If Disneyland had a heavy metal ride, the experience would feel a lot like watching That Metal Show, which launches its second season tonight on VH1 Classic. It’s three aging headbangers sitting around geeking out on all things hard rock. Imagine if you had the McLaughlin Group discussing whether old Metallica is better than new Metallica (uh, yes) and you have That Metal Show. It’s kind of entertaining, if only to see three hosts — Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine, and Don Jamieson — give such a bizarrely sober analysis of a rock n’ roll genre that’s defined by getting blotto on Jaegermeister shots and biting the heads off bats. We’re talking about a culture in which the manliest of dudes sports leopard-print spandex and shaggy waist-length hair. We’re talking about the world of Ozzy and Spinal Tap (pictured).
It makes me wonder: Why does metal get all the attention while punk, the other ’70s and ’80s genre full of noisemakers with funny hair and crazy clothes, gets ignored? All those leather-wearing, body-piercing, blue hair-dying teenagers who worshiped the Sex Pistols are ripe for the Spinal Tap treatment. I’d love to see Christopher Guest dive into a script about an aging punk rock band trying to fire up a reunion tour. Or what about an Osbournes-style reality show with Henry Rollins, the former lead singer of Black Flag, who hosts his own IFC show and is reputedly quite the ladies’ man? Are you with me on declaring metal played out? And wouldn’t it be fun to see punk spoofed? And don’t forget about grunge — who wouldn’t tune in to the Courtney Love reality show?
I’m just going to say it: I love Siegfried & Roy. There you go. The message board is now open for you to mock me, if the urge strikes. But I’m proud to admit that I saw the legendary, brazenly bizarre Las Vegas illusionists/wild-animal tamers perform live on two occasions way back when, and I had a ball.
A few of our favorite celebrity words of wisdom from the week just passed…
It’s not every night you get to be serenaded by U2′s Bono before you go to bed (unless, of course, you’re Mrs. Bono, in which case, disregard what I just said). But this week was the exception to the rule. Bono, the Edge, Larry, and Adam played five nights this week on the Late Show With David Letterman to promote their new album, No Line on the Horizon. When I heard about this stunt, even I, as a fan, was apprehensive. Would it be overkill? On the contrary, it made me look forward to staying up until the wee hours and inevitably having a hard time falling asleep after. Between the comedy bits, which included the guys shoveling snow, answering reader mail (you have to admit, the guys are good sports), and getting their own street for a week, it was a fun few days for U2 (and Letterman) fans. 
Good evening, America. THIS! is Enter the Fray. While last week’s post was Oscars-heavy, this week’s EtF is dedicated to all things American Idol-and-Bachelor (with a lone Lost standout). With the judges’ infuriating Wild Card picks and Bachelor Jason Mesnick’s way-harsh decision to dump his fiancee on national television and start dating her runner-up, it’s pretty easy to see why they had you talking. I think these are the top 10 stories, but I might swap one out for a runner-up at the last minute. Stay tuned for Enter the Fray part 2, written in front of a live studio audience.
