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May 16, 2012

Rock Star: Supernova (season premiere)

by Deidre Woollard, posted Jul 6th 2006 2:05PM
rock starWhen Rock Star was created last season it seemed like it would be the anti-American Idol.  Instead we got the aging band INXS looking for a second shot at glory and a bunch of aspiring rockers from musicals and small-town bands who went right back to their small-town bands and musicals with the exception of J.D. Fortune who went on to tour with INXS giving them modest success and a catchy little tune called "Pretty Vegas."

This season would be different, right? After all, we've got Tommy Lee, he's a rocker. And Gilby Clarke, he was in a band with rockers (Guns n' Roses) and Jason Newsted, bassist for Metallica. This won't be a thing like American Idol. This year it will actually rock.

Well, for the most part, it was pretty much American Idol with more guitars. This round of nominees are a bit less inspired than last season. They are prettier and seem a bit less hungry.  Many of them front mildly successful bands. And, while I really like to believe in my heart that a woman can win this, I find it hard to believe that Supernova, which purports to be a "dirty rock and roll band" is going to choose a female singer.

The performances so far were rather boring. They got to choose their own songs and so many of the same classics we heard last season were recycled for this season (save me from girls trying to be Janis Joplin or from bad versions of "Satisfaction"). Dilana who came on stage looking like a glam rock Unibomber was a bit scary, barely blinking through her spastic rendition of Nirvana's "Lithium." Many of these people would need some king of serious rock star makeover to play with Tommy Lee, they are just a little too clean and smiley. The JD Fortune of this season is clearly Lucas, the dark-eyed singer who went last. In my opinion, his is his contest to lose.

Dave Navarro was his usual positive self for the most part, except in the case of the truly ear-splitting Chris (just because the re-arranging of songs worked for JD last season doesn't mean it will work for you). I thought Dave was a bit of a ham last season but he pales in comparison with Tommy Lee. Lee can't sit still or stop mugging at the camera. He's so hyper-aware of being filmed it's almost uncomfortable to watch. Hopefully he will calm down at some point or he's going to need to be shot with a tranquilizer gun.

While watching the show, I realized that the Rock Star house must be somewhere close to my neighborhood because all the background shots featured places in the Silver Lake and Los Feliz areas of Los Angeles. In fact the Rock Star crew went into the coffeehouse where my boyfriend works a few weeks ago. I had asked him at the time if there were any standouts  and he said no. For the most part he was right, but I'm still going to keep watching.

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Loki93c

This show sucks like a vacuum cleaner.

Dirty Rockers? Where? All we have seen thus far is abunch of talentless wanabees pretending to be 'mean' (hah!) and 'dirty' (yeah...) 'rockers' (laugh). It seems bizzare that messers Lee, Newstead & Clarke have had to stoop this low to find a decent vocalist (Seb Bach too busy guys? Give Lee Roth a bell, or - even better - Sammy Hagar?). The general approach to any song is to start quiet, then build up into screaming. Well, anyone can scream a number out, it takes talent and skill to actually perform - at varying volumes -in key. And from what i have seen thus far, talent is massively lacking here. The girls are about as tuneless as it is possible to get without caterwauling, the guys...well, where does one start? Wimpish, presence-less, pathetic, weak voiced...The biggest laugh has to be the sad freak with the makeup - obviously he missed the point Michale Stipe made as regards that kind of stuff (LOL). Which brings us to the biggest missed-by-a-mile section. Do any of these wasters actually, genuinely know what Heavy Rock is? (Like, hey! I'm audtitioning for Supernova, gonna do a Duran Duran number...)- none of them seem to have a clue about Heavy Rock, let alone about who/what/where-from was going to be hiring them. Do any of these little posers actually possess a Crue, Mettalica, G&R album, dvd, biography? Do they now the first thing about anyhting? I would have expected the 'contestants' in this show to have actually LOOKED like they came from a rock band! No, sadly disappointed there. They look like they just fell out of a high school pop group, and i do mean Pop. Can you imagine the scene down at the No-Talent-Iz-Us Agency?


"Hey kid! Scruff up a bit, pain tthis crud on yer face quick, we got you an audition with some old rockers....Chance it on the fly and read up on Metallica on the bus trip...or was he in Megadeth...he's a judge anyway, Jason Bonham-Newsstand I think he;s named.....hmmm...better read up on them other guys too...wassis name? Dilby Mark...Him outta Muttley Krew or was it the LA Guns or something? And that drummer Tommy Navarrone...just wing it kid, no one will ever know - it is kiddie television anyway! Hey Baby! Quick, get into this mini-skirt...aw forget your lack of vocal ability...just get some more studs in yer face and don't blink when you sing...here's a Hole video to give ya a a clue about girrrrrl singerrrs...yeah, that's her, Courtney Cox Hole...she was married to that Kurt Koblinski...."


Laugh? I thought I'd never start.....

July 25 2006 at 9:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
HP

This show is a joke! It is an obvious publicity stunt to try and restart these aging rockers careers. It is painful to watch. All the contestants are terrible. I can't see any of them fronting this band. If these are the 15 best unsigned singers in the world, then the music industry is in serious trouble!

July 15 2006 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
belanger l.

I'M READY TO READY TO GIVE UP ON YOUR SHOW AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK....BOTTOM 3...AND THE ...."ZAYRA"
SINGS THE SAME SONG THAT PUT HER IN THE BOTTOM ....
IF YOU CALL THAT SIGNING!!!! AND THEY VOTE THE GUY OFF....????? I THINK A PART OF THEIR BODIES MADE THAT DECISION AND IT WASN'T THE BRAIN....I WILL START WATCHING AGAIN WHEN THEY GET HER OFF THE SHOW...
AND A FEW MORE....

July 14 2006 at 9:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kim monroe

All I want to say is Dilana kicks ass. She is the only reason I watch the show.

July 14 2006 at 11:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Karyn

I'm probably going to watch but not love this show. I think Storm, Toby, Ryan, and Dilana have a shot at this band. Everyone else, whether they can sing or not, just don't fit. Lukas is just too scary for words (Dilana is frightening also but in a way that woudl work with Supernova). Josh and the chick who did Melissa Etheridge the first week both have great voices but are totally wrong for Supernova. What I'm going to not love about this show is going to be the "dirty rock band" mentality and the screaming, posturing, and overall raw quality. Presence and suitability are going to triumph over quality of voice and performance, which really stinks.

July 13 2006 at 3:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hpotter

Supernova is a super bore. Tommy Lee needs to go back driving boats. Gilby Clark a rock legend, give me a break. The only crediable talent is Jason and it is sad to see him sink this low as to be on a show with Tommy Lee. What, no art classes at the U of Corn? The talent is talentless. If this is the best the rock world has to offer - long live the boy band! The only things worth watching are fake, yet pirky, just like the talent. Rock on Brooke!

July 12 2006 at 6:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mara

my friend introduced me to "Rockstar:supernova", and i think its a great show! even though i didnt like american idol or america's got talemt, this one is different, and i love it! its just what tv needs, but i think the show is under-rated. i think it should have more publicity because of its great performers!
i think lukas is really really hott, and dont want to see him go! toby and dilana are kinda my favs (with lukas)! cant wait till tonight to see who gets booted off...poor matt, he wasnt too bad!!!

July 12 2006 at 2:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ankur

No one's mentioned Josh Logan yet... I thought his rendition of "She Talks to Angels" was one of the most refreshing, talented, heartfelt, and joyful live performances I've ever seen. Everyone else was posing and pretending to rock, in my humble opinion.
I got addicted to the show last year (and even saw INXS live with J.D. in CA--he was surprisingly awesome live, although the opening singer, Marty Casey, had a lot more stage presence than J.D.) I'm sure this year will be addictive, as well.
Anyway, thanks for listening!
: ) A

July 11 2006 at 9:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ray

l think its one of the fresher reality TV shows out there. Being from Australia we probably see a fraction of what the USA sees. l love the rock and roll concept it goes down really well with me. Considering what INXS is doing now with there reality TV winner.

July 09 2006 at 7:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
D Colin

I loved it. Toby, Lukas and Dilana were by far the best followed by Storm and Ryan.

I hate American Idol, it just is so cheesy and most aren't he greatest singers. I hate the months of the "auditon" episodes. With Rock Star you start with singers who can sing, who can play a guitar. That alone makes me respect it more than Idol. I loved last season. JD was my pick from the begining. This year I think Toby or Dilana will go all the way.

July 06 2006 at 10:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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