American Idol, Rock Star and Pepper Dennis

It was an interesting night of television. At this point in the season, shows are dead, shows are retooling and shows are being introduced, all prior to the May sweeps period and the race towards the end of the season.

Tonight, I caught the first episode of American Idol that I’ve seen this season. They were covering Queen, with the somewhat odd new version of the band offering advice. It was pretty painful. With the exception of Chris Daughtry, not a one of them would have made it a week on Rock Star: INXS, which makes me miss that show all the much more.

Speaking of which, CBS has announced the band the show will seek to put a lead singer in front of: Supernova. “Who?” It’s various members of Motley Crue, Metallica and Guns N Roses (although that latter is sort of a reach in my book) looking to form a new hard rock band. It won’t have the poignancy of trying to fill Michael Hutchence’s boots, but it’s definitely something worth looking forward to.

A truly pleasant surprise, though, is Pepper Dennis, a Rebecca Romijn vehicle (I know, I know) and probably the first journalism television comedy or drama that didn’t include Ed Asner that actually works. It’s set in modern day Chicago, and Pepper is a television reporter, but it’s channeling the old school screwball comedy newspaper movie vibe (and some of the dialogue) and it works quite well. We’ll see how long it lasts.

2 Comments »

1. A truly pleasant surprise, though, is Pepper Dennis, a Rebecca Romijn vehicle (I know, I know) and probably the first journalism television comedy or drama that didn’t include Ed Asner that actually works. It’s set in modern day Chicago, and Pepper is a television reporter, but it’s channeling the old school screwball comedy newspaper movie vibe (and some of the dialogue) and it works quite well. We’ll see how long it lasts.

   It’s one of the shows vying with Veronica Mars for a pick-up next season, so I’m biased against it.

   And hey, you forgot Lois and Clark! I’m crushed.

   Comment by Kate — April 13, 2006 @ 16:05

2. Yeah … not a journalism show. It also didn’t work for anyone but you.

   And I can’t imagine a scenario in which The CW dumps Veronica Mars. Pepper Dennis would be a good third show to go with Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls on one night. (Gilmore Girls is still on, right?)

   Comment by Beau — April 13, 2006 @ 19:00

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