TV Party
World Premiere

TV Party

| USA | 91 MINUTES | English
Documentary

Parliament Funkadelic leader George Clinton christened it "anarchy Howdy Doody guerilla TV," while late-night king David Letterman once touted it as his favorite TV show. A live weekly public access program that ran from 1978 to 1982, Glenn O'Brien's TV Party was a hip, eclectic romp through New York City's then-burgeoning punk, new wave, and graffiti artist scenes. This fun, spirited documentary captures the show's irreverent spontaneity and culture of groundbreaking artists on the verge. Show guests and regulars included Robert Mapplethorpe, Fab Five Freddy, Mick Jones (The Clash), David Byrne (Talking Heads), Nile Rogers, Debbie Harry (Blondie) and Jean Michel Basquiat. Mixing equal parts performance art, underground film, improv and experimental video, TV Party was actually a nod to Hugh Hefner's Playboy After Dark, except host Glenn O'Brien (a writer for High Times) and cohost Chris Stein (of Blondie) were the antiestablishment guides for this ride. Experience the frenzied energy of an organically raw, pre-Giuliani New York City, where a local cable show's segments could include discussion about and on-air use of pot-highlighted by a blindfolded O'Brien rolling and toking a joint. Listen in to hostile phone calls from viewers whose vulgar, obscene comments hilariously insult hosts and guests alike. And check out the Saturday Night Live-esque heavy metal, cowboy, primitive and Middle Eastern theme nights replete with costumes and accents. The show's tag line was "The TV Show That's a Party." Now thanks to its documentary incarnation, Glenn O'Brien's TV Party lives on as celluloid proof that the downtown New York arts revolution was televised.

* Rush Tickets available at venue except for
Beacon Theatre
Rush will be offered when advanced tickets for a screening or event are no longer available at venues other than Beacon Theatre.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.

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