Plug your ears! Mute the TV!
“Celebrity Duets” tantamount to a celeb version of “American Idol” premieres subsequent week permitting American viewers the chance (?) to listen to a roster of C-list celebrities belt out a tune.
Did you ever surprise if Xena has pipes? Can one of many “Queer as Folk” actors carry a tune?
Viewers will get to search out out as Lucy Lawless (“Xena”) Hal Sparks (“Queer as Folk”) Chris Jericho (WWE wrestler) Cheech Marin (“Nash Bridges”) Carly Patterson (2004 Olympic Gold Medal-winning gymnast) Alfonso Ribeiro (“Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) Jai Rodriguez (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”) and Lea Thompson (“Caroline in the City”) carry out.
“Celebrity Duets” (8 p.m. Fox EDT/PDT Tuesday) is the brainchild of “Idol” decide Simon Cowell one in all this new present’s govt producers. “Duets” provides the twist of getting the contestants who’re typically not identified for his or her singing abilities paired with star recording artists together with Clint Black Michael Bolton Belinda Carlisle Taylor Dane Peter Frampton Macy Grey James Ingram Wynonna Judd Chaka Khan Patti LaBelle Kenny Loggins Richard Marx Brian McKnight Aaron Neville Smokey Robinson Randy Travis Dionne Warwick and Lee Ann Womack.
Music producer David Foster who additionally appeared on the Fox actuality present “Princes of Malibu” will decide alongside Little Richard and Marie Osmond. Besides on the primary present the place the judges will solid out one of many contestants viewers will name in to vote on who ought to get the boot. (Efficiency episodes will usually air at 9 p.m. Thursdays starting Sept. 7 with the outcomes present at 9 p.m. Fridays). Wayne Brady hosts the collection.
If this all sounds lots like “Dancing With the Stars” properly even Cowell wouldn’t quibble with the comparability.
“I’ll be honest with you I really liked ‘Dancing With the Stars’ ” Cowell stated in a teleconference Monday. “I thought it was a really fun show. But I always felt it would work better as a singing show.”
Sponsor AdTo make it work with singers Cowell stated it was essential to get top-tier recording artists to take part. However is it actually smart to pair them with a wrestler or the ineffective man from “Queer Eye”?
“I think it’s just shut your eyes hold your breath and hope for the best” Cowell stated. However he was fast so as to add “No one was booked for comedy value. The intention was that any of them could win this competition.”
Contestants will vie for a $100000 grand prize to go to a charity of the winner’s alternative.
“No matter what they tell you my hunch is they all believe that at the end of this they could become a successful recording artist” Cowell speculated on the motivations of the novice superstar singers taking part.
As for the judges Cowell stated Little Richard was picked for his aptitude.
“I wanted to put someone on the show I’d be interested in watching” Cowell stated. “I think it will be an interesting dynamic between him and David because David is very serious and Little Richard is a little more unpredictable.”
Foster was the primary decide chosen and Cowell singled him out because the chief of the judging panel “because he genuinely knows what he’s talking about.”
One reporter wished to know who the voice of expertise is on “Idol.”
“Me” Cowell stated mock-aghast at what he noticed as the plain reply. “Why did you ask?”
Date of Publication August 25 2006 on Web page B02
“Well bless their hearts.”
