Prime Time Debut | Programme 4
Hosts Needed!
Hello Friends.
2026 is off to an intense start. It’s dark out there. And we're not talking about daylight hours.
It’s times like these we want to encourage people to focus on community. Gathering in safe spaces with like-minded, tenderhearted folks will bolster us through the night.
Undertow is proud to take this moment to recommit to our task of building and promoting events that encourage connection under the banner of art. We truly believe art and music will save the world. We are but her humble servants.
And without really meaning to, Undertow has stumbled into our most immersive project yet. We hope you’ll allow yourself a moment to set down the world and allow us to introduce you to an exciting new project we’re tackling this season - PROGRAMME 4.
But make sure to read to the end. We want YOU to be a part of this fresh endeavor!
Q : WHAT IS PROGRAMME 4?
A : PROGRAMME 4 is an independent, online TV channel created by Rachel Lichtman.
A Chicago native with a passion for vintage, Rachel created PROGRAMME 4 to be a nostalgic and humorous escape into a bygone era of local, broadcast television. Credited as co-writer and co-director of the series, Rachel helped {virtually} manifest a world that feels very real.. just more reminiscent to the Carter administration than today.
If PROGRAMME 4 is the channel, GOLDEN SANDS is the broadcast region. Turn the dial and you find yourself an audience-member transported back to an era pre-internet, pre-AI, and into the world of shag carpet and fondue pots.
GOLDEN SANDS is an homage to simpler times and analog television, in all her faded glory. SPIN Magazine said it best in their recent write-up:
Programme 4 is a love letter to a forgotten moment in television history, when national programming would air alongside local commercials on small-market stations.
READ THE FULL SPIN ARTICLE HERE
Photo of Rachel Lichtman by Programme 4
The world of GOLDEN SANDS has cultivated a cult following among indie creatives, many who have contributed to the project.
Folks like Patton Oswalt, Julianna Hatfield, and Ted Leo have donated their skills behind the scenes, while musicians like Billy Joel, Aimee Mann, Joe Pernice, and Josh Cantor have made celebrity cameos.
Star studded segments aside, it tends to be the design elements that appeal to viewers the most. Fans of classic and mid-century modern motifs will be captivated by the colors and textures shinning through the half hour broadcast.
To fully understand what the world of GOLDEN SANDS is like, consider dipping a toe into the scene.
We need groovy, creative folks who would like to host a private screening of the newest PROGRAMME 4 segment.
Coming Spring 2026 : MAKE THE SCENE
These will be exclusive and and intimate screenings of PROGRAMME 4's brand new, 90-minute segment. Featuring an in person Q&A with creator Rachel Lichtman, and other special guests in certain markets
Now you can conjure the groovy, wall-to-wall carpeted world of GOLDEN SANDS right into your unique environment - be it rumpus room, studio, or lounge. MAKE THE SCENE is much more than just another dimension of delightful tv entertainment, the analog quality of the station extends to the very event!
Beaded curtains part into a jazzy lounge environment of rotary telephones & cocktails, where the analog quality of linear, local television extends to the happening itself, designed to inspire a conversation pit of fellowship by reviving the connectivity of shared cultural experience.
Under the guidance of CEO Lichtman, we will work in tandem to bring the world of GOLDEN SANDS to as many rooms as possible.
We look forward to the screenings being immersive and thematic events. Our expectations of the hosts is reflected by the very name of the project - MAKE THE SCENE. So consider this your moment to pull out those vintage duds and accessories; let’s co-create a night to remember!
And as you know, the setting can be extremely helpful to creating the vibe. We remain open to all kinds of spaces, but if we could be super picky, the ideal rooms for these screenings would be places like:
MCM homes and spacious living rooms (of every era)
Vintage furniture or thrift stores
Cinemas, theatres, or recording studios
Small businesses like book shops or lounges
And you might be wondering.. “Undertow, where will this special preview tour be stopping?” Well, dear reader, the honest truth is we want to go everywhere! Larger cities and college towns tend to make the most sense, but we love small, sleepy towns too. To provide you with a geographical springboard..
East coast: Woodstock, Providence, Philadelphia, Brooklyn
Midwest: Chicago, Minneapolis, Madison, St. Louis, Ann Arbor
West coast: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle
If this sounds like you - please send us a submission form! We can only make these shows happen with support from volunteers.
Let’s MAKE THE SCENE - together!