Blog From The Bench

I never thought this day would come, but I’ve become a regular viewer of a reality show: Rock Star: INXS. It goes against all I believe in to support a reality show, the bane of modern television, but in this case I had to make an exception. I’ve always liked INXS, and ever since I reviewed their DVD retrospective I’ve been a bigger fan than ever. Now, eight years after the suicide of lead singer Michael Hutchence, they are taking the reality show route to find a new lead singer.

I’m fine with their getting a new lead singer; eight years is time enough for mourning, and I’d hate to see these talented guys’ career trapped in amber; it’s time for them to move forward. I wasn’t so sure about the wisdom of going with a reality show, but the pool of contestants contains some real talent, even though most of the singers seem too young to be real people yet. It’s intriguing to hear the band’s reaction to the different performances, and I’ve already picked out my favorite contestants as well as the one that I devoutly hope will lose. I’m probably being manipulated by clever editing of the “reality” segments, but I’ve started to recognize the lure of reality shows. They really do give the illusion that we know these people, and we start to care about them--and, in at least one case, passionately dislike them.

Last night’s performance segment was odd; after last week, in which the band offered some incisive commentary on a number of performances, last night was a love fest. The members of INXS and Dave Navarro, whose presence I don’t really understand, just adored everybody’s performance. Even the laughable act put on by that jackass J.D. I wonder if he was cast on the show just to provide an irritant; he grates on me terribly. Yet he seems popular, and last night, with a straight face, all the judges lavished praise on him. “I’d have paid to see that performance,” gushed Dave, and poof went my faith in his judgment... not that I had a lot to begin with, after he told one contestant that she looked fabulous when she appeared in leather gauntlets and what looked like a chiffon nightgown.

Anyway, not that it’s a matter of life and death (although the show keeps insisting that the contestants are “singing for their lives,” as if they’re gladiators an inch away from hungry lions), but I’ve made my choice. Marty would be a great match with INXS. He has loads of magnetism. He also has character, something that most of the other contestants don’t seem to have acquired yet (except for that guy who looks like a creepy hobo). He doesn’t have any direct similarities to Hutchence, but something about Marty reminds me of him. Maybe it’s sheer presence. He was absolutely mesmerizing last night. (J.D., watch and learn.)

So now I’m hopelessly fished in. I have to keep watching the show now to see if J.D. gets his comeuppance, if Marty gets the gig, and if my other favorites (Jordis and Ty, for those who are also watching) acquit themselves well. I have become a reality show watcher. But really, it’s just this once.