"Platinum Hit" Review: I'm Officially Hooked
I admit. When some screeners come in, I let them sit there for a long time without watching them because I just don’t think they’re going to be any good.
An example of that would be “Platinum Hit,” the new Bravo reality series with Jewel and Kara DioGuardi. The promos make it look like a modeling competition with Jewel and Kara strutting for the camera. And I guess I’m still having nightmares from Kara’s time on “American Idol.”
But over the weekend, I finally forced myself to watch it. And now I’m sorry I waited so long…
I’m not sure I ever thought it was possible to combine my two favorite reality shows—“American Idol” and “Top Chef.” But Bravo has found a way with the instantly addictive “Platinum.”
The premise is simple. 12 songwriters compete for the ultimate prize package—a record deal, a publishing deal and $100,000. But the way the winner will be determined is anything but simple. Each week, the contestants will compete in a hook challenge in which they will compose the chorus of a song based on a theme (Think a musical Quickfire.). And then, the writers of the winning hooks team up with a group of the other contestants to finish the song.
Of course, with everyone’s different styles and personalities, the group writing sessions don’t always work out so well—especially when you’re dealing with something as personal as songwriting.
When the time is up, the groups perform their songs for Jewel, Kara, Keith Naftaly, SVP of A&R for RCA/Jive Label Group and a special guest judge. The judges determine the winning and losing teams and a member of the losing team is eliminated.
My first impression of Jewel as a host was not a good one. But she grew on me—especially when she put on her judging hat and started tearing apart the contestants. And Kara is really in her element here dissecting song lyrics and melodies. And the judges take their jobs very seriously as they tear apart songs we might think are good because the lyrics are not up to par.
But the key to any reality competition series is the contestants. Fortunately, “Platinum” has good ones. There’s Blessing, the blind R&B soul man; Sonyae, who wrote a hook in the premiere I still can’t get out of my head; Nick, the overconfident one who instantly gets on everyone’s nerves and Jackie, who many will recognize from her time on “American Idol.”
There is no doubt that Kara has redeemed herself for her time on “Idol” with this one. And I can’t wait to find out what challenges await the contestants.
So much for me taking the summer off from competition shows. I am officially hooked on “Platinum Hit.” One listen and I think you will be too…
“Platinum Hit” premieres today (Monday, May 30th) at 10 p.m. on Bravo…
Photo Credit: Williams and Hirakawa/Bravo
