Plot Synopsis

Each half-hour episode of THE FAST HISTORY OF quickly chronicles the histories of anything from iconic brands like Nike, Domino's and Nintendo to topics like The Mob, UFOs and The Secret Lives of Billionaires. From the very beginning through today, each program features all the surprising, eye-opening and innovative moments that make up their stories...delivered in 30 minutes or less. Episodes include:

"Snack Saviors" (Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 10pm): It is the world's number one cookie brand... by far. But the cookie that built this empire was... already being sold by Nabisco's competitors. Competitors who were once co-founders of Nabisco! Still, shrewd marketing (and recipe tweaks) made the Oreo the world's favorite cookie. Following it up with Chips Ahoy and SnackWell's, Nabisco's story is packed with boardroom intrigue, personal vengeance, and a few colossal failures.

"Ketchup Kings" (Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 10:30pm): It's one of the most recognizable brands on the planet! Yet Heinz's meteoric rise is full of surprises. Like their famous "57" varieties have nothing to do with the number of ingredients. The founder was once in debt and arrested because he couldn't pay his bills. He also once sunk a ship of his competitor's bottles in the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh! Heinz went gangbusters after WWII with aggressive ad campaigns that crushed their rivals... only to be outsold by salsa in the 1990s. How did they survive it all?

"The Donut Revolution" (Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 10pm): When Bill Rosenberg founded Dunkin Donuts in 1950, he set out to serve the freshest and most delicious donuts and coffee the world had ever seen. In the process he revolutionized the game, bringing 52 flavors to a treat that had only ever had four. From their battle with Krispy Kreme and Starbucks to how they really invented munchkins.

"Gum Masters" (Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 10:30pm): What costs around a nickel per stick and can help give you a million-dollar smile? Founded in 1891, Wrigley's is the world's most popular gum. They even have their name on the 2nd oldest major league baseball stadium! And with gum sales of over $1.3 billion dollars a year, they rake in more than double their nearest competitor! But their journey to the top is full of even more surprises. Like do you know how Wrigley's gum helped win World War II? Or how did they manage to give free samples of their gum to everyone in the phone book?! And you'll never believe the risque origin story behind their most popular bubble gum.

"Secrets of the Sub" (Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 10pm): Since its founding in 1965, the brainchild of a nuclear physicist and a would-be-med student, Subway, has grown from a small storefront in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to the biggest chain restaurant on the planet. With nearly twice as many U.S. locations as any other fast-food chain, they sell over 8 million sandwiches a day! On Subway's rise to world domination, it will change how we eat, battle tenacious rivals, and face a career-ending controversy.

"Fast Food Innovations" (Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 10:30pm): Over the last half century, fast food has become a nearly $300 billion dollar staple for Americans on the go. And it was a series of entrepreneurs who created some of the biggest innovations not just in fast food, but in the entire history of food. Hope you're hungry! From the invention of the hamburger patty by the eventual founder of White Castle, to the McDonald's Speedee system that has been replicated by countless fast-food chains, to the 30 minutes or less guarantee that started a delivery revolution.