Rock Star:INXS

Finally, a reality music show that gets it right. American Idol is flawed in a lot of ways, but this new CBS show manages to hit just about every note perfectly (save for one).

First, the show is over three days. The first day is the "reality" part of the show, with a "Rock Star Clinic" where they learn how to improve various aspects of their performances. The second day is the Performance day, where they do a cover of a hit song in front of a live audience (and the surviving members of INXS). The third day is the results show, where the bottom three have to perform again, with INXS getting the final say on who is cut. There's something for everyone.

It's that last part that really makes this show feel more real than the others. The band has a lot at stake, so them being allowed to make the all-important decision effectively nullifies the fickle viewership. That's where Idol has failed for three seasons ... new viewers don't have the benefit of seeing if someone had one bad performance and needed to go, perhaps voting off someone with a lot of talent. The new system avoids that pitfall, while still allowing America to vote based on popularity, which is a very important part of the music business.

Another nice touch is that if you are in the bottom three for the week, you have to sing an INXS song of the band's choosing. In an interesting twist, this could actually work to a performer's benefit ... since the band is looking for a new lead singer, showing the band that you can do their songs justice could be more beneficial than making it through each week "safely". Tara has been in the bottom three the first two weeks (week 2 and 3, actually, but I don't count the first week), and she has done a great job with the INXS tunes, which I'm sure will stick with the band.

All of this could be academic, though. I'm sure the band already has an idea of what they're looking for, and I'm positive that the answer will be someone very different from Michael Hutchence. They need to make sure that there are few (if any) comparisons between the new INXS and the old, and I think that a female lead would get that job done. J.D. is a wild card, clearly looking to stir the pot, and that might be an attitude the band would want to steer away from (or perhaps, it would be good for P.R.), and Ty's wild style would give the band a lead that would defy comparison.

Predictions? I can only make one right now, but Jordis will be a star whether or not she wins the gig. She's talented, and smart enough to see through J.D.'s play to give back a song he didn't think he had the range to sing after fighting for it. Plus, she reminds me a little of Amy Lee of Evanescence ... a great singer with a unique presence.