Fall TV: the Next Great American Band

Fox's new show "The Next Great American Band" is set to premiere on Oct.19. From the producers of American Idol, The Next Great American Band is hoping to discover untapped talent. It starts with a two-hour special episode on Oct.19, and two more two-hour special episodes on Oct.26 and Nov.2. It will go to it scheduled time slot on Fri. Nov.9. I think Friday night is a good choice for this show, it will be nice to watch something another than ghost whisper, and other Friday night snooze-fests.

This show will flow similar to American Idol. From the bands that pass the auditions, the three judges will pick 12 that will move on to the 'semifinals'. The semifinalist bands will perform in front of a live audience each week, the bands will perform in a variety of styles, hip-hop, rock, country, etc... along with original music. The viewers votes will determine who stays and who go's. The show's winner will get a contract with 19 recordings as well as the title of "The Next Great American Band". If it is anything like American Idol, only the first season's winners will be any good.

I am interested to see how the bands will handle having to perform in a style that is not their usual. In addition, I do not see how they can put a country band against a rock band. It is one thing to make singers sing different songs to show their vocal range, etc. but bands have a sound. Pull out any of your favorite band's CD's and listen to it, notice that most of the songs have a similar beat. I think they should stick to one type of music, but as I said, it will be interesting to see how well the bands make the songs there own. I have a feeling it will end up being a popularity contest, and not about the music

Singer/songwriter John Rzeznik from "The Goo Goo Dolls", Percussionist and performer Sheila E., and Australian TV personality (Australian Idol) Ian "Dicko" Dickson will make up the panelist of judges. In time, we will see if these judges will copy their American Idol counterparts. Will one be rude and stuck up like Simon, of course as much as people love to hate Simon he is right and the most honest. I get so sick of Paula telling everyone they were good, or ok when they sucked. I hope the judges on this show do there own thing, and do not try to be like Simon, Paula, and Randy. The host is going to Dominic Bowden, the host of New Zealand Idol. The only one of these people I have ever of is John Rzeznik, heck I did not even know his name, I just know of the Goo Goo Dolls. I am happy that Ryan Seacreast is not the host, but couldn't they have got someone that we somewhat know to host the show.

http://www.myspace.com/americanband

If you want to participate in next seasons talent competition for bands, go to The Next Great American Band's MySpace page and click on "submission guidelines". There is not a website for this show yet, this is where the Fox website will send you. You can make comments, get more info on the judges, check out all their band friends, and maybe add some of them to your friends list.