By Paul Bowers
What happens when you take a homeless man, a surfer, a yoga instructor, and a host of other hopefuls from around the world and have them compete for the position of lead singer in an aging rock band? Apparently, nothing worth watching.
“Rock Star: INXS,” which premiered last night at 9:00 on CBS, is the latest reality TV sensation, featuring co-hosts Brooke Burke (for sex appeal) and Dave Navarro (for a sense of authenticity). The show pits everyday people against each other in a dramatic karaoke tournament. Sound familiar? It’s the same concept as American Idol, only with two differences: The contestants have to live in the same house, and they’re fighting to replace INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, who died in 1997. The Australian-based group enjoyed international success in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, and it seems they’re staging a comeback—or maybe they just missed being on television.
Either way, the show exhibits several shortcomings from the get-go. For one, the whole reality TV concept is past its prime by now. It’s all been done before: the fake drama, the backstabbing, the overwhelming superficiality. I’ll admit, I was never a fan of scripted “reality” in the first place, but what little charm it ever held has long since faded. Watching the prima donna rock stars bicker over petty differences will remind most viewers of the action seen on Big Brother… and Survivor… and The Real World. Like grunge music, Beanie Babies, and the Spice Girls, reality TV has seen its better days.
Another problem: If you’re going to pick a new band member, shouldn’t you make a more informed decision? I don’t know what’s to come in later episodes, but if the INXS band members continue to base their elimination picks solely on how well they sing other musicians’ hits, they’re not going to get the full story. Singing and dancing is great, but unless the contestants have to play instruments, sing original songs, or perform with the actual band (in the show, they get a generic back-up band), INXS may not get the artist they really need.
But the real flaw in this show is that it misses the heart of Rock and Roll by a long shot. As the female contestants flaunt their bodies in skimpy outfits and the male contestants strut around executing ridiculous onstage theatrics, real musicians can’t help but gag And as the show depicts the contenders drinking and partying long into the night, one has to wonder if this is what the music is all about.
“Rock Star: INXS” doesn’t depict the real-life struggles of real-life musicians; it simply offers a glimpse of the self-centered lifestyle that MTV has promoted for years. But if you’re still interested (or if you’re a diehard INXS fan), the remaining episodes of the show will air Monday nights at 9:30, Tuesday nights at 10:00, and Wednesday nights at 9:30. It’s true what they say: Video killed the radio star.