VH1 Show Premiere : Confessions Of A Teen Idol

Let's take a TV break for few and discuss some of VH1's new show premieres...

I got pretty wrapped up in Confessions Of A Teen Idol last night. For now, this reality show actually seems to have some soul in it. I hated on more than a few of these guys growing up, so before it aired, I thought I might enjoy seeing how their careers have faultered. I actually found myself feeling quite the opposite at times.

The basic premise for those who missed it, "Seven teen idols return from obscurity for their chance to step back into the spotlight." The obvious fact behind the show is that fame is an addiction that drives many young stars onto various paths of self-destruction, and now that these "has beens" have got their lives back in order, what will it take to get them back to stardom. The group will be guided through group therapy sessions administered by psychology-expert-to-the-stars Cooper Lawrence, as well as various meetings with directors, producers and other folks who Scott Baio calls the entertainment industry's "gate keepers", to see if they have what it takes to get back to the good side of the public eye. The show is the brainchild Scott Baio (Chachi) and Jason Hervey (Wayne from The Wonder Years), both teen stars who have found ways to stay relevant in today's entertainment world.

Since this isn't actually a competition for fame, the big question of the show becomes, in this pseudo-quest to recapture their lost fame, what are these guys hoping to actually do on this show? It seems they will be broken down to the point of accepting (or not) their own roles their losses, but beyond this new media exposure, how can/will they actually gain anyting tangible that will put them successfully back in the limelight?

Only Adrian Zmed (T.J. Hooker) seems to currently be working hard (he has a regular show performing on a cruise ship) to stay in front of people that once might have known or cared about him. The others are obviously open to any opportunities that might present themselves, but are they actually willing to work to make new opportunities happen?

Jeremy Jacksons' (Baywatch - The Hoff's son) story is especially interesting/heart-wrenching and you find yourself, at least at this point, rooting for the guy. He seems to have conquered a terrible addiction to meth and has been humbled to the point of willingness to accept his faults and build from square one again.

Some of the other still seem to be wrapped in a world of delusion and coping mechanisms. Eric Neis (the original Real World and MTV's The Grind) is really off his rocker (now making a living as a vegan life coach), but at the same times seems to have good intentions in all he is doing.

With age comes wisdom (and maybe desperation) and Christopher Atkins (The Blue Lagoon) and Adrian Zmed (T.J. Hooker) seem to have enough smarts and public good will out there to find their way back to a good place.

Jamie Walters (Beverly Hills, 90210) and Bill Hufsey (TV's Fame) seem to also be living good, healthy lives, but neither really seems to have much going for them in the "why would I care again" department. Walters' hit song How Do You Talk To An Angel was a terrible TV created phenomenon and I doubt his current music is good enough to attract any new listeners in today's day and age. We'll find out, and regardless, both seem to be good enough guys to at least have you feeling no animosity towards them.

Former Baywatch hunk, David Chokachi was the first to almost lose his shit. After being duped into believing throngs of fans awaited behind a curtain, only to find only the show's Executive Producers standing there once it was opened, Chokachi threatened to walk off the show. Chokachi seems to have enough self-esteem to at least posture that he won't let the show's producers publically humiliate him. Like some of the others, he has retained all his former bo-hunkness, but his acting chops are still in question of course.

We'll see as things unfold if these guys are sincere, mentally healthy and willing to put in some work behind their faded status or simply here to let the world know they still exist.




Scott Baio's Episode Two Preview: "They get to see how a focus group of women react to photos of them when they were famous and now. It's pretty hard-core stuff, and it's not a cruel thing but a real thing. It's very tough to be objective about yourself so this was a chance for them to hear what people really think about them."

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