When Rock Star was created last season it seemed like it would be the anti-American Idol. Instead we got the aging band INXS looking for a second shot at glory and a bunch of aspiring rockers from musicals and small-town bands who went right back to their small-town bands and musicals with the exception of J.D. Fortune who went on to tour with INXS giving them modest success and a catchy little tune called "Pretty Vegas."This season would be different, right? After all, we've got Tommy Lee, he's a rocker. And Gilby Clarke, he was in a band with rockers (Guns n' Roses) and Jason Newsted, bassist for Metallica. This won't be a thing like American Idol. This year it will actually rock.
Well, for the most part, it was pretty much American Idol with more guitars. This round of nominees are a bit less inspired than last season. They are prettier and seem a bit less hungry. Many of them front mildly successful bands. And, while I really like to believe in my heart that a woman can win this, I find it hard to believe that Supernova, which purports to be a "dirty rock and roll band" is going to choose a female singer.
The performances so far were rather boring. They got to choose their own songs and so many of the same classics we heard last season were recycled for this season (save me from girls trying to be Janis Joplin or from bad versions of "Satisfaction"). Dilana who came on stage looking like a glam rock Unibomber was a bit scary, barely blinking through her spastic rendition of Nirvana's "Lithium." Many of these people would need some king of serious rock star makeover to play with Tommy Lee, they are just a little too clean and smiley. The JD Fortune of this season is clearly Lucas, the dark-eyed singer who went last. In my opinion, his is his contest to lose.
Dave Navarro was his usual positive self for the most part, except in the case of the truly ear-splitting Chris (just because the re-arranging of songs worked for JD last season doesn't mean it will work for you). I thought Dave was a bit of a ham last season but he pales in comparison with Tommy Lee. Lee can't sit still or stop mugging at the camera. He's so hyper-aware of being filmed it's almost uncomfortable to watch. Hopefully he will calm down at some point or he's going to need to be shot with a tranquilizer gun.
While watching the show, I realized that the Rock Star house must be somewhere close to my neighborhood because all the background shots featured places in the Silver Lake and Los Feliz areas of Los Angeles. In fact the Rock Star crew went into the coffeehouse where my boyfriend works a few weeks ago. I had asked him at the time if there were any standouts and he said no. For the most part he was right, but I'm still going to keep watching.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-06-2006 @ 3:02PM
Eric G said...
The Rock Star Supernova show was a breathe of fresh air into an otherwise dull TV reality season. America;s got talent is weak and the viewing audience needs some musical entertainment to make up for the American Idol Lull. Rock Star has given us a peak into some good performers and talented muscians. This show will be hot!
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7-06-2006 @ 3:23PM
Michael said...
I do believe this show is a bit of fresh air in a sea of Idol clones. I also believe a female singer has a real chance to win this, did you see Tommy Lee's excitement for Dilana. With the exception of Lukas the guys came off like a bunch of pretty boy posers. The woman this year are far better than the men. The on e thing I will miss about this show is the pre-show on how they pick their songs. I thought it was cool on VH1 last year, while it appears they will not even show the process this year. It was the one element that was better than Idol.
Best so far
Dilana
Storm
Lukas
Worst
Chris
Magni
Phil
Zayra
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7-06-2006 @ 3:53PM
Allen said...
Deidre I am sorry I must disagree with you. This is way more than American Idol with guitars. Real singers rocking out in real atmosphere instead of bland boring pop where the first half of the season is just about insulting people and wallowing in embarassment.
These are real, talented musicians who in general have something to offer no American Idol contestant does - personality.
You call Dilana's performance "spastic." I call it riveting. Fine, Tommy Lee mugged for the camera, but what he does is entertaining, unlike American Idol judges mugging, which is nauseating.
I thank God (a.k.a Mark Burnett, at least in his own eyes) that we have been delivered from summer TV hell and the lameness it usually provides.
Michael, FYI the half hour "Mansion" show that was on VH-1 last year is on the interweb this year at rockstar.msn.com.
Rock on.
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7-06-2006 @ 4:44PM
MosquitoControl said...
Wow was that bad.
I only caught the last four, and normally would have avoided it altogether.
So we take four has-been rockers that are past their prime and likely going to do a Limp Bizkit knockoff like Tommy Lee seems to always. Fine.
Then we take a couple of singers that have no clue who they're performing for. Would Tommy Lee and Dave Navarro really end up playing behind someone doing Melissa Etheridge covers? Or Train covers? Unlikely.
I disagree with everyone, too. Lukas was somewhat pathetic. His voice was bad, his eyemakeup was, well, there, and he tried too hard to be a cross between Orgy and My Chemical Romance, two bands no one really needs to mimic.
In fact, I'd say his performance was terrible.
What he did, though, was pick a perfect song. Rebel Yell is a very energetic song that everyone likes. Everyone. And Billy Idol doesn't sing for most of it, he kind of talks loudly, meaning anyone can cover it decently.
I just saw flashbacks of the rest, but there was a guy trying too hard to be Axl Rose. Not going to go far. A midget doing Lithium with bug eyes. Not going to go far.
So maybe Lukas, pink eyeliner and all, fits them best. But he just didn't do a very good Rebel Yell. It was what you'd get at a karaoke joint only with better stage presence. But, when you get down to it, that's really all that matters to these guys I suppose. It's not like Anthony Keidis, Vince Neil, Perry Ferral or James Hetfield are known for their quality singing voices.
Still, Lukas looked like that troll from Aiden trying to be the androgenous guy from Orgy. Not very good influences.
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7-06-2006 @ 5:11PM
Carissa said...
Hmmmm. First, these "musicians" (does every one have to play accoustic guitar in their backstory?) were some of the worst I've ever seen. As a former band whore for most of the 80s and 90s, I could have picked out 20 nobody performers who would have kicked the collective asses of the people on this show.
Did they not know they were vying for a position with former Motley & Guns guys and a Metallica vet (this guy obviously wants to get into the pants of every female, and doesn't give a hoot about their REAL talent)? Not judging from the song choices. I was downright embarassed for most of them - who the hell would pick, in 2006, to sing that song for the angel movie with Nic Cage and Meg Ryan????
Who chose the original 20? Tone deaf Simon Cowell wanna-bes? That one guy who sang with his tongue hanging out (Phil?), Magni from Iceland (which is apparently even smaller than I imagined), the Train dude with the round head and 7th Heaven look; they were pathetic!!!
I LOVED Storm. She really had something, and if they want to taken a chance, they can start with her, or Dilana (she was intense, but I'd like to see her a bit more female), Toby from Australia has some potential, but he needs to show he can rock, pronto, and finally Patrice. The chicks far outperformed the guys on this show, and even though everyone thought alien-headed overly made up Lukas was a rock star, I would've boo'd him off the stage at my local club. Lose yesterday's look and sing so I can overlook your bald oddly-shaped cranium and mauve eye shadow.
75% of these "musicians" belonged on Idol, where they would have been quickly voted off the island. My advice to this crew - know your audience and know your band. Do your homework, for craps sake! And, lose the accoustic ballads. Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Metallica. Perhaps pic up a CD other than some band you heard in an indie flick.
Watching this show was an exercise in frustration, and I wanted a foam TV brick.
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7-06-2006 @ 5:39PM
kracker said...
i don't know that i have too much of an opinion of any of these singers yet, last night was like musical overload for me, i think i have add. but carissa it is unfair to judge them on their song choices since the show picks the songs that they have to choose from.
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7-06-2006 @ 6:07PM
Ray said...
Deidre Woollard has zero taste! It's writers like you who pan the American Idol crowd that drive that snoozefest. Rock Star: Supernova was fantastic and talent level from top to bottom is outstanding.
Anyone of these 15 contestants and I do mean ANY could easily win AI if they were willing to sign their soul away to Simon. If seeing Nirvana's "Lithium" on a network isn't enough rock for you, then continue to bury your head in the sand Deidre. Put on a Pat Boone CD and wait for the next season of garbage from AI.
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7-06-2006 @ 6:13PM
MrsEldubya said...
FYI Mosquito - Dave Navarro is a judge and sort of co-host with Brooke, he is not in the band.
Like last season, I spend more time amazed by the house band than the singers. I am curious as to how they will do the vote out tonight since last year they had to sing INXS songs.
Personally I liked Storm and Dilana. Storm reminds me a little of Lindsey Lohan for some reason. Dilana had that rock vibe that I could see working with a Tommy Lee Band. They didn't really take the song selection that seriously if you watched the webisode and that will cost someone dearly tonight.
Sure it's a reality show and they may not be real rockstars in alot of people's mind but it's entertainment and light summer tv. Just enjoy it for what it is and don't over analyze it.
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7-06-2006 @ 7:26PM
Adrian said...
I agree with most of you that the songs they were given weren't really rocking but I guess it's part of the process to eliminate contestants to offer songs that you can't nail or that public won't like. Roxanne was by far the hardest song yesterday and the guy couldn't cope with it. I guess he is the first out.
About the rest, some of them were in previous known bands so they aren't new comers. If you read their profiles in supernova site you'll notice some have even sold platinum records. I own Stage's CD and it's quite good (Stage band was leaded by Ryan Star). I've four favourites. The winner is going to be a guy, thats obvious, I wouldn't leave a girl singer with Tommy Lee, he would rip her clothes off in every concert. And so they're : Toby, Ryan, Lukas , Phil. I think the guy who sang The Black Crowe's might have a choice but he hasnt the looks.
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7-06-2006 @ 10:46PM
D Colin said...
I loved it. Toby, Lukas and Dilana were by far the best followed by Storm and Ryan.
I hate American Idol, it just is so cheesy and most aren't he greatest singers. I hate the months of the "auditon" episodes. With Rock Star you start with singers who can sing, who can play a guitar. That alone makes me respect it more than Idol. I loved last season. JD was my pick from the begining. This year I think Toby or Dilana will go all the way.
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7-09-2006 @ 7:02AM
Ray said...
l think its one of the fresher reality TV shows out there. Being from Australia we probably see a fraction of what the USA sees. l love the rock and roll concept it goes down really well with me. Considering what INXS is doing now with there reality TV winner.
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7-11-2006 @ 9:47PM
Ankur said...
No one's mentioned Josh Logan yet... I thought his rendition of "She Talks to Angels" was one of the most refreshing, talented, heartfelt, and joyful live performances I've ever seen. Everyone else was posing and pretending to rock, in my humble opinion.
I got addicted to the show last year (and even saw INXS live with J.D. in CA--he was surprisingly awesome live, although the opening singer, Marty Casey, had a lot more stage presence than J.D.) I'm sure this year will be addictive, as well.
Anyway, thanks for listening!
: ) A
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7-12-2006 @ 2:54PM
mara said...
my friend introduced me to "Rockstar:supernova", and i think its a great show! even though i didnt like american idol or america's got talemt, this one is different, and i love it! its just what tv needs, but i think the show is under-rated. i think it should have more publicity because of its great performers!
i think lukas is really really hott, and dont want to see him go! toby and dilana are kinda my favs (with lukas)! cant wait till tonight to see who gets booted off...poor matt, he wasnt too bad!!!
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7-12-2006 @ 6:53PM
hpotter said...
Supernova is a super bore. Tommy Lee needs to go back driving boats. Gilby Clark a rock legend, give me a break. The only crediable talent is Jason and it is sad to see him sink this low as to be on a show with Tommy Lee. What, no art classes at the U of Corn? The talent is talentless. If this is the best the rock world has to offer - long live the boy band! The only things worth watching are fake, yet pirky, just like the talent. Rock on Brooke!
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7-13-2006 @ 3:55PM
Karyn said...
I'm probably going to watch but not love this show. I think Storm, Toby, Ryan, and Dilana have a shot at this band. Everyone else, whether they can sing or not, just don't fit. Lukas is just too scary for words (Dilana is frightening also but in a way that woudl work with Supernova). Josh and the chick who did Melissa Etheridge the first week both have great voices but are totally wrong for Supernova. What I'm going to not love about this show is going to be the "dirty rock band" mentality and the screaming, posturing, and overall raw quality. Presence and suitability are going to triumph over quality of voice and performance, which really stinks.
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7-14-2006 @ 11:39AM
kim monroe said...
All I want to say is Dilana kicks ass. She is the only reason I watch the show.
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7-14-2006 @ 9:29PM
belanger l. said...
I'M READY TO READY TO GIVE UP ON YOUR SHOW AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK....BOTTOM 3...AND THE ...."ZAYRA"
SINGS THE SAME SONG THAT PUT HER IN THE BOTTOM ....
IF YOU CALL THAT SIGNING!!!! AND THEY VOTE THE GUY OFF....????? I THINK A PART OF THEIR BODIES MADE THAT DECISION AND IT WASN'T THE BRAIN....I WILL START WATCHING AGAIN WHEN THEY GET HER OFF THE SHOW...
AND A FEW MORE....
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7-15-2006 @ 2:08PM
HP said...
This show is a joke! It is an obvious publicity stunt to try and restart these aging rockers careers. It is painful to watch. All the contestants are terrible. I can't see any of them fronting this band. If these are the 15 best unsigned singers in the world, then the music industry is in serious trouble!
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7-25-2006 @ 9:23AM
Loki93c said...
This show sucks like a vacuum cleaner.
Dirty Rockers? Where? All we have seen thus far is abunch of talentless wanabees pretending to be 'mean' (hah!) and 'dirty' (yeah...) 'rockers' (laugh). It seems bizzare that messers Lee, Newstead & Clarke have had to stoop this low to find a decent vocalist (Seb Bach too busy guys? Give Lee Roth a bell, or - even better - Sammy Hagar?). The general approach to any song is to start quiet, then build up into screaming. Well, anyone can scream a number out, it takes talent and skill to actually perform - at varying volumes -in key. And from what i have seen thus far, talent is massively lacking here. The girls are about as tuneless as it is possible to get without caterwauling, the guys...well, where does one start? Wimpish, presence-less, pathetic, weak voiced...The biggest laugh has to be the sad freak with the makeup - obviously he missed the point Michale Stipe made as regards that kind of stuff (LOL). Which brings us to the biggest missed-by-a-mile section. Do any of these wasters actually, genuinely know what Heavy Rock is? (Like, hey! I'm audtitioning for Supernova, gonna do a Duran Duran number...)- none of them seem to have a clue about Heavy Rock, let alone about who/what/where-from was going to be hiring them. Do any of these little posers actually possess a Crue, Mettalica, G&R album, dvd, biography? Do they now the first thing about anyhting? I would have expected the 'contestants' in this show to have actually LOOKED like they came from a rock band! No, sadly disappointed there. They look like they just fell out of a high school pop group, and i do mean Pop. Can you imagine the scene down at the No-Talent-Iz-Us Agency?
"Hey kid! Scruff up a bit, pain tthis crud on yer face quick, we got you an audition with some old rockers....Chance it on the fly and read up on Metallica on the bus trip...or was he in Megadeth...he's a judge anyway, Jason Bonham-Newsstand I think he;s named.....hmmm...better read up on them other guys too...wassis name? Dilby Mark...Him outta Muttley Krew or was it the LA Guns or something? And that drummer Tommy Navarrone...just wing it kid, no one will ever know - it is kiddie television anyway! Hey Baby! Quick, get into this mini-skirt...aw forget your lack of vocal ability...just get some more studs in yer face and don't blink when you sing...here's a Hole video to give ya a a clue about girrrrrl singerrrs...yeah, that's her, Courtney Cox Hole...she was married to that Kurt Koblinski...."
Laugh? I thought I'd never start.....
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