TVSquad

Nothing breeds talent quite like cable access television.

Starting in 1979, Brooklyn resident Frank Masi created and hosted a program on local New York television called Stairway To Stardom. Filmed in what appeared to be a freshly carpeted Staten Island basement, Stairway was an especially early, low-budget predecessor to Star Search and American Idol, but sprinkled with the key element of hometown appeal.

We may not live in Chicago, but we know the value of a legendary public access show when we see it. That being said, Chi-town's already-legendary homegrown variety show Chic-a-go-go -- on the air since 1996 -- seems to fit the bill, at least according to the footage we've seen online.

According to the astounding amount of nostalgic praise littered throughout the web, the fan favorite is a dizzying version of Soul Train for kids, if Soul Train employed children, hipsters, and whomever wanders into the studio to dance to oldies, indie rock, and everything in between.

Hosted by a puppet rat MC named ... wait for it ... Ratso, and his human co-host, Miss Mia, the show has rather unsurprisingly yielded a comparison to "an early David Lynch movie" and been described by another blogger as "frenetic, [yet] friendly and familiar."

The Japanese just do some things better. For instance? Game shows. Japanese television execs understand that people want to see other people perform ridiculous physical challenges for prizes.

Another example? Talk shows. This one in particular. I have no idea what the show is called, but it kind-of reminds me of a Japanese version of Wayne's World because it looks like it's on cable access and is filmed in someone's basement. And Johnny Depp went on it. Apparently for the second time. It's weird because A) Depp doesn't speak the language, B) Depp is the only one sitting while two other guys in suits stand around and interrogate him, and C) well, you just have to watch for yourself but let's just say there are little kids dressed as pirates, singing "It's A Small World." Depp, by the way, is the perfect gentleman and reacts to everything with gratitude.

Video after the jump:

[Via Pop Candy]