Stairway to Stardom

{{Short description|US public-access television program}}

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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

Stairway to Stardom was a public-access television series that aired in New York City from 1979 to the early 1990s. It was described by NPR as "an amateur talent show many see as a low-rent precursor to American Idol.[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5425419 "The Low-Rent Appeal of 'Stairway to Stardom'"], NPR segment Taped "in what appeared to be a freshly carpeted Staten Island basement,"[http://www.aoltv.com/2009/03/24/stairway-to-stardom-or-what-american-idol-filmed-in-a-staten-is/ Stairway to Stardom, or What American Idol Filmed In A Staten Island Basement Is], AOL TV the host Frank Masi would bring on amateur singers, dancers, actresses, and comedians to perform.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2011/08/02/dont-push-play-stairway-to-stardom-is-the-original-idol-and-thats-why-we-love-it/|title=Don't Push Play: "Stairway to Stardom" is the original "Idol," and that's why we love it|website=Denverpost.com|date=2 August 2011|access-date=29 May 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/497588/stairway-to-stardom-a-public-access-masterpiece|title=Stairway to Stardom: A Public-Access Masterpiece|date=9 January 2014|website=Eonline.com|access-date=29 May 2022}} Describing the show, The A.V. Club's "Found Footage" segment claimed that "without exaggeration, it was one of the greatest shows ever to be on television."{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/stairway-to-stardom-1798163183|title=The A.V. Club, "Stairway to Stardom"|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=29 May 2022}}

Clips and full shows have appeared on the web and gained a cult following.{{Cite web|url=https://dangerousminds.net/comments/stairway_to_stardom_joys_public_access_tv|title='Stairway to Stardom': The Forgotten Joys of Public Access TV|date=3 September 2011|website=Dangerousminds.net|access-date=29 May 2022}} The disco-style opening theme song was performed by Steve Luisi and All The King's Men and written by their keyboard player, Ben Stiefel.

A 2017 play performed at the HERE Arts Center was based on the series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/13/theater/review-a-talent-for-talentlessness-in-stairway-to-stardom.html|title=Review: A Talent for Talentlessness in 'Stairway to Stardom'|first=Elisabeth|last=Vincentelli|date=13 September 2017|access-date=29 May 2022|website=The New York Times}}