Plot Synopsis

Journalist Laura Ling explores cultural trends thriving on the fringe of society, interviewing those who are enmeshed in the particular subculture while revealing their provocative lifestyles. In each 30-minute episode of SOCIETY X, Ling investigates a different topic, including the world of designer drugs in the series premiere, as she uncovers a disturbing trend of getting high on psychoactive materials derived by making modifications to existing active drugs. She discovers where these drugs are derived, who buys them, who sells them, who is using them and why they are so difficult to legally regulate. Plus, she interviews users themselves about the damaging effects these drugs have had on them, while also riding along with undercover law enforcement authorities for a smoke-shop raid.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In an all-new special, "Society X with Laura Ling: Living Dolls," that premiered on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT on E!, Laura Ling explores the growing phenomenon of people living and looking like plastic dolls. Elaborate make-up, stylized wigs, specialized contacts, specific wardrobe and, for some, endless surgical procedures, allow some obsessed with the lifestyle to become living doll versions of themselves. Ling introduces both male and female living dolls, like Emily Smith who relies on hours of makeup, wigs and the perfect wardrobe to transform her appearance. Blondie Bennett, underwent multiple invasive and often risky plastic surgeries to achieve the perfect doll look. Blondie is taking her transformation to an even more bizarre extreme by using hypnosis to become mentally vacant...just like a doll. Ling also reveals the story of 30-year-old Rodrigo Alves who suffers from body dysmorphia yet can't stop going under the knife. After multiple procedures and surgeries, he is still striving for perfection.