Besides the title, this show is alright.

People competing for money is always a good thing when the money will be going to a charity. That is the premise of this new mid-season NBC show that pits former pop and rock superstars (and one/two hit wonders) against each other in a revival and/or renuion of their careers.

They play two songs each; the first is one of their most popular hits, the second is a hit of the modern era. It has been an interesting miz as people put their own spin on known current hits. Sometimes the results are so good you think it should be definitely recorded (think Whitney Houston's renditition of Dolly Parton's I will always love you quality of cover). Hardaway did a decent job of Twitney Spears' Toxic. Other efforts just should not have been attempted. Vanilla Ice (yes, the white boy rapper with the sharp haircut and parachute pants), now covered in tatoos, did a strange riff of Destiny's Child's Survivor.

In any case, as was the winning Mr. Ice, it is the audience that chooses whose charity gets the twenty large ($20,000 for you lay folks). He rocked the house right and was rewarded. It was nice to see some of the other people and groups that formed my Eighties musical growth back performing. Arrested Development (the first week's winner), The Knack, Tiffany, The Motels, Vanilla Ice, Hardaway and more. Coming up, acts include Cameo and more.

This show is actuaql worth watching and is the added reward for the performing artists. Some of them have admitted to be looking to start up again in music. So, it is win win; a charity gets money and some artists get exposure. Frankly, as my buddy A-L and I were discussing last night, we would be happy with an 80s-palooza type show where each old group did a set of three to five songs over a course of three days. I think there is a market for it and I wish I knew how to make it happen.

maybe I can task my LB with all of his contacts to ty to put it together. I don't want a cut (if it his him doing it), just the music. the sweet, sweet, music.

Ciao.

NBC.com > Hit Me Baby One More Time