Introducing: Operator

The rise and fall of America's largest phone sex empire during the 1990s centers on the operations of Mike Pardis and the massive flow of credit card revenue generated by 800-number services. This industry operated at the intersection of technological innovation and sexual fantasy, eventually drawing the ire of major telecommunications giants like AT&T and MCI who challenged the business's legitimacy. Behind the scenes, the enterprise was fueled by a workforce of mostly women while leadership enjoyed a lifestyle of extreme excess, characterized by private helicopters, luxury cars, and high-stakes corporate betrayal. Journalist Tina Horn investigates the complex reality of these operators, contrasting public perceptions with internal power struggles and the "hundred shades of gray" found in daily operations. This 24-hour-a-day money-making machine transformed from a late-night TV curiosity into a multi-million dollar battlefield of scams and legal threats.