Ear on TV: Week of 04.20.09: Tinted Windows

When it news broke last month that members of Smashing Pumpkins, Hanson, Fountains of Wayne and Cheap Trick had formed a band, you can count me in as someone who was waiting on a punch line. But Tinted Windows is far from being a joke. Born out of both a mutual appreciation of The Knack and a desire to hear Taylor Hanson's voice with some loud guitars behind it, Fountain of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger brought a couple songs to Hanson to sing and invited friend and guitarist James Iha to the party. After clicking right away, they started looking for a drummer that could sound like Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick, and ended up with the real thing.

The band's self-titled debut, out this week, is a sticky, sweet power-pop gem, the kind of record that wouldn't sound out of place in any of the last 35 years (roughly, spanning Carlos' career). Their timing couldn't be better, given that power pop is back on the charts thanks to Disney acts Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus, and if the kids are buying weak pop, you'd think they might feast on the real thing. Hanson still looks like he can make the little girls cry, and a sure-fire single like "Kind Of A Girl" should have the kids eating out of their hand. Their initial live show received mixed reviews at SXSW, but they are reportedly still gelling as a band and will put it to the test with their network television debut on Letterman Tuesday night. Then, two nights later on Fallon, where Questlove of The Roots will no doubt be tweeting about fellow drummer Carlos ("dude is old, but that cat CAN PLAY, SON).

Speaking of Twitter, one of the more creative uses of the social networking time-waster has been the way UK hitmaker Lily Allen has used it to give fans a chance to win tickets. Allen (or one of her minions) hides the tickets and tweets a riddle as to their location hours before the show. So in honor of that, here are some riddles for Allen's appearances this week:

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lilyroseallen I appear in the daytime, on the alphabet net
if we discuss politics, voices will be raised you can bet

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Allen appears on The View Tuesday.

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lilyroseallen I'm a schlubby comedian who's a Man Show vet
since I broke up with Sarah, I'm f*cking Ben Affleck.

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Allen appears on Jimmy Kimmel Tuesday night.

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lilyroseallen I'm the elder statesman of hosts and can come off as mean
but if you cancel last minute, I'm the best there's ever been.

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Allen appears on Letterman on Friday night.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, April 20
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Madeleine Peyroux
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Killers
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Rick Ross
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Nico Stai (REPEAT)
Tuesday, April 21
ABC: The View: Lily Allen
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lily Allen
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Tinted Windows
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ida Maria
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Chester French
Wednesday, April 22
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Paul Weller
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Portugal The Man
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Crystal Antlers
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Norah Jones, John Mellencamp (REPEAT)
Thursday, April 23
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Dead
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Bonnie "Prince" Billy
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Tinted Windows
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Brett Dennon
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Prince
Friday, April 24
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lil Wayne
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Lily Allen
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Amazing Baby
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Reggie Watts
Saturday, April 25
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Sinéad O'Connor
PBS: Austin City Limits: The Raconteurs, Cat Power (REPEAT)