30 Days (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Reality television |
| Founded | June 15, 2005 |
| Founder | Morgan Spurlock |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Latin America, Norway, Sweden |
| Products | Television series |
30 Days is a reality television series from the United States, developed and hosted by Morgan Spurlock for the FX network. Each installment showcases Spurlock or other participants immersing themselves in a new lifestyle for a full month—examples include earning minimum wage, experiencing life inside prison, or a Christian adopting the life of a Muslim—to shed light on various societal challenges. Specific guidelines govern each social experiment. Spurlock appears in at least one episode every season.
The inaugural season launched on June 15, 2005, with its DVD release following on July 11, 2006. The second season premiered on July 26, 2006, and the third season began airing on June 3, 2008. FX discontinued the series later that year after three seasons. Reruns have since been broadcast on Destination America, although no additional episodes were created.
On the international stage, 30 Days has been shown on More4 and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, as well as Network Ten and Lifestyle Channel in Australia. Currently, it airs in Canada via the Independent Film Channel (Canada) and Canal Vie. The series also reaches audiences through FX in Latin America, along with Norway’s TV 2 and Sweden’s TV4 and Kanal 9.
Episode listing
| Season | Episodes | Season Premiere |
Season Finale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | June 15, 2005 | July 20, 2005 | |
| 2 | 6 | July 26, 2006 | August 30, 2006 | |
| 3 | 6 | June 3, 2008 | July 8, 2008 | |
Season 1: 2005
| # | Topic | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | "Minimum Wage" | June 15, 2005 |
| 30 Days premiered on June 15, 2005, with "Minimum Wage," featuring Morgan Spurlock and his fiancée living for one month in Columbus, Ohio’s Bottoms neighborhood surviving solely on minimum wage earnings ($5.15 per hour). They began without any cash, credit cards, or health coverage and rented an apartment costing less than their combined weekly income.
Guidelines:
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| 102 | "Anti-Aging" | June 22, 2005 |
| Scott Bridges, aged 34, undertakes a regimen of testosterone and growth hormone supplements to combat aging but discontinues after 22 days due to negative health reactions.
Guidelines:
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| 103 | "Muslims and America" | June 29, 2005 |
| Dave Stacy, a committed Christian with anti-Muslim sentiments, spends thirty days living alongside a Muslim family.
Guidelines:
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| 104 | "Straight Man in a Gay World" | July 6, 2005 |
| A conservative Christian man lives for one month with a gay roommate in San Francisco’s Castro district to gain insight into LGBTQ+ culture.
Guidelines:
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| 105 | "Off the Grid" | July 13, 2005 |
| Two nightclub workers accustomed to electricity spend thirty days living without power or phone at Missouri’s Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage.
Guidelines:
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| 106 | "Binge Drinking Mom" | July 20, 2005 |
| A mother engages in binge drinking for thirty days to mimic college drinking behaviors as an intervention addressing her daughter’s possible alcohol use issues.
Guidelines:
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Season 2: 2006
| # | Topic | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | "Immigration" | July 26, 2006 |
| The season begins with a Minuteman border patrol agent—originally from Cuba who entered the U.S. legally—living covertly with a household of undocumented immigrants.
Guidelines:
| ||
| 202 | "Outsourcing" | August 2, 2006 |
| Christopher Jobin, a programmer laid off due to outsourcing to India, moves there to live and work alongside a family engaged in outsourced positions.
Guidelines:
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| 203 | "Religious Perception (DVD Title: Atheist/Christian)" | August 9, 2006 |
| An outspoken atheist cohabitates with a deeply religious Christian family, attending church services and Bible study weekly.
Guidelines:
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| 204 | "New Age" | August 16, 2006 |
| Tom, a stressed salesman, embraces guidance from a New Age life coach and engages in various New Age ceremonies, influencing his relationship with his cohabiting girlfriend.
Guidelines:
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| 205 | "Abortion (DVD Title: Pro-Choice/Pro-Life)" | August 23, 2006 |
| Jennifer, who supports pro-choice policies and previously had an abortion, moves into a Christian pro-life pregnancy crisis center for one month, taking part in pro-life activities.
Guidelines:
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| 206 | "Jail" | August 30, 2006 |
| Creator Morgan Spurlock serves a simulated 30-day term at Henrico County Jail in Virginia but is released after 25 days consistent with local sentencing. He experiences solitary confinement and restricted visitation.
Guidelines:
The episode highlights that two inmates Spurlock befriended were later re-incarcerated within months. | ||
Season 3: 2008
| # | Topic | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | "Working in a Coal Mine" | June 3, 2008 |
|
Morgan Spurlock takes on typical shifts in a West Virginia coal mine, confronting the hazards miners face daily. He investigates the environmental consequences of coal combustion and practices like mountaintop removal mining that severely impact his home region. Guidelines:
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| 302 | "30 Days in a Wheelchair" | June 10, 2008 |
|
Ex-Denver Broncos cornerback Ray Crockett experiences life confined to a wheelchair for thirty days to simulate spinal cord injury challenges. He adapts his routine while gaining understanding of disabled sports, societal stigmas, and obstacles paraplegics encounter. Guidelines:
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| 303 | "Animal Rights" | June 17, 2008 |
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A passionate hunter lives alongside a PETA campaign coordinator in Los Angeles, contributing to animal rights efforts and volunteering at an animal rescue facility. Guidelines:
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| 304 | "Same Sex Parenting" | June 24, 2008 |
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A mother opposing adoption by same-sex couples moves in with a gay couple raising four adopted children. She immerses herself in the LGBTQ+ community and advocates for equal parental rights. Guidelines:
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| 305 | "Gun Nation" | July 1, 2008 |
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A gun control advocate affected by gun violence lives with pro-gun supporters. He works at a firearms retail store, sells guns, and completes firearms safety training. Guidelines:
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| 306 | "Life on an Indian Reservation" | July 8, 2008 |
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Morgan Spurlock spends thirty days residing on the Navajo Nation to explore Native American culture and lifestyle. Guidelines:
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DVD releases
| DVD title | Release date | Number of episodes | Additional details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | July 11, 2006 | 6 | Includes commentary on select episodes and diary cam features for every episode. |
| Season 2 | July 1, 2008 | 6 | |
| Complete Boxset | May 18, 2010 | 18 |
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2005 American television series debuts
- 2008 American television series endings
- 2000s American reality television series
- 2000s American documentary television series
- American English-language television shows
- FX Networks original programming
- GLAAD Media Award–winning shows
- Television Academy Honors winners
- Television series by 20th Century Fox Television
- Television series by Reveille Productions