Midnight Blue (TV series)

Last updated
Midnight Blue
Created by Al Goldstein
StarringAl Goldstein
Country of origin United 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.

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References

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  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.
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  9. Svetkey, Benjamin; Kilday, Gregg (September 28, 1990). "The latest in television news". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved November 2, 2010.
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