TV Review: Celebrity Duets - Week Five Performance Show

Five weeks ago, eight celebrities began a journey, one that would take them out of their comfort zone and into uncharted territory. They all had their claims to fame already staked out within the entertainment industry. Yet they all wanted more.  The show Celebrity Duets offered up the chance for them to achieve that common desire.

Chris Jericho (television personality/radio host), Carly Patterson (Olympic Games Gold Metal Gymnast), Leah Thompson (actress), Jai Rodriguez (actor/Culture Vulture: Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), Lucy Lawless (actress), Alfonso Ribeiro (actor), Hal Sparks (actor/comedian), and Cheech Marin (actor/comedian); all had the same dream.  These Non-Celebrity Singers (NSC) wanted to make their names as singers.  This competition would give them the chance to do just that.  Each week, they would be paired up with a different musical Superstar (Smokey Robinson, Patti LaBelle, Al Jarreau, and Kenny Loggins to name a few) to sing duets live in front of a studio audience.  Afterward, America's viewing audience would vote by telephone, eliminating the Non-Pros on a weekly basis until one lone NSC would reign as champion.  The winner would be awarded $100,000 (USD) to donate to the charity of their own choosing.

This particular show started the beginning of the end.  Only Lucy, Hal, and Alfonso remained in the contest.  These would be the last duets viewers could vote for.  One final voting process until a winner is revealed in one final evening, twenty-four short hours away.

Host Wayne Brady (comedian/singer/talk show host) welcomed everyone to the show.  First, he gave the rundown on how the program would proceed.  Lucy, Hal, and Alfonzo would have a duet with a new partner.  Then, each was allowed to invite one of the previous guest singers to join them in song.  After that, their fate would be in the hands of the audience.  Lastly, greetings went out to the celebrity judges.

This panel was made up of three other celebrities also involved in the entertainment business.  Marie Osmond had been singing professionally since early childhood and she didn't stop there.  She also won acclaim as an actress and author.  Little Richard made his name as one of the original Rock and Roll pioneers.  David Foster brought his credentials as an award-winning songwriter, keyboardist, musical arranger, and producer to round out the mix.  In the past, he'd worked with megastars like John Lennon, Rod Stewart, and Barbra Streisand.

Article Author: tink

Formerly a Public Relations/Artist Development maven in the music biz, I
am now a freelance journalist specializing in the entertainment industry.
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