Ahmet to host VH1's New Series "But Can They Sing", Premiering Sunday, October 30
Hoodoo
Source: VH1
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051027/nyth196.html
NEW YORK, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Check out all of the brand new
premieres headed to VH1 and VH1 Classic this week.
VH1 Gives America the Chance to Decide Who Stays and Who Goes Home in
the New Original Series "But Can They Sing" Premiering Sunday, October
30
Exclusive Content and Performances to Air on VH1's Broadband Network
VSPOT Before and After Each Episode
Morgan Fairchild, Kim Alexis, Antonio Sabato, Jr., Larry Holmes,
Joe Pantoliano, Bai Ling, Carmine Gotti Agnello, Michael Copon and
Myrka Dellanos Will Hit the Stage in This Six-Week Competition
Ahmet Zappa Will Host
They can act, model and even box, but can they sing? VH1 will give
viewers the chance to decide through multiple platforms who should
stick to their day jobs and who gets to tough it out over six weeks to
become a pop star in the new original series "But Can They Sing?"
premiering on October 30 at 10PM*.
Actors Morgan Fairchild ("Falcon Crest"), Joe Pantoliano ("Sopranos"),
Bai Ling ("Nixon"), Antonio Sabato, Jr., ("The Bold and The
Beautiful"), Michael Copon ("One Tree Hill"), model Kim Alexis,
Carmine Gotti Agnello ("Growing Up Gotti"), former heavyweight
champion Larry Holmes and Latin entertainer/journalist Myrka Dellanos
will undergo grueling and intensive training with two prominent vocal
coaches and one movement/dance instructor to prepare for their
performance in front of a live studio audience each week during the
six week competition.
VH1 will then turn the voting over to America at 11PM* where viewers
will have the opportunity to cast their ballots one of three ways:
- Online
(http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/but_can_they_sing/series.jhtml)
- Text messaging, by sending their contestant's number ("01","02",
"03", etc.) to 91757. Text message voting is sponsored by Sprint but
is open to all carriers/networks.
- Via toll-free phone
VH1 will also offer viewers a sneak peek of two full performances each
Sunday morning prior to the 10PM* premiere of "But Can They Sing?" on
vspot.vh1.com
*all times ET/PT
Hoodoo
'But Can They Sing?' makes the answer painfully clear
Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff
November 1, 2005
http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/11/01/but_can_they_sing_makes_the_answer_painfully_clear/
Midway through Sunday's premiere of ''But Can They Sing?," VH1's new
vocal contest, Bai Ling performed ''Like a Virgin" in front of a live
audience. Writhing ridiculously on the ground in a flouncy red dress,
she was a demented Madonna with the voice of Tiny Tim in a chokehold.
The China-born actress had already told us, ''I don't speak very well
English," but she neglected to warn us about her lack of singing
skill.
It was one of a number of oh-so-painful moments during VH1's ''Dancing
With the Stars" clone, which will air Sundays at 10. Watching ordinary
people humiliate themselves during the ''American Idol" auditions is
uncomfortable, and watching these B, C, and D level stars make public
fools of themselves is only slightly less cringe-worthy.
While the contestants of ''Dancing With the Stars" were certainly
amateurs, at least they didn't make you feel sorry for them. They were
easy to root for. The contestants of ''But Can They Sing?" --including
model Kim Alexis and soap actor Antonio Sabato Jr. -- are so out of
tune they seem to be in serious denial. Only Joe Pantoliano emerges
with his dignity fully intact, as he appears to be the only one
laughing his way through the competition.
One or two of the nine contestants are slightly better than karaoke
dropouts. Morgan Fairchild is stiff but not gratingly off-key singing
''These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," and Michael Copon (you know, the
blue Power Ranger) rocks with ''I Don't Wanna Be." But Carmine Gotti
Agnello from ''Growing Up Gotti" delivers a comically mincing
performance of Nelly's ''Ride Wit Me" and Sabato massacres ''Every
Breath You Take" with a sincere smile on his face. Talk show host
Myrka Dellanos fumbles awkwardly through ''Don't Know Why." There are
three vocal coaches on hand, but they'll need to be miracle workers to
up the quality of this gang.
And the singing isn't the hardest part, folks. Host Ahmet Zappa runs
the show like an extrovert on Paxil, proudly yelling out his nonstop
bad jokes and popping out his eyes for emphasis. He wants to be Las
Vegas to Ryan Seacrest's LA, but he fails. He tells Fairchild, ''Is it
wrong that I think I'm totally in love with you?," and he teases
Sabato with ''I would absolutely go gay for you," firing off his silly
lines as if terrified of even the briefest of silences between
sentences.
Perhaps the producers urged him to talk fast to avoid the plodding
pace of ''Rock Star: INXS," or maybe he's just a grating circus
ringleader at heart. Either way, he's the only reason on ''But Can
They Sing?" to look forward to the musical performances.