E! True Hollywood Story Season 2 Episode 10 Studio 54: Sex, Drugs & Disco

As it approached its zenith in the late 1970s, Studio 54 was one of the most talked-about nightclub destinations on the planet. Its doors were open from 10 pm to 5 am, and it quickly became one of the world's most sought-after VIP event spots in the industry. Operated by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club was known for its luxury, sweat, style, and discotheque beats. A-listers like Liza Minnelli, Andy Warhol, Elton John, and Mick Jagger never missed a chance to experience the Studio 54 buzz.

Studio 54 was notorious for legendary party scenes, and the club's reputation was based on a mixture of lewdness, star power, and excess. The Studio 54 craze swept the nation, but as with all things, it was ultimately unsustainable.

In the follow-up to True Hollywood Story's Studio 54 retrospective, Season 2 Episode 10 delves deeper into the nightclub's legacy and explores its impact on society's increasingly libertine lifestyle. The episode attempts to unravel the reasons for Studio 54's rise to legendary status, as well as its ultimate fall from grace.

We notice that the New York City nightclub scene in the 1970s was already a smoldering sign of something new; social and cultural norms were changing. Sexual liberation, nudity, and drugs were some of the unconventional norms that were acceptable in this new world. As Studio 54 revolutionized the game, its unique approach to creating exclusivity, wealth, style, and glamor drew an increased number of the elite's who were always eager to experience the heightened sense of freedom, voyeurism, and celebrity.

Interviews with former Studio 54 guests, staff, and associates provide insights into this unique period and showcase testimonials from people who were there to witness the magic. We see interviews with some of the people who knew Rubell and Schrager while working at Studio 54 and those who helped maintain the club's mystical status. They share interesting anecdotes, such as how Steve Rubell pressured bouncers to ensure their party invitation lists featured people who could attract attention.

Despite the open-air sexual acts, rampant illegal drug usage, and a general sense of utter chaos taking place within its walls, Studio 54 famously exemplified a larger-than-life image of pure, unbridled fun, making it an ultimate party destination. But at its core, the club best epitomized the sense of uncontainable, anarchic energy that characterized the early disco era and ultimately became one of its most recognizable symbols.

This episode of E! True Hollywood Story, Studio 54: Sex, Drugs & Disco, examines one of the most monumental clubbing experiences ever. We celebrate the club's high times and take an in-depth look at how its flaws created a culture of excess that was eventually deemed intolerable. Plus, we track the downward spiral of the Studio 54 scene in the 1980s and find out what happens when the intoxicating combination of sex, drugs, and disco overshoots its zenith.