This Is Platinum Hit

     Bravo's newest reality competition show is Platinum Hit. With echoes of Project Runway in the manner in which the contest happens, though every week is group work week, Platinum Hit sets itself apart from the other music competitions like American Idol and The Voice because contestants are judged not on how well they sing, but on how good they are at writing songs. The series begins with 12 hopefuls, and in the first contest, each are assigned thirty minutes to write a tag for a piece about Los Angeles. Four tags are chosen, and then those four winners choose two others to help them write a full song based on the tag, with eight hours to do so. The four trios perform their songs, and the judges send one contestant home. They are told that every week will be a collaborative effort, though it's probably safe to assume that won't be the case once the field narrows considerable.

     The results are mixed, though some pretty decent music comes out of the challenge. The winning song, conceived by Nick Nittoli, is wonderful, as is the runner up. But the two songs in the bottom are both dreadful, drawing a distinctive line in the sand. A contestant is eliminated from the losing team. While the two assistants try to pin the blame on the guy that wrote the original tag, host Jewell has none of it, demanding to know what each member contributed, and reminding them that all of them have responsibilities. Ultimately, the one that goes home is the guy who contributed very little, Nevin James, rather than the team leader.

     The host of Platinum Hit is Jewell, and she is tough as nails. Not only does she work with the contestants to explain the challenges, but she also sits with the judges and freely comments. She is outspoken, but fair. While in other reality shows the host is not really a participant, it is already clear this will not be the case with Jewell, and why not? She knows the industry, and what it takes to make it.

     Kara DioGuardi, who you may remember as an American Idol judge, shines much brighter in this series. She is a song writer herself, and really brings that knowledge and talent together in a way that will help these aspiring authors. Without having to compete with Simon and Randy, knowing she is the main voice of the judging table, Kara comes across as much more competent than in her previous television work. While Jewell is also a strong voice, the two have a good chemistry and working relationship, and these women run this show. In fact, it's hard to even remember after who the other judges are.

     The contestants are mostly complete unknowns, though a few have some visible work. Scotty Granger has been on Wipeout and The One: Making a Music Star, so he's practically a professional reality TV contestant. Amber Ojeda was in several episodes of Veronica Mars as different characters, and then recently appeared in an episode of Terriers. Jackie Tohn has the longest credit list, with spots on CSI: NY, Memphis Beat, The Closer, Angel, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Veronica Mars, Strangers With Candy, The Nanny, and The Sopranos, as well as making it Hollywood on American Idol's eighth season.

     This series is new, original, and has fresh voices. While some of the gooy Bravo directing and music bring it down slightly, it is worth watching this summer, far better than The Voice or other reality shows. Give it a chance. Platinum Hit airs Mondays nights at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo.

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     Click here to watch the first episode of Platinum Hit streaming for free, and click here to buy the music featured this week.

NBC announces Fall 2012 lineup

     Right in the middle of season finale madnesses, the networks are releasing their fall schedules, handing down decisions on what goes and stays. NBC is the first out of the gate next year, and here's what's in the docket:

     Monday begins with a two hour episode of The Sing-Off, and then premieres the new drama, The Playboy Club. The Playboy Club is set in Chicago in the 1960's at the infamous night hot spot, and stars Amber Heard (Zombieland), Eddie Cibrian (CSI: Miami), David Krumholtz (Numb3rs), Jenna Dewan-Tatum (Step Up), Laura Benanti (Eli Stone). This series is a wait and see, as it seems to be breaking new ground, so it could be great or terrible. The Sing-Off is yet another waste of time reality competition show. The Event and Law & Order: Los Angeles are canceled, as are The Cape and Chase, and Chuck will be switching nights. Not off to a good start.

     Tuesday begins with another (ugh!) two hour reality series, The Biggest Loser, do again, a bad start. Thankfully, NBC had the good sense to renew Parenthood, which will follow at ten p.m.

     Wednesdays gets better, with two new sitcoms from 8-9. Up All Night stars Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?) as a stay at home home, Will Arnett (Arrested Development) as her husband, and also Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live). Free Agents is based on a UK series by the same name, and stars Anthony Stewart Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), reprising his role as boss at a PR firm from the British versions. Hank Azaria (The Simpsons) and Kathryn Hahn (Hung) star as two of Head's workers, and the series will also include Joe Lo Truglio (Reno 911!). Both sitcoms could be good. At 9 p.m. Harry's Law begins a second season, followed at 10 by the long-running Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

     The three hour Thursday night sitcom block is unfortunately abandoned. 30 Rock takes a fall hiatus (it's its turn), while favorites Community, Parks and Recreation, and the now Steve Carell-less The Office are joined by newcomer Whitney. Created by Whitney Cummings, the series also stars Chris D'Elia (Glory Daze) and Beverly D'Angelo (Entourage). Which means, Outsourced and Perfect Couples are also canceled. At 10, another UK remake, Prime Suspect, starring Mario Bello (ER), Aidan Quinn (Canterbury's Law), and Kirk Acevedo (Fringe).

     Friday features the fifth and final season of Chuck, which will run for a mere thirteen episodes, as well as the new show Grimm. Grimm stars David Giuntoli (Privileged) as a detective tasked with protecting humans from Grimm fairy tale characters. Silas Weir Mitchell (Prison Break) plays a reformed Big Bad Wolf, Sasha Roiz (Caprica) is a police captain, and Kate Burton (Grey's Anatomy) is the detective's aunt. Then Dateline is at 10.

     Saturday Night Live, is, of course, at 11:30 on Saturdays, the same place is has been for nearly four decades, while earlier in the night, reruns in the name of the game.

     Finally on Sundays is football, football, and more football. Double ugh.

     Friday Night Lights is currently airing its finale season, and will not return next year.

     Midseason will see the return of 30 Rock, The Voice, and The Celebrity Apprentice, as well as a slew of new series. The Voice and Harry's Law are the only two new series this year coming back for next. Three more sitcoms have been ordered, Bent, Best Friends Forever, and Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, as well as three new dramas, Awake, Smash, and The Firm, based on the novel by Josh Grisham. These six may never see the light of day, but then again, they might.

     All in all, a pretty weak season for the fourth place network. Perhaps ditching some of those large reality blocks and sticking in some of these dramas and comedies being ordered would help.  Not the bottom line, of course, but the reputation of NBC, which could use all of the assistance it can get.

The Voice stinks up NBC

     NBC launched its answer to FOX's American Idol last night The Voice. The Voice is a singing competition where four "coaches" listen to singers with their backs turned, then chose who they would like on their team. If more than one coach chooses the singer, then the performer gets to pick which coach they would like to work with. The Voice's coaches are all professional musicians, and the freshman run's lineup consists of "F*** You"'s Cee Lo Green, pop princess Christina Aguilera, country crooner Blake Shelton, and Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine. The show is hosted by late night talker Carson Daly.  Like Idol and many American competition shows, this series is adapted from a foreign television program.

     The Voice's format for this first round is to introduce a singer, giving viewers a back story, and then let them perform. This is a direct knockoff of American Idol, who does roughly the same thing. As such, the back story segment is stale and unoriginal, bogging down the pacing of the singing competition. While audiences do like to know a bit about the people they watch, showing these stories in the early episodes, before fans have chosen who to support, is unnecessary. The bits shown now will be forgotten as the season goes on. It would be smarter to save the looks at the singers' lives for later rounds. This is something Idol does not do, so it would further distinguish the two programs.

     Another element similar to Idol is how nice the coaches are to the contestants that they do not like. Simon Cowell alone is truthful and blunt, while other Idol judges are not. This is a serious weakness for Idol. Even though it has maintained ratings this year, that will not last. It is dreadfully boring to only hear sweet comments. If a coach does not like a singer, they should just say so. Further mistakes were made by showing coaches' tweets during last night's televised airing, certain ones of which gave encouragement for ousted singers. If not one of the four coaches chose the singer because of their voice. it is not likely the public will hear from them again, so don't lie and say so.

     The coaches themselves can see each other, both when backs are turned, and when some have spun around. As such, it is not really a blind judging, as it claims to be. All four coaches show that they are taking each others' opinions into account by pushing or not pushing their button while glancing at their peers. For this show to truly work, it would be better if the coaches were in isolation. Simple dividers between the chairs could easily be put up and lowered at will. It would not impede the show, but actually bolster its conceit.

     Finally, the home audience is cheated by seeing the singers as they perform. The entire point of The Voice is that the competitors are judged on singing ability alone. Yet, while the coaches cannot see what the contestants look like, the viewers can. To truly experience that voice-only aspect, cameras should stay on the coaches, at least until one coach turns around and sees the singer. Little effort would be needed for this small and very beneficial change.

     Without some tweaks, The Voice is as not worth watching as this season of American Idol. Should you decide to watch, tune in to NBC Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET.

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