CBS has renewed its Rock Star reality talent competition, ending months of rumors about whether the Mark Burnett-created reality series would return for a second season. But although CBS has now decided that the show -- along with co-hosts Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke -- will return as part of its Summer 2006 programming lineup, numerous other details about Rock Star's new season reportedly remain undecided, including whether the new season will center around finding another lead singer for a still-undetermined headless rock group.

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Although Rock Star's first season focused on finding a new frontman for one-time rock superstars INXS (a competition eventually won by Canadian J.D. Fortune), the creative direction of the show's second season is still undecided, according to Daily Variety. Several other options beyond another lead singer search are reportedly under consideration by Burnett and Rock Star executive producer (and former American Idol supervising producer) David Goffin, including a "creating a new band" concept that, at first glance, would sound similar to previous (and largely unsuccessful) reality projects such as The WB's Popstars (which actually pre-dated both American Idol and its British Pop Idol predecessor), ABC and MTV's Making The Band, and Fox's American Juniors.

But whether the show's new season focusing on finding a new lead singer for a previously successful rock group (last fall, Van Halen strongly denied a MTV.com report that it would be starring in a Rock Star sequel) or creating a brand new one, Goffin assured Variety that one thing won't change. "At the end of the day, the show will always be about finding a rock star," Goffin noted.

According to Variety, Burnett and Goffin aren't ready to reveal many details about Rock Star's new season because "some key deals have yet to be hammered out." In the meantime, the creative direction could be finalized as soon as this week and applications are already being accepted via both cbs.com and the show's official rockstar.msn.com website.

Another thing that Burnett says is not likely to change for Rock Star's new season is the twice-weekly (down from thrice-weekly) broadcast schedule that Rock Star: INXS adopted after last summer's edition got off to a disappointing ratings start. Rock Star later rebounded to become a modest summer sleeper hit for CBS, and Burnett made sure to note CBS president Leslie Moonves' willingness to stick by the series in his Variety comments. "Leslie helped in figuring out the content. He really got involved," said Burnett, crediting Moonves for the idea to tease viewers with a preview of the initial voting results at the conclusion of the show's Tuesday performance show (left uncredited by Burnett was whose idea it was to dress former Wild On... hostess and swimsuit model Burke in increasingly ridiculous and skimpier outfits as the season progressed -- a decision that no doubt also contributed to the show's ratings climb.)

In the interim, fans Rock Star's first season won't have to worry about going long without their Rock Star fix. In addition to their recently released "Switched" album, the new INXS will be beginning its nearly sold out 2006 North American tour on Wednesday night in Vancouver. And opening up for INXS on the tour will be Rock Star runner-up Marty Casey and his Lovehammers band. Marty Casey & Lovehammers will be releasing their self-titled debut album on January 24 via Burnett's new Burnett Records music label.

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