TVSquad

Harmonix brought us Guitar Hero and it was good. MTV bought Harmonix and promised more musical delights in the near future and now there is Rock Band. Where GH allowed you to rock the axe, RB expands to allow the entire "band." Peripherals are available to allow a guitarist, bassist, drummer and vocalist to all perform together. And major record labels are promising unprecedented cooperation, including making new music available weekly for the game.

Now, Rocky Mountain News is reporting that a Rock Band TV show may be under consideration at MTV. While nothing official can be reported, MTV senior VP of home entertainment Paul DeGooyer says of it, "we need the right concept, one that looks at how gamers engage with the game." Implications may be, though, that they are trying to find a way to do it without diluting or damaging the Rock Band name.

This is a great way to spend 10 minutes of your Friday. A preview of season 18 of The Simpsons is online today in advance of this weekend's season premiere. FOX made the first seven minutes of Sunday's episode available on various websites, including MySpace.com, FOX.com, and IGNTV.com. The episode is about Homer joining the mob but, in true Simpsons fashion, the first seven minutes are more about Otto than the larger story. And it's pretty damn hilarious-- including a cameo by Metallica. Stick around after the clip because there's more-- a look at a scene as it first appears in pencil and then as the final product. Ahhh... all will be right with the world when The Simpsons return.

Who knew that Earl Hickey was such a stud muffin? Before his ex-wife Joy came along six years ago, Earl had an intense three-week relationship with Jessie (played by the excellent Juliette Lewis). While hanging out in the local bar, a pregnant and desperate Joy manages to steal Earl away. Later on, Earl and Joy end up becoming husband and wife.

Cut to the present, and Jessie, still working in the bail bondsman's offices, still lacking those front teeth, and apparently still angry over what happened, overhears that Joy never showed up for a traffic court appearance. Jessie decides to become a bounty hunter in order to bring her in, and trains intensely to the sound of the lost 80's classic, "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Rider. (This show continues to brilliantly use music at key moments.) She also gets new front teeth to go with her "Dog, the Bounty Hunter" look.

Rock Star, which debuted last year as a reality show in which INXS auditioned several hopefuls for the chance to become the band's new lead singer, is coming back for a second season, but things will be a little different. The show will still be about people auditioning to sing in a band, but this time it's an entirely new band composed of Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, and guitarist Gilby Clarke of Guns N Roses. The band calls itself "Supernova." Both Brooke Burke and Dave Navarro will return as hosts. Slash, Macy Gray and Rob Zombie will also make appearances as guest judges.