American Idol's Freaky Spoof
When
American Idol holds auditions, the lousy singers — except
Jasmine Trias — are told they stink and get axed early on. Not on the WB's
Superstar USA (kicking off tonight at 9 pm/ET). The reality spoofcom riffs on
AI's format, tricking talentless
William Hungs into thinking they've got pop-star potential. Is it cruel, funny or both? TV Guide Online decided to ask
Vitamin C, who serves in
Superstar's trio of smart-mouthed fake judges. Best known for her platinum-selling "Smile" and "Graduation" singles (circa 1999), the thirtysomething crooner-actress knows
all about fickle fame...
TV Guide Online: This show copies AI right down to host Brian McFayden, who's a clone of Ryan Seacrest. Although he looks a bit younger...
Vitamin C: [Chuckles] I don't know his age. They're both young, good-looking, radio-veejay kind of guys with good highlights and white teeth.
TVGO: Is this is a good career move for you?
Vitamin C: I did it because I laughed out loud at the concept. It's also somewhat unexpected for me, since Vitamin C has a lovely reputation for being super nice. I'm supposed to pull heartstrings — I never get to be funny! When I [became] Vitamin C, people somehow just thought I was a Britney clone who was 100 years older. I was like, "Noooo! You don't get it!"
TVGO: So you did this to show you can do comedy?
Vitamin C: Quite honestly, I didn't think of it as a career move. If the show's a hit and people find it funny, maybe it'll help me. If the show's a bomb, people might think I'm a crazy bitch and why did I do it? [Laughs] You're talking to someone who maybe should think more about it. I just do things I want to do. Maybe I'd have a different sort of career if I were more calculating.
TVGO: Superstar's premise seems cruel. Kids with stars in their eyes are set up for humiliation. Can you defend this?
Vitamin C: I don't know if I have a defense. I'll tell you what I think: All reality television is inherently cruel. If you put yourself in a show, you're going to be subjected to some form of a reveal and humiliation. Unfortunately, people want to watch that. All the people I know love to watch the car wrecks in the beginning of American Idol the most.
TVGO: That's true...
Vitamin C: This show is nothing worse than Punk'd. I don't believe it's inherently evil. We never attack them on a personal level. We're making fun of the process much more than the [contestants]. It makes you wonder about the people that want to buy into this process. One guy came in and sang "We Don't Need Another Hero" from the movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. I asked the person, "Have you ever been to a thunderdome? 'Cause I have, and the thunderdome is like the superstar industry. It's not a place for someone who's emotionally weak." Now, if I said that to you, you'd start laughing and look at me like I was outta my f---in' head! But in our society, a reality-TV contestant will stand there and listen to any drivel that comes out of a celebrity's mouth.
TVGO: What do you say to those who'll condemn the show anyway?
Vitamin C: There are people who will see it as cruel and not get the joke. Reality TV is low. C'mon! If you don't like it, turn it off. We're not hurting anyone. No animals were harmed. The winner gets $100,000 and a recording contract, and I do think that person will be a pop star. The other people got money and parting gifts. That's better treatment than on American Idol, where they'd just hear some harsh words and get trashed. Here, they get a chance to be underdogs who win America's hearts.
TVGO: What does it really take to be a pop star?
Vitamin C: Anyone can be a pop star, but it takes more than a great voice. Plenty of people are great singers but never have hit records. Others can't sing all that well but have year after year of hits. You need a personality. I will be honest. I'm a terrible singer, always have been. Well, I'm not bad, but I'm no Christina Aguilera. But I'm a great songwriter and I love making music. You just have to have a sense of humor about yourself like Jessica Simpson. When she took herself so seriously, it was a yawn. Once she showed a more human side, it was a breath of fresh air!
