TV Tonight: The Next Great American Band

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 07:30:00 -0700

There are two key ingredients to the basic American Idol recipe: there's music, and the audience picks the winner. Idol is the biggest thing on TV, but Fox's attempts at separating the two elements that make it so successful haven't worked out so well - On the Lot, all voting and no music, limped to a finish, while Nashville, all music and no voting, was the first of the fall's new shows to be pulled.

But both parts of the Idol formula will be in full effect tonight during the premiere of The Next Great American Band, essentially a large-scale battle of the bands. Like Idol, the show is starting with several two-hour audition episodes that will narrow the field to 12 finalists. And, also like Idol, the audience will eventually have a say in which band wins. There's one key difference from Idol, and it's the thing I think could make the show kind of cool: The bands are playing their own music or selecting their own cover tunes, not using songs or genres chosen by producers. I'm hoping that carries through all the way to the finals, because I never want to hear a band called Zombie Bazooka Patrol take on Whitney Houston ballads.

I still don't know how smart it is to put a show that relies on audience participation on a Friday - and it's hard for me to imagine that Fox has much faith in it when, as of this writing, the network still hasn't built the show a proper Web site. (Update: A real site is finally up.) What do you think? Are you willing to give The Next American Band a shot? To watch a preview clip, just read more

Photo and video courtesy of Fox

Fox Picks Its Host, Judges for "American Band"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:33:28 -0700

After "On the Lot," I'm a little wary of Fox dipping its toes into any new reality markets. But so far, it sounds like "The Next Great American Band," the "American Idol" crew's search for a new group to rule the airwaves, is keeping it all in the "Idol" family with its host and judges.

Host Dominic Bowden may be a newcomer to American TV, but he's well-known in New Zealand for hosting "New Zealand Idol." And judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson has pretty good music bonafides (he worked in promotions for Oasis and LL Cool J), but he's made his mark as the outlandish, Simon Cowell-esque judge on "Australian Idol." Joining Dicko at the judges' panel will be Goo Goo Dolls singer/songwriter John Rzeznik and Prince protege Sheila E. It may not be the strongest group ever, but really, if you'd heard back in 2002 that Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul were judging a reality show, wouldn't you have thought that would be dead in the water, too?

Here's how the show will work: After auditions, the judges will pick 10 semifinalists to perform weekly in front of a live audience. The competition will include both original music from the bands and covers of various styles. Voting will start at the end of each show, and the eliminated band will be announced at the start of the following week's episode.

Given that the show's airing on Fridays at 8 p.m., I can't imagine it would be as popular as an "Idol" or even a "So You Think You Can Dance." Are any of you curious to check it out?

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