In an interview conducted with the syndicated Access Hollywood entertainment news program last week, reality uber-producer Mark Burnett revealed numerous additional details regarding his new reality series that will search for a new lead singer for the INXS rock band.
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"The idea of looking for the next great rock star, I think is so compelling," Burnett told Access Hollywood's Billy Bush. "I mean, the people yaou look back on like Bono of U2, Mick Jagger...Michael Stipe of REM. We're doing a world search. The winner gets to be the lead singer in an established rock band, and go on a world tour."
The Survivor and The Apprentice producer says that he isn't concerned about Rock Star's ability to attract viewers and compete against FOX's smash hit American Idol music artist competition, largely because it will focus on a music format that he thinks has been virtually ignored thus far. "I feel that there's room on TV for more than one great big talent show, and I feel that rock music has been totally left out of that mix," he says. Burnett also says that while Rock Star might loosely follow American Idol's format as the finale draws closer, the show will introduce entirely new concepts to the audience while incorporating all the dramatic elements into the show that viewers have come to love and expect from him. "This show will follow, when it gets down to...the last twelve people, kind of American Idol's style in some ways, but with a twist, with a Mark Burnett stamp on it," he says. "You get to know the people, which I don't think you do on American Idol, so it's got my unscripted drama side to it."
Another significant difference between Rock Star and American Idol will be that the winner of the competition will not be entirely decided by the viewers. "The band members will be one vote, America will be one vote, and an expert will be one vote," he reveals. When asked why the winner will not be completely determined by America, Burnett replied "Because you had so many problems with American Idol this year on the voting."
When Bush asked Burnett if there were any concerns that the band and expert might be able to collectively decide the winner of the competition, the reality producer said it wouldn't be an issue. "I think we can deal with that," he says. "The expert will be independent, and I think America will get a huge voice in who's going to be the lead singer of this band."
As of now, it's still unclear as to on which network Rock Star will air. Similar to his recent bidding war negotiations for the rights to his upcoming The Contender series, Burnett is said to be actively be pitching the series to all the major broadcast networks -- with the notable exception of FOX, which given the program's semblance to Idol and the duo's recent skirmish over FOX's planned The Next Great Champ series, is reported to be uninterested in the series.
