Louis Theroux

I’ve always been a fan of investigative doc shows, specifically things like Frontline, 60 Minutes, and even some of the stuff that Vice puts out there. But probably my favorite investigative docs are those made by Louis Theroux for the BBC. 

Louis Theroux started off at the BBC in the late 90’s with the show Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends, in which he would primarily investigate American subcultures. This particular series (especially the earlier episodes) generally focuses more on oddities without too much social or political significance. In these episodes Louis often attempts to immerse himself in the world he is exploring. Due to his mannerisms, accent, and stature he always sticks out like a sore thumb, leading to many comedic situations. For example, in one episode he takes a look at the world of professional wrestling.

After Weird Weekends, Louis’ docs have become much more serious in nature. His BBC specials regard topics ranging from the Westboro Baptist Church, to prisons and jails, to American neo-nazis. While in Weird Weekends you often see a more humorous side of Louis, these docs really let you see his exceptional investigative ability. He is able to seem innocent and non-threatening, all the while being very adamant and asking very difficult questions.