Season 2
Final 24 is a Canadian documentary series produced by Cineflix Productions that unlocks the hidden secrets, psychological flaws and events that resulted in the tragic deaths of global icons.
The series originally premiered in Canada on the Discovery Channel and Global Television Network on 16 April, 2006. There are 14 episodes in two seasons to date.
Final 24 premiered in South Africa on DStv's Discovery Channel on Monday 6 November 2006, at 21h00. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates.
Season 2 premiered on Discovery on Thursday 10 April 2008, at 21h00. There are eight hour-long episodes in the second season.
Season 2 Synopsis
Eight more celebrities dead before their time. Eight last days that lead to eight dramatic investigations and eight deaths that hold the key to eight amazing lives.
The Final 24 is a revealing alternative biography series that unlocks the hidden secrets, psychological flaws and trigger events that led to the tragic deaths of eight global icons. Each episode maps out the final 24 hours of a different celebrity’s life.
Weaving in and out of this central narrative is the celebrity’s back-story, which lays bare the threads of fate that led inextricably from childhood to the moment of death.
Telling interviews with loved ones and confidantes combine with high-end dramatic re-enactments and archival material illuminate these compelling life (and death) stories.
These are no ordinary biographies. These are psychological detective stories attempting to uncover the mystery of why the celebrity died.
The eight celebrities featured this season are:
Keith Moon
Anna Nicole Smith
Janis Joplin
Gianni Versace
Nicole Brown Simpson
Jim Morrison
David Koresh
Tupac Shakur
Season 2 Celebrities
Keith Moon
September 6, 1978. Keith Moon is one of the most outrageous rock 'n roll performers in the world. As the genius drummer for The Who, wild-man Moon is a non-stop party animal.
In 24 hours, however, the party will be over...
Featuring archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and interviews with his family and closest companions, Final 24 documents the final moments of this rock star’s life.
A poster boy for self-destruction, Moon ‘the Loon’ is the epitome of the pill-popping, hotel-smashing rock god. But his excessive ways have taken their toll and his future with The Who is now in jeopardy. With the band’s latest album just released, he’s desperate to get his life back in order.
A struggling alcoholic, Moon is trying to break the habit, and has turned to Heminevrin – a new alcohol withdrawal medication.
On his last night alive he heads to a star studded party, hosted by his friend, Paul McCartney. Surrounded by temptation, staying sober becomes a major struggle.
Usually the last man standing, Moon makes an uncharacteristically early departure from the party. Returning home with his girlfriend he takes several handfuls of Hemineverin and falls asleep.
Waking early and disorientated Moon pops more pills and falls asleep again. This time however he won’t wake again.
Ironically, Moon’s life is cut short by the very pills that are meant to save him.
Anna Nicole Smith
It’s February 7, 2007. Anna Nicole Smith, the famous American model, is in Fort Lauderdale to buy a boat but she’s been so sick she hasn’t been able to leave her hotel suite. In 24 hours she will be dead.
In this episode, exclusive interviews with her closest companions combined with archive and dramatic reenactment help piece together her final hours, and the dramatic events that led to her surprising death by accidental drug overdose.
The famous American sex goddess is running a fever and is fighting flu symptoms. She’s also taken an unpredictable cocktail of prescription drugs to help her deal with the tragedy of her twenty-year old son’s death.
Anna Nicole’s dependency on drugs has been a twenty-year habit. The once vivacious model is physically and psychologically vulnerable.
On February 8, 2007, Anna Nicole is still sick and very weak. She’s sleeping a lot. The famous model has had injections of human growth hormone and B12 to manage her weight and now her injection site is infected.
Anna Nicole has always been willing to risk everything to maintain her looks - this time she may have gone too far.
When Anna Nicole can’t be wakened from her sleep, her friends quickly realize something is seriously wrong. She is rushed to the hospital, where she is pronounced dead at 2:49 pm.
Her death was ruled an “accidental drug overdose” due to ingesting excessive amounts of chloral hydrate – a potent sleep medication - in combination with therapeutic levels of other medications.
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was the undisputed queen of rock and roll, her powerful, bluesy vocals, unmatched. But, aged just 27, a blast of nearly pure heroin cut short her tumultuous life.
Final 24 traces the roots of her addiction and uses archive footage, dramatic reenactments and interviews with her closest companions – including her brother and former band mates - to piece together the last 24 hours of a voice of a generation.
October 3, 1970, Los Angeles. It’s the day before her death and Joplin has time to kill before heading to the recording studio. Joplin, bored and lonely, calls her dealer. The singer has been clean for 6 months but all that is about to change.
After an evening at the recording studio, Joplin and her band head to a local bar to unwind. Returning to her hotel room Joplin prepares her fix. Unknown to Joplin, the heroin is nearly pure.
The following morning, Janis is discovered by her manager, dead from a massive overdose. The LP she was working on – Pearl – is released posthumously, and, by common consent, her best yet.
Gianni Versace
It’s July 14th, 1997 and Gianni Versace, probably the most famous fashion designer in the world, is kicking back at his Florida mansion. In just 24 hours he will be dead.
With exclusive interviews with his intimates, combined with archive and dramatic reconstruction, Final 24 maps out Versace’s last day alive – and the dramatic events that led to his brutal murder at the hands of a serial killer.
On July 15, 1997, Versace sets out on his morning walk to pick up his newspapers and magazines. This morning, the famous designer is alone.
Since his arrival in Florida, Versace has been followed by a envious admirer, a desperate loser turned serial killer who has traveled 2000 miles to destroy Versace.
Andrew Cunanan is obsessed with Versace and has been carrying a seven-year grudge that has grown into a desire to kill the celebrity, a man he met only briefly.
Cunanan strikes just as Versace is returning home from his morning stroll. He shoots and kills Versace a few yards from his mansion. The killer’s body is found two weeks later by the Florida police.
Nicole Brown Simpson
June 12 1994. Vibrant, funny, and beautiful, Nicole Brown Simpson appears to have it all. With loads of money, a great body, and two adorable children, the ex-wife of football legend O.J. Simpson is living the Hollywood dream.
In 24 hours, however, the dream will be brutally shattered, Nicole will be dead, and her ex-husband will stand accused in the murder trial of the century.
Featuring archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and interviews with her closest companions, Final 24 documents the final moments of this celebrity’s life.
For seven years, Nicole Brown Simpson’s trophy wife image obscured the ugly reality of serious domestic violence. Divorced for the past two years, however, Nicole is discovering her independence and wants to have fun.
She begins the day with a nine-mile run, spends the morning shopping, and later attends her daughter’s dance recital where she completely ignores O.J. Later that night, she puts the kids to bed and waits up for her friend, Ron Goldman.
When he stops by, both are brutally attacked and left for dead on the lawn.
Jim Morrison
July 2, 1971. Jim Morrison is one of the most famous rock singers in the world. He’s also the ultimate sex symbol. But Morrison is at war with his own dark demons.
In 24 hours his darkness will consume him and he’ll be dead.
Using archive footage, dramatic reenactment and interviews with his closest companions, Final 24 details the last 24 hours of Morrison’s life.
For the past 4 months, the self-styled ‘lizard king’ has been living in Paris. On the run from his rock star image and trying to establish himself as a serious poet, Morrison is looking for artistic inspiration.
But he is restless and his health bad - his long time addiction to alcohol is catching up with him. And now he decides to add heroin to the mix, a decision that proves fatal.
Morrison and his long time girlfriend fall asleep after taking the drugs but wake up because Morrison is having trouble breathing. Instead of seeking medical attention, Morrison decides to take a bath and his girlfriend goes back to bed.
She finds him at 8:30 am on July 3, 1971, dead in the bathtub. Just 27, Morrison’s demons have finally caught up with him.
David Koresh
April 18, 1993. One of the most notorious religious leaders in the United States, David Koresh, and 83 of his followers have been trapped inside their Waco, Texas compound for over 50 days.
Unwilling to surrender and surrounded by authorities, the siege is the longest modern-day standoff in American law enforcement history.
In 24 hours, however, it will all be over...and Koresh and 73 others will be dead. Featuring archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and key interviews, Final 24 documents the final moments of the infamous preacher’s life.
As the leader of the doomsday cult – the Branch Davidians – David Koresh preaches that the end of the world is at hand, and that he has been handpicked by God to lead believers to the Promised Land.
Authorities, however, believe Koresh is a sexual predator and a dangerous criminal... And that he must be stopped.
While the FBI’s pressure tactics intensify outside the compound, Koresh struggles to finish his manuscript. He is determined to deliver his key message to the world and has promised to surrender — as soon as he has finished the text.
But the FBI is not interested in debating religious prophecies and time is running out.
When the attorney general finally gives the order to strike, the compound is assaulted with tear gas and armoured vehicles.
The buildings are inadvertently engulfed in flames, and Koresh’s followers are trapped inside...
Tupac Shakur
September 6, 1996. The most successful hip-hop artist of all time, Tupac Shakur has just finished shooting his latest video in Los Angeles.
As the fearless and angry voice of urban America, the multi-talented poet and performer has sold over 75 million albums, has scored six top-ten billboard singles in as many years, and has emerged as a rich and powerful black man with scores of fans...and enemies.
The ultimate gangster-rapper, Tupac says he will one day go out in a blaze of glory. In 24 hours, his prophecy will come true...
Featuring archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and interviews with his family and friends, Final 24 documents the final moments of Tupac Shakur’s life.
Although reluctant about going to Las Vegas to play a gig, Tupac eventually relents, and enjoys some high stakes gambling before attending a heavyweight prizefight featuring his friend, Mike Tyson.
Pumped up by Tyson’s victory, Tupac is himself involved in a violent brawl, and heads back to his hotel to freshen up. When Tupac finally arrives at the club for his own performance, a white Cadillac pulls up and a gunman fires a heavy round of bullets at the rapper’s car.
Mortally wounded with a punctured lung, Tupac dies six days later in hospital. He is only 25.
SeasonsSeason 1Premiere: 6 November 2006 | Finale: 11 December, 2006
CelebritiesSid Vicious
John Belushi
River Phoenix
Hunter S. Thompson
Marvin Gaye
John Kennedy Jr.
Season 2Premiere: 10 April 2008 | Finale: 29 May 2008
CelebritiesKeith Moon
Anna Nicole Smith
Janis Joplin
Gianni Versace
Nicole Brown Simpson
Jim Morrison
David Koresh
Tupac Shakur
Related ArticlesDo Drugs Create Legends?Final 24: Season 1