When I first moved to New York City in '92, I was amazed (and obsessed) with Public Access shows TV. The things they could present were (at the time) quite limitless. A perfect example of this would be she-who-is-queen-of-Public-Access : Robin Byrd. The day that I stumbled upon nekkid men and women dancing to "strip classics" in front of a bright red backdrop complete with red neon heart made me realize I had made the right choice in my move from L.A.
One of the first shows I lived for was "On Patrol" starring Brandy Wine and Brenda A Go-Go. Brandy and Brenda brought you interviews from famous (and infamous) people who were out in clubs; Lahoma Van Zandt was their club correspondant who was often seen in the bathroom (sometimes caught on the toilet.)The first time I stumble upon them was when my friend Julie had come out to visit during one of her many trips w/ Miss Roseanne. As we got ready in her hotel room to out to a club, we flipped the channel to 34 and watched the 2 crazy-ass drag queens who pumped us up about going out. Of course, when we got to the club, who should be standing at the bar but Brandy and Brenda... Julie and I went up to them and introduced ourselves and we became close friends. In fact, they are the reason I met most of the key players in the club scene during the amazing early 90's. We were by their sides at Club USA, Tunnel, and The Roxy watching Brandy spank people with a beach paddle ball paddle. Good times.
However, my favorite show on Public Access was "The Kitty G Show" starring Kitty G and her husband (aka "Honey"). This show was a voyeur's dream as it was an extension of a husband and wife's fantasies videotaped and played out for all of New York to see. The show went something like this: the camera was operated by Kitty's husband and was shot from his/"Honey's" perspective. He would walk in the front door at the beginning of each episode and Kitty would greet him (always in a next-to-nothing outfit) with a story of what had happened to her that day and then they would act it out... Now, the situations that happened were ALWAYS sexual, such as the pizza boy bringing her food and having to use the bathroom or the super coming by to fix a leak in their bedroom and Kitty seemed to be (shockingly) indisposed. By the end of the show Kitty had taken everything off for "Honey" and was naked and jumping up and down; her perfect boobs jiggling to the delight of all. But what I loved more than anything else was her voice...it was like Betty Boop on crack. My personal take of the show at the time was that it was the "I Love Lucy" of the 90's. Kitty always had some 'splainin to do.
Come to think of it, it was the original "Newlyweds".
I moved to NYC in 1990 and lived at 54th/8th for 6 years - over which I constantly recorded my favorite segments of public access TV. It's my sentimental chronicle of the times there. I'm now converting all of this to DVD, as we speak. It's wonderful. Go Kitty, you selfish beauty.
Posted by: Robert Bers | Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 12:14 AM
Hi,
I am Mrs. Mouth. Yes, I am still round. I mean around. My reruns are even still on!!! Guess what...I am doing new shows. They will start airing in March. Don't you want to know what I have been doing? (I haven't done a new show in 10 years) I have a lot to say and I want you to hear it. Spread the word. New shows start February Thursays 12:00am channel 67. Gotta go, it's time for my snack. Tonight I'm having and Ensure and tofu milkshalk.
Posted by: mrs. mouth | Sunday, January 18, 2004 at 08:01 PM
Did you ever watch Socrates' (a bartender at one of your venues) show? He did his from his bathtub.
Posted by: bob | Saturday, January 10, 2004 at 01:11 PM
how could i forget about Mrs. Mouth...???
Posted by: aaron elvis | Friday, January 09, 2004 at 08:26 PM
Don't forget "The Mrs. Mouth Show" and that weird, cute blonde guy who would talk directly and intensely into the camera about enlightenment. Or was all the the '80s?
Ah, Channel 36...
Posted by: Charlie | Friday, January 09, 2004 at 04:46 PM