‘Next Great American Band’ is no ‘Idol’

< Prev | 1 | 2

Related stories

Scoop: Will new ‘Idol’ judge cover for absent Paula?

Risky gimmicks
Of course, this wouldn't be a 19 Entertainment production without some gimmicks.

The main thing Ian Dickson brings that's unique from other judges is the reminder that the winner has to be a recording artist, not just a bar band. Plenty of the acts were entertaining enough to sell $5 cover charges every night of the year, but didn't have that hit-record potential. Nevertheless, the show took three groups to the final 12 that don't have a chance of selling very many records, and two others who have a long way to prove that they're legit.

The Zombie Bazooka Patrol is an entertaining act that John Rzeznik accurately termed a one-hit wonder, but voted through anyway. They rocked the rest of the bands, but it's hard to see how a group of singers in zombie paint and ties is going to be anything other than a novelty act. Besides, they might eat the brains of their rival bands.

Story continues below ↓

Denver and the Mile High Orchestra are a great-sounding big band, and if FOX viewers have been hoping that genre will make a comeback, the group could go a long way. But the paucity of big-band music on the radio makes that highly unlikely.

Cliff Wagner & the Old # 7 plays some mean bluegrass, which is a little more popular than the big-band sound — but not by enough to give the group a legitimate shot to win.

However, the biggest danger to the long-term credibility of the show comes from a pair of bands that, depending on the show's demographics, could go a long way.

Light of Doom isn’t a bad act if you like ‘70s and ‘80s metal. The problem is that everyone in the group is 12 or 13, and regardless of how they sound, they look more like candidates for the Disney Channel than anything else.

Click for related content

Discuss: What did you think of the show?
‘American Band’ has to drum up own success
5Top: Least deserving reality TV winners

The all-girl punk band, Rocket, has a more credibility in part because they're a tiny bit older and because their sound isn't something from 30 years ago. But they're still more gimmick than big-time band, and in ordinary times, they'd spend the next five years playing clubs and waiting to impress the right people.

For those girls, "The Next Great American Band" could be great, since they could easily win this. And as far as the record end of the deal goes, it might not be a bad thing – Rocket could definitely sell records.

But "American Idol" has an age limit for a reason. The show appears to older viewers as well as teenagers, and the ability to text-message at warp speed isn't enough to decide the winner (though it did help keep Sanjaya Malakar on the show for a long time). If the winning act is a faddish band, it may sell a couple of hit singles but won't be anything close to what the show is ostensibly looking for in its title.

< Prev | 1 | 2