Ear on TV: Week of 03.15.10: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction

After all the pomp and circumstance surrounding The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert back in November (on HBO), tonight's induction ceremony might seem a bit tame, but don't tell that to Iggy Pop and his newly inducted Stooges. The legendary proto-punkers had been nominated seven times without success before finally getting the call, and they don't intend to enter quietly. The still wiry frontman even hints that it could all be taken away. "Okay," jokes Pop, "now what are they going to do to kick us out?" The Stooges will be inducted by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, and will play what Iggy calls "our two big hits."

Meanwhile, the two biggest names entering into the hall -- Genesis (inducted by Phish's Trey Anastasio) and ABBA (inducted by The Bee Gees) -- aren't expected to be performing, thanks to key members declining to be in attendance. Original Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel is too busy readying himself for a world tour, and ABBA still vows to never reunite, so half the group is staying home. However, there appears to be a Faith Hill-fronted version of ABBA in the works, as Benny Andersson has said "I may play something on the piano, with someone else singing," and Faith Hill is supposed to be in attendance and rumors abound she's been practicing ABBA songs -- so her and my Mamma Mia-loving 5-year old at least have that in common.

The highlight of the night may not be the recording artists, though, as many legendary songwriters are getting the call this year as well, a list that includes the still alive Jeff Barry, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, along with since deceased writers Ellie Greenwich, Jesse Stone, Mort Shuman and Otis Blackwell. Fefe Dobson is scheduled to kick things off with the Barry/Greenwich/Phil Spector composition “River Deep, Mountain High," Eric Burdon (The Animals) will sing Mann and Weil's "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place," Chris Isaak will perform Blackwell's "Don't Be Cruel," Nick Jonas will sing "Teenager In Love" (by Shuman and already inducted Doc Pomus), Ronnie Spector will sing her familiar "Be My Baby" (a Barry/Greenwich/Spector collaboration), and Peter Wolf (J Geils Band) will sing Stone’s "Money Honey." FUSE's telecast begins at 8:30 PM on Monday, March 15, 2010.

Elsewhere, some of the bands on the calendar this week look like proposals for a green initiatives -- Free Energy and Air. The Philadelphia five-piece Free Energy can pack more 70s-era arena rock cliches into a song than you'd think possible. Lets just say you won't need to ask for "more cowbell" when they make their network television debut on Letterman Wednesday night. Friday night sees the French duo Air taking the stage on Fallon, generating rumors that The Roots might be providing some added instrumentation (something the band is sure to do on Monday for fellow Philly rapper Freeway). Maybe if we help spread the rumor, Questo will make that jam happen.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, March 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Galactic with Cyril Neville (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: ASG
FUSE: 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Genesis, The Stooges, ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ziggy Marley
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Freeway, Jake One, The Roots
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Phoenix (REPEAT)
Tuesday, March 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Sade (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Bee Gees
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Paolo Nutini
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: La Roux
Wednesday, March 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Free Energy
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Snoop Dogg
IFC: Dinner With the Band: Final Fantasy (REPEAT)
NBC: The Bonnie Hunt Show: The Swell Season
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Xx
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Metric
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen [Pt 2] (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: One eskimO
Thursday, March 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Ryan Bingham (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Fanfarlo (REPEAT)
FOX: Lopez Tonight: Lucrecia with Andy Garcia
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Kandi-Coded
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Wild Light
Friday, March 19
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jonny Lang (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Sade (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: OK Go (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Year Long Disaster
IFC: 24 Hour Party People: Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays
IFC: Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten: Joe Strummer
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Barenaked Ladies
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Air
Saturday, March 20
IFC: Kurt Cobain About a Son: Nirvana
NBC: Saturday Night Live: The Ting Tings (REPEAT)

Ear on TV: Huey Lewis & the News

What's old is new; what was once out is now in... it's too hard to keep track anymore. Are Huey Lewis & the News really making a cultural comeback?

Like many bands from their era (I'm looking at you, Journey), the News are benefiting from a resurgance, due in part from television and film exposure. Last year, they were tapped by Judd Apatow to write the theme to Pineapple Express and then Chuck used several of their hits to great effect during their second season. They'll likely be playing one of those hits (let's guess "Power of Love") when they appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Friday.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the experience scale, buzz-y up-and-comers The Xx have already lost a member due to exhaustion. Following a grueling tour schedule which culminated in a series of shows during CMJ, guitarist/keyboardist Baria Qureshi recently left the group, too exhausted to go on. The West London band makes an appearance on MTV's It's On Alexa Chung Wednesday, likely as a trio, still on a neverending tour promoting their self-titled debut. It's so hard to be young and fabulous these days.

Finally, Johnny Marr has truly become an indie gun for hire. The highly influential ex-Smiths guitarist famously joined Modest Mouse on their previous release (Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, but has since moved on to UK's The Cribs, lending his craft to their latest release Ignore the Ignorant. The album is getting rave reviews in the UK, giving Marr a Midas Touch rep he hasn't enjoyed since his days in The Smiths (well, maybe The The). Let's hope the brothers Jarman (twins Gary and Ryan, plus younger brother Ross Jarman) enjoy it before Marr finds an even younger band to briefly join.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, November 9
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Matisyahu
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: Rihanna
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: David Gray
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Yo La Tengo (REPEAT)
PBS: How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin: The Beatles
Tuesday, November 10
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Shakira
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: John Fogerty
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Wale
Wednesday, November 11
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Antlers
Thursday, November 12
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Cribs with Johnny Marr
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: The Xx
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Goodie Mob
Friday, November 13
ABC: The View: Kool & the Gang
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Huey Lewis & the News
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Kid Sister
SUNDANCE: You're Gonna Miss me: Roky Erickson
Saturday, November 14
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Alison Moyet
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Black Eyed Peas
PBS: Austin City Limits: Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel