TVSquad

CBS found such huge success with Rock Star: INXS last year that it is launching another series. Obviously, it won't be exactly the same since the search landed INXS with a new lead singer. And, CBS hasn't announced which band will be participating in the next round. What bands need a new lead singer? Blind Melon?

Here are a list of audition dates and cities, if you rock:

I had no idea this show did well but it must have because today it earned a second season. The first time around Rock Star, produced by Mark Burnett, featured aspiring singers all vying for one grand prize: the job as the new frontman for 80s rock band INXS. Applications for next season are already being accepted at CBS.com and Burnett expects plenty of people to get involved as evidenced by the spike in popularity of INXS, who now have a sold-out North American tour. Rock Star will return this summer but there have been no announcements regarding which band or which job(s) will be at stake.

I for one hope it does well again for Burnett. He could use a boost of confidence after the miserable abomination that was The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.

All I can say is, "Get 'em while they're hot!" Several dedicated fans of Rock Star: INXS have taken it upon themselves to post MP3s of every song performed on the show so far, promising to continue updating as the series continues. There are well over 100 MP3s already available for download.

Suzie gets the encore and also gets to choose someone to perform as her "opening act." She chooses Marty. Then we go back in time for a little house drama in which we learn once again, that J.D. is a jerk as he gets aggressive with Suzie when she talks about the time he took in the studio. Last night's bottom three, Ty, J.D. and Marty are joined by one more, Jordis.

J.D. is first up to sing and he gets "This Time" and does an excellent job. Ty is the second member of the bottom three and sings "The One Thing." He sounds a bit differently than last time, he messes up the words a bit and when quizzed about his contribution to the band he says that he will bring soul to the band. Jordis is the third member of the final three and takes on "Listen Like Thieves." She's quite talented but she doesn't really do a good job with this song at all. INXS isn't thrilled with any of the performances but decides to sends Ty home. Ty says that he feels that he kept ending up in the bottom three because "my people" are not perceived as rockers. Andrew gets up and says that Ty is a talented soul singer (basically confirming the truth of what Ty said).  While I'm sorry to see Ty go, he did always position himself as a soul singer which is not what INXS is looking for.

Mig gets the encore and shares the stage with Jordis and Marty (which definitely sends the message that he considers them the only ones who are his equals). Ty, Jessica and Deanna get told that they were in the bottom three in the beginning but that Ty managed to escape and Suzie is in his place. Suzie goes first singing "By My Side" then it's Jessica with "Mystify." I find myself wishing that they'd go a bit deeper into the INXS archive but that might just be the 80s dork in me (what no "Original Sin"?).  Deanna sings "Never Tear Us Apart." Jessica finally gets the boot (I would have probably picked Deanna tonight). I was expecting that tonight might be a two for one. Ideally both Deanna and Jessica should have gone home.  It was also interesting tonight that the members of INXS mentioned that they will be open to choosing either a man or a woman to front the band. Somehow I don't quite buy that. And why oh why do people vote for J.D.?

To catch us up on the action, in the non-singing episode which was on VH1, the two teams had to divide up to write songs. Once again J.D. proved he can't play well with others. He separated from his group and did his own thing which cost his team the victory but gave him a chance to show off.

Tonight's performances:

Jordis; "Knocking On Heaven's Door" (beautifully melodic)
Jessica: "Torn" (she belts it out hard, seems to be getting better)
Ty: "Maggie May" (a very upbeat Motown version, doesn't really fit the song)
Suzie: "Bring It On Home To Me" (slow and sultry)
Marty: "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (sung very earnestly and raw, kinda rocks)
Deanna: "I Can't Make You Love Me" (she sings well but doesn't quite have the voice for it)
J.D.; "As Tears Go By" (sort of spastic, not his best)
Mig: "Baby, I Love Your Way" (plays piano, very emotional and sweet)

The first results reveal that Jessica, Deanna and Ty are the bottom three. Fair enough but J.D. really needs to be there too.

We learn that J.D. and Suzie have been added to the pool of people at the bottom (joining Brandon, Jessica and Deanna).  This is supposed to heighten the drama but just seems like an attempt to prove that people actually do call in and vote. Ty gets the well-deserved encore. J.D. and Deanna are safe. Brandon, Jessica and Suzie are the bottom three. Jessica sings "Dispappear" and it sounds like her voice is in a bit of trouble. Brandon takes on "Don't Lose Your Head" and while his outfit seems to belong to someone else, he sings pretty well but his energy just isn't there and he keeps looking to the other contestants for help with the words. It's clear that he's not that into INXS songs. Suzie sings "Bitter Tears" and she doesn't quite seem that into it either in the beginning but then she heats up and rocks the house. Brandon gets the boot and he seems completely fine with that.

Just before I started watching tonight's show I was pointed in the direction of an interesting theory. Is the show a scam, a big production so that the chosen singer (Mig) gets as much publicity as possible? Given the ratings, if this theory is true, it hasn't exactly been a rousing success. I tend to discount it although Mig is a very strong performer. Of course there is the fact that he is an Aussie (like the band) but I'm not entirely conviced that this is true. Perhaps when it is down to a few more contestants I'll be swayed.

Tonight's Performances
Suzie:  "Losing My Religion" (J.D. helped with the arrangement, better than usual)
Mig: "All Right Now" (nails it as usual, the band advises him to take on a ballad next time since he usually defers to others)
J.D.; "Crazy" (so much better than last week)
Jessica: "Come As You Are" (very throaty and very made-up)
Jordis: "Layla" (a very upbeat arrangement, quite poppy, even she knows it's not that good)
Brandon: "It's All Over Now" (quite funky and bluesy but it's clear that he's a one-trick pony)
Marty: "Mr. Brightsides" (acoustic, sort of off in some way)
Deanna: "Long Train Running" (looks great, sings hard)
Ty: "No Woman, No Cry" (a very passionate performance, great voice)

This week they showed the bottom three so far according to the voting. Jessica, Brandon and Deanna were on the list. I have to agree with those picks but in a way strong favorite Jordis may deserve to be there for this week's performance.

The backround episode of this show always starts with food, booze and a rehash of what just happened. Jessica is once again amazed to still be there. Marty's sister shows up to enliven the proceedings (it's a reward for his good performance last week).  This week's rock star clinic includes a voice coach.  Some people welcome the challenge but others such as Deanna have worries about their voices. Next up it's song selection time. J.D. makes a grand show of switching his first choice for Suzie (even though he actually wanted the song he actually got). Ty gets one of my favorite songs "Everlong" and doesn't seem to know what to do with it since he has never heard it before. He was one of my early favorites but he may not have the versatility for the long haul. Brandon tries to figure out how to use what the vocal coach taught him and Jessica frets over the fact that America seems to hate her. It seems that there are some behind-the-scene dramas we are missing out on and some tensions have definitely developed but the half-hour show isn't enough to give us more than a brief slice of what's really going on in the lair of the aspiring rock stars.

Tonight's episode begins with an encore of JD's version of "California Dreaming." I have no idea why since it didn't quite do it for me the first go-round.  Tonight's three lowest vote getters were Wil, Tara, and Susie. The three have to sing INXS songs. Tara rocks out to "New Sensation," Wil commits his usual sin of singing directly to the hot girls in the front row during "Need You Tonight" and Susie does a heartfelt version of "Never Tear Us Apart." Wil gets the boot which makes sense since he didn't take the band's advice about working the room and seemed to rely too much on his smoldering stare.