Almost Famous

Kate Hudson as Penny Lane in Almost Famous

I thought I was done with the Rockstar: Supernova story, and frankly I was glad to be rid of it. If the story you were watching was the same as mine, it was “Small town- even better – Canadian boy beats huge odds to “make it big” as front man of rock group, in which case the story is complete. (Note to readers: I promise!)

But there is a footnote to the story which is interesting in a larger context: whether this or other competitions on T.V. are your thing or not – there is the age-old story of who stars step on to get to the top. (Or wherever a reality show may take us- the top 100?)

A TMZ video is currently circulating of Rock Star: Supernova winner Lukas Rossi’s “girlfriend” being shut out of the show’s after party. I believe she is telling the truth when she claims ownership of Lukas’s affections for the past 7 years. I also know, in the way I casually collect other useless knowledge, that she has carved out some recognition for herself among the fan base of the show and among Lukas’s fans, the only reason I know of her existence. Francesca is not famous except as who she willed herself to be: occasionally in the front row of the T.V. performances, a presence on show message boards, and the territorial piss that is her my space page, where she describes herself as in a relationship and features pictures of herself and Lukas making out, while describing herself both as a “friend” in my space parlance, and a fan of his, Tommy Lee’s etc. Looks like she may have to settle for being the latter.

I don’t know this woman, nor do I think I would want to. No one I know would humiliate themselves by standing outside an L.A. club for what seems to be hours, bitching and begging to be let in. At one point, Rossi is shown talking to her after which she is still not let in, and she reports that Rossi blames his handlers (HAH!)This does not deter her. (Oh, the Canadian determination when illplaced is a tragedy.) She appears old enough to see the writing on the wall. While its unfortunate that someone should have her first heartbreak made so public, she courted the attention and spun it into a really sad 15 minutes.

From the critic’s armchair where I sit, Luke was never going to look back if he made it. It’s unknown what promises if any were made. If he misled someone who loved him, he should review his cast mate’s butchering of Karma Police as punishment. Apparently his life here was not great, so who could blame him for cutting ties with the past? But it seems certain that Luke needed his long time girlfriend along the way, right up until last week, and would need her still if he returned home without the prize. She was needed until she was no longer needed, and then she was discarded.

Rock and Roll, baby.