Vince LoCascio hosts one of the best television cable shows in the suburbs of Chicago. It’s neither on a network channel nor any of the cable channels that corporate sponsors flock to selling their products. Vince’s show is on the Comcast Public Access Channel produced in Elmhurst, Illinois. In addition to being an interesting program it also breaks the record for low-budget television productions. In fact, the budget is zero. There are no sponsors or commercials. The crew gets no salary. The guests get no gifts, expensive hotel room nor limousine rides to the studio. The set includes one desk that Vince carries into the studio before the tapings and carries out after. Even more amazing about the show is that although Vince is a perfect gentleman he abruptly walks out on his guests at the end of every show. Why? Because he is a busy guy.


Each month Vince LoCascio produces two 30 minute programs by putting together a guest list and organizing the crew to work on the show. The crew includes volunteers as camera operators, floor directors, director, sound technician and computer graphics operators. All of the crew members are producers themselves and they volunteer their time to help Vince with the show.


Public access exists due to an agreement between Comcast and the communities it serves. Public access programming is community programming on cable TV. It gives you the opportunity to write, produce, direct, and perform in your own programs. People who normally are not allowed easy access to the mass media find a powerful resource for local expression through public access. A majority of public access programs are produced locally by non-professionals.


Unlike broadcast television, the content of your show is controlled by you. It is only limited by the rules and regulations of public access and certain FCC rules, and it must be non-profit. Public access is a free service provided by Comcast. Over 1 million households in the greater Chicago marketplace receive public access as a part of their basic cable service


Public access television programs are often ignored because of a long list of poorly produced programs. That kind of prejudice means that “I’m A Busy Guy” doesn’t always get the viewers it deserves. Vince does a great job hosting the show. And the guests are no slouches either. Recent guests have included former National Hockey League player Jerry “King Kong” Korab, a candidate for Mayor of Chicago Alderman Robert Fioretti, a pop singer, beauty queen and graphic artist Iliana Incandella, a canvas painting artist, bike shop owners, renowned realtors, national chairman of Italian American organizations, theatre owners and much more. The variety is what makes the show even more interesting to viewers. You never know what might be next.


Vince recently invited Iliana Incandella as a guest. Iliana stars in a new music video and has performed in the Chicagoland area, in New York area and even in Europe. Now Iliana, confident in her abilities, is ready to reach more fans with her own music. Iliana’s voice is strong and clear in Italian, English and soon in Spanish recordings. Her style of hip-hop, pop and ballads give her a wide range to thrill her audiences. She also was crowned the Chicago Columbus Day Parade Queen in 2010 and won the David award presented to promising entertainers.


“I’ve been pretty much singing my whole life and I started with my Dad. He and his family are super musically talented. And it just really felt natural to follow in that path of life and I love it.”, said the 23 year old recording artist. During the show Vince played the newest music video featuring Iliana and Tl Williams titled “Underrated” proving that Iliana is carrying the musical torch her Father inspired in her.


Vince has a natural ability to relate to people from all walks of life. For many years he has been a restaurant manager for a fine dining restaurant. The guests at the restaurant may be business leaders, athletes, entertainers, politicians and community leaders. All of those categories have been guests on the I’m A Busy Guy show. However, Vince will be the first to give credit for the show to the volunteer crew that donate their talents.


The Director and Producer - Mark Radabaugh sits at the video mixer board and directs the crew of camera, sound and graphics. Mark’s experience includes a position with Comcast as a Production Technician. After leaving Comcast, Mark continued to work on Public Access programming as a volunteer.


Often seated in the control room next the director is Stephen Knapp from executive director of Sanctuary Media working out of Lutheran North College Prep High School on the northwest side of Chicago. Stephen typically operates the sound board and when needed the computer graphics CG computer or as a camera operator and floor director. He has a passionate viewpoint on the pubic access concept. “Working on "Busy Guy" gives me an opportunity to be in the Comcast Elmhurst studio working on a worthwhile series of projects. I am a big fan of Public Access television because of its potential for non-profit organizations to get into the community with their message, and hope to see non-profits using it much more frequently and appropriately.”


In the studio during the show are two camera operators including Ray Piescuik. Ray is active at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois as a board member and served as the museum President. Ray has been a member of cable TV crews for boxing matches, parades and in the studio for three years. With experience in all facets of producing shows, he understands the work involved to get a quality show on the cable system.


“I enjoy working different aspects of production on the shows I am involved with. I Direct, Produce, Floor Direct, work lighting, sound, and am a cameraman. Each different job has it's own challenges and rewards. I love them all.” Ray said.


Ray has all good things to say about this work environment on this crew. “Vince puts a lot of work into his show. He always has interesting guests and takes every show seriously. Equally important is that he is also genuinely appreciative of the work that his crew does behind the scenes. We really appreciate that.”


When not a member of the production crew Ray is a captain for the Zephyrs hockey team in the FHL at Johnny's Ice House in Chicago and is a professional development specialist.


I also volunteer as a camera operator of the show. I have been a public access producer for over 8 years. I really like Public Access because it gives a huge opportunity to anyone who wants to be a part of television. Vince LoCascio always has a great guest and that's why it is so much fun to do. The thing I like about working on "I'm A Busy Guy" is the quality of the show. Vince takes this very seriously and he comes prepared with topics to discuss with the guests. And Vince brings for the crew fresh cannolis.


Together the entire crew supports quality programming on public access. The work Vince puts into the show alone deserves some attention by anyone who like to watch quality television programs. The “I’m A Busy Guy” show hosted by Vince LoCascio can be seen on Comcast channel 19 each Friday night at 7:00 PM and on the Internet at www.busyguy.co