Classic dance videos from Robert Palmer, The Clash, Devo and more.

Your perfect Oscar weekend companion has arrived... 35 years late. Tonight's Night Flight Original Episode is a preview for the 1985's Award's show! Ray Parker Jr. tells us about writing the Ghostbuster's theme, master filmmaker David Lean discusses Passage to India, up for Best Picture (lost to Amadeus) and much more.

“In 1977, the Sex Pistol’s Johnny Rotten was the most famous man in Rock 'n' Roll…” Pat Prescott tells us, “then he went to work on Public Image Ltd… a group that called everything to question.” A cadre of PiL’s music videos and candid interview segments with Lydon are the backbone of this epic episode. Let John's disdain for music industry and all it’s hypocrisy, bureaucracy and bullshit be your guide to this episode of CLASSIC NIGHT FLIGHT. “You feel pressured into being outrageous… and that’s not good at all is it? It’s unhealthy.”

For this edition of Night Flight, Morris Day, Prince collaborator and bandleader of The Time, sits down for an exclusive interview where he discusses what it was like acting for the first time in Purple Rain. Also featuring a special report on super-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, including music videos from their hit songs with Janet Jackson and Robert Palmer.

Tonight, we look at the progenitors of the music video genre. Night Flight was born at bleeding edge of the music video era, and tonight's exhibit of gorgeously preserved early adopters shows it. Within you'll find slices of video brilliance from some of the pioneers of the genre including Michael Nesmith (whose "Rio" kicked off the music video art form), Devo, David Bowie and Todd Rundgren.

Tonight we’re going to turn your living room into the after hours club of your dreams. Not only are you on the A list, you’ve got a ringside seat to the hottest talent The Big Apple has to offer. That’s right, tonight we “Take Off” to New York City Rock, featuring Lou Reed, The Ramones, Blondie, Grandmaster Flash, Yoko Ono, Run DMC and more. From the Velvet Underground in the ‘60s, to the Punk Explosion in the ‘70s and the ascendance of Rap in the '80s, let Night Flight be your guide to the metropolis that has it all.

What begins as backstage banter and a photoshoot turns into a fun interview packed with Scorpions lore in this new Night Flight Short Cut. The band goes celebrating Rudolph's birthday to a candid recollection of playing Roger Waters’ The Wall concert in a newly unified Berlin, originally shot for Stuart S. Shapiro’s MetalHead Magazine.

Tonight’s Night Flight Original Episode is a mystery mix of lost video treasures; a rapid fire sampler of short films, animations and music videos. This full episode with commercials intact kick offs with Rik Carter’s 1987 short “Horror Brunch,” a long forgotten cult masterpiece that Bloody Disgusting had the following to say about: “If you love gory ’80s flicks, you absolutely need to watch this one, as it’s essentially a blood-soaked love letter to the era… and it was actually made during that era!” Couldn’t agree more! We'll let you discover the rest of the episode yourself.

Take off with an hour long special episode of New Sounds from 1986, starting off with Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Big Audio Dynamite, BoDeans, Hüsker Dü, Jane SiBerry and provocative political rockers, Lords of The New Church.

Night Flight looks at the roots of Irish rock 'n' roll tonight in this original “Take Off” special from the mid-1980s. With Bodhrán, Fiddles, Uilleann pipes and Irish Harps in hand, we kick off with the Chieftans' "Irish Anthem" before looking at the Ireland’s strong music tradition. Dating back to Celtic culture, when poets were elevated to the status of aristocrats, we take a closer look at the island that produced '80s era acts like the Pogues, Van Morrison, Cactus World News, Bob Geldof, Zerra 1 and more. Stick around afterwards for some very rare animated cartoons & short films, including Ellen Foley in "Headshot."

Everyone's invited to PART 2 of this massive survey of 80s music and fashion. Jump right in to relive the iconic movements represented over the decade.

This classic episode of Night Flight's venerable "Take Off" series which premiered in 1984 features music videos featuring flashy female rock icons such as Debbie Harry, Grace Slick, Tina Turner, Wendy O. Williams & Stevie Nicks.

From Boston to LA, New York to DC, a musical explosion is taking place in Rock and Roll. Traditionally, success for bands came from touring, but today, the video explosion has given local bands national exposure sparking a renaissance in music and reinforcing the original roots of Rock 'n roll. Featuring 'Til Tuesday, Run DMC, REM and more...

“Here’s a look at the second British Invasion of America…” says Pat Prescott ahead of this brand new arrival from the vault featuring music videos from Adam Ant, Heaven 17, and Eurythmics. The first British music invasion was of course lead by The Beatles in 1964, so we start the show tonight with a rare performance from a 1982 documentary called The Compleat Beatles.

You can truly appreciate the value of our library as you see in our April 13th, 1983 episode, Lisa Robinson talks about a secretive Talking Heads film in the works, a certain "concert film." Of course, that title in question is 1984's Stop Making Sense. Revisit this time capsule covering '80s fashion trends and music from Eddie Rabbitt, The Waitresses, Blancmange, Lords of the New Church, Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty. 

Night Flight takes you for an exclusive look inside "Joe Coleman’s Carnival," the artist’s curated exhibition at Jeffrey Deitch Projects in New York City. Filmed on-site in June 2025, this special hour-long presentation follows Coleman as he personally guides Night Flight through the gallery, revealing works that directly connect him to the carnival world, including his portrait of Tod Browning (Freaks) and a world-renowned collection from sideshow legend Johnny Eck, all culminating in his magnum opus: a life-size biographical portrait of his wife and muse, Whitney Ward. “I believe that the carnival is a kind of profane, holy place,” Coleman says, “where the private desires, fantasies, and fears of a society are given uninhibited free expression.”

Episode 286. An episode of Radio 1990 from 1984 featuring Wang Chung, The Alan Parsons Project, and a summer movie preview.

Tonight on Night Flight Originals, we’re prepared the best slice of nighttime TV you’re going to find anywhere on the dial. Put down that remote! You’re about to experience Video Profile’s of two of 1980s most intriguing dance rock bands: The Thompson Twins and OMD. Packed with rare deep cuts, sentimental favorites and behind the scene’s interviews, this two for the price of one special is a knockout!

Travel way back to the Halcyon days of Night Flight with tonight's New Arrival from the vault: a 1982 Video Profile of Adam Ant. This early episode format gives an uncut feel to the interview in which Ant talks about meeting the Queen, what it takes to break in America and taking inspiration from the fashion of the French Revolution.

Tonight’s original episode comes from 1983, i.e. the early days of discovery on NF that often featured uncut performance footage. Here, we see Toyah’s 1981 show at London’s Rainbow Theatre with the irrepressible performer at the top of her game. Listen up for excellent tunes like "War Boys," "Neon Womb" and more. 

In a rare candid interview from the time, Janet Jackson discusses her famous family, especially her relationship to brother Michael.

Welcome to Night Flight's video profile of one of Rock's greatest vocalists and song stylists, Robert Plant and Night Flight goes to the movies with Arnie Action Thriller Red Heat, Bull Durham and more

Night Flight’s June 1988 New Sounds provides the pulse of new music from the past, featuring Joni Mitchell and Peter Gabriel, a lost X video for “Devil Doll,” Yugoslavian Avant-pop, and early sample-based techno from Coldcut.

"One of the sturdiest trends in rock videos," Pat Prescott says, "is the use of 'high art' to elevate down and dirty Rock 'n' Roll." Tonight's original episode of Night Flight from the archives is a "Take off" to Art in Music Videos! The episode highlights art and music collaborations like New Order and William Wegman (and the dog supermodel Fay Ray), Grace Jones's cadre of counter-culture luminaries in "I'm Not Perfect," Warhol's video for The Car's "Hello Again," and Roberto Longo's for The Golden Palominos (feat. Michael Stipe).

Directed by Don Swaynos. A late night horror show host is having a bad day.

Tonight, we "Take Off" to the Motown Sound, the most successful independent record label in the world. Former boxer and auto mobile assembly line worker, Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown in 1959 and created the sound of young America with Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Little Stevie Wonder (pictured above), and Diana Ross and the Supremes. Gordy ran Motown like an assembly plant, churning out hits all through the 1960s, eventually making Motown the largest black-owned corporation in America. Unlike most music television programming, Night Flight went beyond genre when curating and tonight’s episode is one of our crown jewels!

A series of gruesome and gory horror shorts, including Alex Winter and Tom Stern's wacky "Aisles of Doom," and the hilarious zombie parody "Dawn of the Night of the Dead: The Musical."

In this candid 20-minute long interview we’re exclusively sharing with you over on Night Flight Plus, Romero talks about his influences and gives a detailed account of origins of Night of the Living Dead. This segment was created by Stuart Samuels, the original writer of Night Flight, for his excellent film Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream and offers a unique look at his creative process.

1985's "Take Off" to street music featuring Chaka Khan, Grand Master Flash, Run DMC and more...

This Night Flight Original episode features a segment from the "Take Off" series on Politics and Progressive Rap. We also included extra special bonus feature on 'Movie Villains.'

This Night Flight original episode is part 4 of the 1983 New Year's Special. Featuring Music Videos, Video Profiles, and more. Night Flight rings in the New Year in style!

Night Flight "Take's Off" to the once and future glory of Acid Rock. The original catalytic agent for Acid Rock faded away, but Night Flight tracked the visual cues and sonic elements of Acid Rock making a major flashback for the '80s through artists like S'Express, The Cult, The Psychedelic Furs, Nina Hagen and The Mission.

This Night Flight "Short Cut" features an exclusive interview with Miles Davis, who shares his unique musical outlook and more. “I go with my feelings… that’s in my system, my soul, in my body—my body’s full of rhythm.” Davis reflects on his affinity for the Yamaha DX7, the tactile experience of painting, the importance of his visual style, and the “street sound” of the era. The episode then features jazz pianist Chick Corea, who describes his creative philosophy in a short interview segment before Night Flight showcases his collaboration with vibraphonist Gary Burton in “Finale.”

How did I get here? Night Flight takes on Talking Heads in this brilliant profile, originally aired September 20th, 1986 and now streaming on Night Flight Plus. "In the 1970s, a group called Talking Heads became staples on the Bowery music scene..." explains Pat Prescott. The Heads’ fused artistic concepts with rock, relying on the tight structure and quirky lyrics which have become a heads trademark.

Tonight, we "Take Off" to iconic solo careers and the band's they left behind in this 1994 special Syndication episode of Night Flight. Ahh, the solo career: the proving ground for artists who uncouple from the bands that made them or simply want to blow off some creative steam. Hosted by Tom Juarez, we take a journey through the solo songs of Mick Jagger, Phil Collins, Stevie Nicks, and finally Morrissey (see below for our additional offerings from The Smiths this week) all while giving credit to the original bands that made them.

Two "expressionistic wackos" argue over a glass of juice.

“Night Flight goes beyond 'Corporate Rock' for New Sounds!" From the Night Flight archives, here’s an early iteration of our New Sounds format form 1985. Featuring music from the unstoppable Nina Hagen, Washington D.C.'s raw rhythm based Go-Go Movement leaders Mass Extension, post-punk and synthesized pop by Germany's Propaganda, and supergroup Shriekback's high concept music video for their single "Nemesis."

A selection of innovative, landmark 1980s music videos from Devo, Tony Powers, Will Powers, Elvis Costello, Grace Jones, Chaka Khan, Peter Wolf & David Lee Roth.

Tonight’s new Night Flight Short Cut features one of the most iconic interviews from the original series: our exclusive sit-down with Ozzy Osbourne. Coming across as disarmingly self-aware, Mr. Osbourne sets the record straight on the infamous bat-biting incident, the media frenzy that followed, and more. Featuring vintage performance clips and classic Night Flight flair, this addition to our Short Cut Collection is a MUST-WATCH!

Welcome to Night Flight’s New Sounds! This original ‘80s episode format featured a curated mix of videos from emerging artists. Tonight's episodes features The Proclaimers, Richmond, Virginia’s rock duo House of Freaks, The Christians, and to kick things off... Moz! Yep, Morrissey's immaculate post-Smiths debut single “Suedehead” and it's accompanying James Dean tribute video.

This review of the early 80s Aussie rock scene on video features the likes of Jo Jo Zep, Men At Work, Divinyls, Midnight Oil, Inxs and New Zealand's Tim Finn (of Split Enz fame) and more. Night Flight's innovative "Take Off" series dispensed with playlists, bland VJ set-ups and the usual tired video countdown format and instead cleverly programmed music videos and performance clips by theme. The series regularly featured hits from Eighties pop icons juxtaposed against obscurities from not-ready-for-MTV cult favorites. Original Air Date: 11-11-83