’s performed at Jamie Foxx’s Laffapollozza, SF SketchFest, SF Burrito & Comedy Fest, Riot LA and was awarded the prestigious Dan Crawford Award from the San Francisco Punchline in 2009 . Greg has worked with Dave Chappelle, Paul Mooney, Patrice O’Neal, Damon Wayans, Bill Burr, Charlie Murphy, Maria Bamford, Jim Jeffries, Harland Williams, Bill Bellamy, Deon Cole, W. Kamau Bell and many more outstanding comedians. Not forgetting his acting chops, Greg shines in the award winning comedy short film, INTERVIEW DATE from 2012. Most recently, Greg stars as “Sparky Sweets PhD” of the critically-acclaimed web series THUG NOTES. Greg currently resides in Los Angeles and hosts the monthly comedy show “Blame Social Media“.
Harmon Leon is the author of six books.
His stories have appeared in VICE, Esquire, The Nation, National Geographic, Salon, Huffington Post, NPR’s, This American Life, Details, Maxim, Cracked, SF Chronicle, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, and Wired.
Harmon has performed comedy around the world, including the Edinburgh, Melbourne, Dublin, Vancouver, and Montreal Comedy Festivals. He’s appeared on The Howard Stern Show, Last Call With Carson Daly, Penn & Teller’s Bullshit, Spike TV, VH1, FX, as well as the BBC. Harmon also costarred with the infamous OJ Simpson on a hidden camera reality show called Juiced!
He’s produced video content for Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, FX, Daily Mail, Yahoo Sports, National Lampoon, Current TV, Fox Family Channel, VH1, and Strike TV.
Harmon is low in sodium and perfect for the elderly.
