‘TV Party’: Punk rocks the cathode ray
TV Party hosted by Glenn O’ Brian was a New York City cable TV show that ran from 1978 to 1982. It had zero production values but a shitload of manic energy and lo-fi charm. Among the many musical guests that wandered onto the program were Blondie, The Fleshtones, Klaus Nomi, Kid Creole, David Byrne, The Clash and many more. It was also a magnet for artists like Robert Mapplethorpe and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Directed by downtown auteur Amos Poe, TV Party brought some of what was happening in Manhattan’s rock clubs into your living room. I used to watch it while bathing in the bathtub located in the kitchen of my third floor walk-up on 27th street. $185 a month with a toilet up the hall. I thought it was quite glamorous.
