An essential examination of the rise and fall of Orenthal James Simpson, and parallels between his incredible story with that of race in America. This critically-acclaimed documentary series reveals how he first became a football star, why America fell in love with him off the field, what happened in the trial for his ex-wife's murder, and finally, why he is now sitting in jail for another crime 20 years later. Part I: In the turbulent 1960s, young OJ Simpson rises to fame as a football star first for the USC Trojans, than with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL and becomes one of the first black celebrities embraced by the white mainstream. Part II: OJ retires from football, becomes an actor and marries his second wife, Nicole. Meanwhile, tensions rise between Los Angeles' black community and the city's police, climaxing with the Rodney King beating and riots in the early 1990s. Part III: OJ's life and his public image change forever when he is accused of murdering his estranged wife, Nicole. His arrest, attempted escape and trial become a media circus.