2 chapters across the catalog
The Fox television series Rock, starring Charles Dutton, is highlighted for its realistic portrayal of a Baltimore neighborhood fighting back against drug dealers. The show, which occasionally aired live episodes, captured the frustration of citizens held hostage by the drug trade. The hosts lament the lack of similar socially conscious programming on modern television.
A comparison of television shows from different eras illustrates a shift in how drug dealers are portrayed in popular culture. In the 1990s show *Rock*, the protagonist explicitly rejects a drug dealer's presence in his neighborhood, labeling him a murderer. This is contrasted with earlier characters like Huggy Bear from *Starsky and Hutch*, who was depicted as a "cool" informant despite being a criminal, and the modern trend of glorifying drug culture in entertainment.
