The Best of Chic-A-Go-Go Roctober Productions Released by Beluga (2000) Visit the WEBSITE.

I've long felt that the role of cable television's public access channels, on which anyone willing to devote time and energy (and learn how to use antiquated cameras and editing equipment) can have their own low-impact TV show, is to restore television's "What the Hell" factor. For the uninitiated, that's where you look at what's going down on the TV screen and ask "What the hell!" in a heartfelt, if somewhat general, fashion.

As you watch the dizzying array of craft shows, cooking shows, home maintenance programs and local talk shows, it becomes clear from the glassy, Stepford-wife stares of the participants that appearing natural in front of a TV camera is a skill. Actually being interesting is even harder. Still, watching public access can be fascinating from a sociological perspective, though it's sometimes hard to remember that you're not watching an early David Lynch movie.

Chic-A-Go-Go has been a fixture on the Chicago Access scene since 1996. A combination of Sesame Street and Soul Train, it features confused-looking kids, costumed hipster types and particularly bold adults dancing to a diverse mixture of hip-hop, punk, funk and R&B. The show is hosted by the comely Miss Mia and Ratso, a wise-mouthed punk-rock puppet rat. Musical artists from every genre turn up as guests, lip-synching their songs in a charmingly inept fashion. Ratso doubles as the show's interviewer, and the spectacle of bands being interviewed by a puppet has likely had much to do with the program's popularity -- tapes have circulated well beyond Chicago, making the show a cult hit.

The brilliance of Chic-A-Go-Go is that it doesn't limit itself to the newest and hippest bands. What other show would give equal time to Milt Trenier and Bobby Conn? It's surreal to say the least. Similarly, the show doesn't talk down to the kids who are its primary audience, though at times I'm sure certain facts must be judiciously dodged.

This "Best of" video presents some of the show's best and most surreal moments. Some of the "live" performances are really out there; Monotrona, for instance, straddles the line between goofiness and creepiness, while Bobby Conn performs with eyes full of quiet, private terror. Kelly Hogan performs "The Great Ship Titanic" with gusto, and guitarist Andy Hopkins does his best to keep things looking "real" -- while in the background, Hogan's boyfriend Mike Bulington performs a surreal dance with Hogan's little dog. Even more surreal is Cynthia Plaster Caster's "duet" with Ratso. It's interesting to see how Plaster Caster's claim to fame -- she makes plaster casts of rock star penises, a hobby that clearly can't be explained to Chic-A-Go-Go's youthful viewers -- is alluded to, but never really discussed. The mere fact that she's on the show is pretty wild.

You'll also love Ratso's interviews. He has great moments with Jello Biafra, the Donnas, Davie Allan, the Shirelles and the Cramps, but engenders an even funnier response from Vanilla Ice and Motorhead's Lemmy. There's a delicious spontaneity in these moments, and I wish there had been more of them.

The problem some folks will have with The Best of Chic-A-Go-Go is that, as a public access show, the video quality isn't exactly "broadcast quality". Similarly, while studio sound and lighting is usually pretty decent, some of the outside interview sequences are extremely difficult to see and hear. The editing is also pretty inconsistent, with a number of jump-cuts taking place in mid-sentence, making for a disjointed viewing experience. Then again, Chic-A-Go-Go is a pretty disjointed viewing experience to begin with, so it brings its party to your home more or less intact.

If you've heard about Chic-A-Go-Go and been dying to check it out, or if you want to get liquored up and relive some of the show's most surreal moments, this tape is for you. Just don't expect a flashy, professional presentation. That wouldn't be in keeping with the show's DIY aesthetic, would it?

Reviewed by George Zahora