Music Bender

Got RelicMail from a reader in Toronto who wantsta know what TV programs are the equivalent of rock music.
Dude, I don’t wanna open a canadaworms here, but this que is gonna have more answers than Yesterday has covers! See, each one of us has our faves … but the Relic’s gonna clue ya in to the famous Rockaholic (TV) Diet: (btw, I weigh-in at a svelte 160, so it’s bound to work! )

Whose Line Is It, Anyway? has gotta top the list in comedy! The improv impishness of Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Wayne Brady and guest comedians is total TV rock at its finest! You’ve got the liveliness, the spontaneity, a sometimes-irreverent attitude, creativity and delivery that every rocker knows is a “must-have”. Gotta see it on ABC Family channel (on varying weeknights, 10 PM EST). Or you can check it out on DVD at yer local vid store.

Craig Ferguson of the Late Show with … is definitely a shoo-in for most rockin’ talker! This dude is already one of us, ’cause he was drummer for Bastards from Hell (not to be confused with the former administration).

He’s witty, boyishly charming, animated and, just as the guys in Whose Line?, can be a bit irreverent. Now, he also has a lively way of Q&Aing his guests … and brings in some really decent acts from all genres to perform! Definitely a watcher, he’s on right after Letterman, for you insomniacs …

House has gotta top the charts as the coolest drama, thanx to the acting chops of star Hugh Laurie. I’ve been a fan of this dude since his old Fry and Laurie in Jolly Olde, but he’s been on-screen on both sides of the drink on many occasions! Again, we press the irreverent button, couplin’ it with wit, sarcasm … and a fickle finger to the hierarchy!
Outside his House, Laurie also is an excellent jazz pianist, runnin’ with his group, Band from TV (which, btw, had the top-selling album on Amazon recently.  It’s called Hoggin’ All The Covers, and is fantabulous!). Oh … didja know that, when he auditioned for House, he actually apologized for the way he looked? He thought it was for a bit part!
The show’s on Tuesday nights, 9 PM EST, on FOX.

Scrubs. Think Monkees, but without the music vids (well, sometimes …) and laughtrack, and you’ve got the concept. Now, they do hit on some “serious” for a few frames, but, even with that, it’s the liveliest, funniest and hippest hospital on the tube! (Oh … izzit just me, or does Zach Braff look like Ray Romano’s younger brother? And Sarah Chalke’s done an excellent job of de-Becky-fying herself from Roseanne!)

QUIZTIME!! (in other words, back to the ROCK!!) Back in 1968, Tommy James and the Shondells hit platinum with the powerhouse beat of Mony, Mony (covered, years later, by Billy Idol). Without lookin’ at yer notes (er, a website), class, can ya tell me where that name came from?
HEYYYY … a TWOoo-fer!! Where did the group, Steely Dan, get its name (hint: It ain’t ’cause they were from Indiana’s steel territory of Gary, either!)? And, for extra credit: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were in an earlier band whose drummer became a successful comic. Who was he? (hint: He’s him, and you’re not!)

Well, that’s it for this go-’round, rockaholics! Until next time, remember:
Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music … and I’ll see ya on the flip side ..