An improved graphical manipulation technique for a home communications terminal (HCT) includes a linked-list of commands controlling various video operations in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). After each command has been implemented by the ASIC, the ASIC (200) proceeds to the next command without interrupting a host processor (303). Accordingly, the linked-list (302) eliminates the need of the host processor to continually process interrupts at the completion of each instruction. The linked-list command structure aids in intensive video operations including bit block transfers, video capture, and video display.