Graffiti Rock was a hip-hop based television program, originally screened June 29, 1984. Intended as an on-going series, the show only received one pilot episode and aired on WPIX channel 11 in New York City and 88 markets around the country, to good Nielsen ratings.
Graffiti Rock resembled a hip hop version of the popular television dance shows at the time such as Soul Train and American Bandstand. The show was created and hosted by Michael Holman, who was the manager of the popular break-dancing crew, the New York City Breakers.
The episode features Run D.M.C., Shannon, The New York City Breakers, DJ Jimmie Jazz and Kool Moe Dee and Special K of the Treacherous Three. The New York City Breakers, who were fresh off of their success from the movie, Beat Street, made a showcase appearance. The episode also features television and film actress, Debi Mazar and actor/director Vincent Gallo as dancers on the show.
A segment of the show was sampled on The Beastie Boys' LP Ill Communication. "[...] alright, you're scra
Renowned film critic and television/radio personality Elvis Mitchell interviews various actors and directors to find out what has influenced them and the films they made.
The show's main protagonist is the 5-year-old title character Chico-chan. An actor wears a costume with an oversize head to portray her, while the broadcasts show her face in 3D computer graphics, which allows for a variety of outrageous expressions and effects. Accompanied by comedian Takashi Okamura, the show features Chico-chan asking Okamura and others simple questions, such as "Why do people wave their hands when they say goodbye?" If they cannot answer properly, she spits out her sarcastic signature phrase, "Botto ikiten ja ne-yo!" (Don't sleep through life!) Yuichi Kimura provides the voice of Chico-chan.