Midnight Blue (TV series)

Midnight Blue
Created byAl Goldstein
StarringAl Goldstein
Country of originUnited States
Original release
NetworkManhattan Cable Television
Release1974 (1974) –
2003 (2003)

Midnight Blue[1][2] is a sexually-themed public access cable television program that aired on Manhattan Cable Television Channel J[1] in New York City.[3][4]

The show debuted in 1974, as Screw publisher Al Goldstein parlayed his publishing success into a cable access show, a freeform interview program that played on the late night airwaves of Manhattan cable for more than twenty-five years.[5] He regularly included ads from phone sex companies, brothels, and escorts, the only television show to do so.

Midnight Blue was the subject of controversy when Goldstein testified before a United States District Court in 1995 as part of a lawsuit brought against Time Warner Cable's plan to scramble sexually explicit public access programs unless subscribers gave written consent for them.[6] The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in Goldstein's favor in 2000.[7]

Al Goldstein[8] was the host and producer along with radio personality Alex Bennett.[9] Alex Bennett and Screw editor Bruce David were its creators and original producers.[10]

Seven collections of show excerpts have been released on DVD by Nyaftermidnight and Blue Underground, Inc., together with added info about the actresses and scenes from their movies.

References

  1. ^ a b Corliss, Richard (July 6, 1987). "Cinema: Turned On? Turn It Off". Time. Archived from the original on June 13, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  2. ^ "DVD Verdict". DVD Verdict. 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  3. ^ Jane, Ian (2006). "DVD Talk". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  4. ^ Paumgarten, Nick (January 3, 2005). "Pluck You". The New Yorker. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  5. ^ Jane, Ian (2006-06-27). "DVD Talk". DVD Talk. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  6. ^ New York Times (1995). "2 Stars of Explicit Cable Shows Plead for Free-Speech Protection". The New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  7. ^ Gay, Jason (2000). "Supreme Court Cable-Porn Ruling Clears Way for Boogie Mornings". New York Observer. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  8. ^ Frumkes, Roy (June 28, 2005). "Midnight Blue Vol. 1: Deep Throat Edition". Films In Review. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  9. ^ Svetkey, Benjamin; Kilday, Gregg (September 28, 1990). "The latest in television news". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  10. ^ "New York cable's answer to Carson: late-night sex" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 9, 1975. pp. 48–49. Retrieved December 31, 2017.