TV Girl is an indie band that started in 2010. They formed in San Diego, California, when friends Brad Petering and Trung Ngo decided to form the band as a leisure activity. Their first EPs released in that year and then a mixtape in 2012. Soon after, two years later in 2014, they released their debut album French Exit. Further albums released in following years, including: Who Really Cares (2016), Death of a Party Girl (2018), and Grapes Upon the Vine (2023), alongside three collaborations which include: Maddie Acid’s Purple Hearts Club Band (2018), Summer’s Over (2021), and Fauxllennium (2024).

The main vocalist is Brad Petering, the drummer is Jason Wyman, and the keyboardist is Wyatt Harmon. Past members used to be Trung Ngo, Joel Williams, and Dan Komin.

The band uses many samples from 1960s pop and obscure sources, two examples being old radio dramas and a Richard Nixon speech from 1973, the part being sampled is Richard Nixon saying, “I’m not a crook.”

The band’s lyrics analyze emotional turmoil, toxic relationships, heartbreak, love, and loneliness. This has got the band into controversy, with people having called Brad Petering a misogynist for songs like “Hate Yourself” and “Louise.” In an alike sense, these songs have gotten people across the internet into being called manipulators for liking TV Girl and the band’s music.

Tiktok caused a resurgence back in 2022, with songs like “Lovers Rock,” “Not Allowed,” and “Taking What’s Not Yours” being used in background music for animations and show clips edited together. The colors blue and pink have become synonymous with the band due to the album cover for Who Really Cares.