TrueSouth

Watch TrueSouth

  • 2021
  • 7 Seasons
  • 9.1  (44)

TrueSouth is a television series created by ESPN in 2018 that investigates the cultural identity of the southern United States as a whole. The host of the show, John T. Edge – an acclaimed food writer and Southern culture expert, takes viewers on an immersive journey into everything that makes the region unique.

Over the course of six episodes, TrueSouth explores the sights, sounds, and flavors that are distinct to the southern US. Through interviews, historical context, and colorful imagery, Edge discovers a region full of contradictions, complexities, and most importantly, good food.

Each episode delves into a different city or town, uncovering stories that allow Edge to showcase the South's most fascinating characters. In Nashville, he meets some of the most exciting musicians in the country, while in Mississippi he learns about blues history and meets an artisanal canoe maker. In all the towns, he learns the traditions that shaped the South, including the peculiarities that arise from living in cities marked by harsh southern weather; poverty, racism, and joys are only a few examples of the complexities that come with living in the new South.

One of the key aspects of the program is its emphasis on food. Each episode features local figures who have made it their business to produce or promote culinary creations that are deeply rooted in the region. For example, the first episode, which takes place in Nashville, explores the melting pot of Southern cuisines that influence the city's culinary scene. Throughout the show's first season, viewers learn about everything from barbecue to the country's oldest soda fountain.

Of course, TrueSouth is not solely focused on food. The series also documents some of the more challenging aspects of southern life, such as those faced by immigrants, depression, and the intersection of class and race. These are issues that are deeply ingrained in the South's social fabric, and Edge does an admirable job of using the show to examine them. The end result is an episode that feels educational as well as entertaining.

Beyond just the content of the episodes, TrueSouth also stands out for its technical qualities. The cinematography is consistently breathtaking, with sweeping shots that showcase some of the most beautiful vistas that the southern US has to offer. The music selection, too, is on-point, with each episode featuring a rousing soundtrack that sets the tone for the city or town being explored.

Overall, TrueSouth is one of ESPN's most impressive original series in years. Through John T. Edge's charismatic hosting style, the show effectively documents everything that makes the southern United States unique. From its food to its culture, the show captures the essence of the region in a way that will enthrall viewers of all backgrounds. Its technical execution is equally impressive, resulting in a program that is a feast for the senses.

TrueSouth is a series that ran for 7 seasons (35 episodes) between March 17, 2021 and on ESPN

TrueSouth
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Seasons
Behind-the-Scenes
7. Behind-the-Scenes
November 19, 2024
Summary is not available.
Upstate, SC
6. Upstate, SC
November 5, 2024
Singleton grew up in Greenwood, S.C. and now lives on the outskirts of Spartanburg with his partner Glenda Guion, a ceramicist. They make their living as artists, working in side-by-side backyard sheds, accompanied by their dog, Cleo.
Jasper
5. Jasper
October 22, 2024
Johnson works downstate in Mobile, Ala. as a writer and teacher. His next novel, tentatively titled Lou, was inspired by recent research: sorting through old family photos, listening to old family stories, asking new questions. When Caleb was a boy, Ronnie shielded his son from talk of the mines. For this episode, Caleb and Ronnie sat down to talk about that work, what it made possible for their family and the price they paid across generations. Justice Evans grew up in his father's welding shop on the edge of Jasper and the coal mines drove that business. Justice followed his father, Howard Evans, into said business. He also followed his father onto the track. His father raced a stock car at the nearby Sayre Speedway and by second grade, Justice was racing a souped-up go-cart. Now, he races his father's old Monte Carlo.
Little Rock
4. Little Rock
October 8, 2024
In Little Rock, AR, Jordan Narvaez introduces the crew to his people and places. They begin at El Super Pollo, the chicken al carbon tent he runs with his brother, set in front of their western wear store. Traveling southwestern Little Rock in Jordan's pickup, they drink micheladas, eat enchiladas in the style of San Luis Potosi, and slurp homemade watermelon ice cream.
Lexington
3. Lexington
September 24, 2024
TrueSouth explores the Whole Hog Triangle of Tennessee, where the old ways of cooking barbecue endure and two families work together to secure a future for this remnant of our rural past. Defined by Lexington to the west, Parsons to the east, and Jacks Creek to the south, the triangle is set below I-40, east of Jackson.
Austin
2. Austin
September 10, 2024
Rudy Cisneros still looms large on the east side of Austin, TX, a city within this rapidly-changing city. At Cisco's, open since 1950, the migas and huevos rancheros are good as ever. Also on the east side, we track Kareem El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ, a new arrival from Cairo, Egypt, who has learned to two-step and introduced Texas to pomegranate-speckled ribs.
Oklahoma City
1. Oklahoma City
August 27, 2024
Season 7 kicks off in Oklahoma City, exploring the oil and cattle work that puts money in pockets and ribeyes on tables. Cattlemen's Steakhouse, open since 1910, sits hard by the Oklahoma National Stockyards. Junior's Supper Club, owned by the Shumsky family, does business at the bottom of mid-rise, where the light is always low and every hour is happy hour.
Description
Where to Watch TrueSouth
TrueSouth is available for streaming on the ESPN website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch TrueSouth on demand at Hulu and ESPN+.
  • Premiere Date
    March 17, 2021
  • IMDB Rating
    9.1  (44)
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