‘Star’ avoids simple teen stereotypes
Teen angst abounds in “Instant Star” (6, 6:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m., Noggin), a new drama from the Canadian producers of “Degrassi: The Next Generation” (7 and 7:30 p.m., Noggin).
“Star” stars Alexz Johnson as Jude Harrison, the winner of an “American Idol”-style talent contest. Johnson, a singer/songwriter herself, performs all of Jude’s songs.
The actress follows in the tradition of Molly Ringwald, Claire Danes and Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under”) as the pretty but “complicated” teen redhead.
But Jude does not immediately graduate from skateboards to stretch limos. Instead, she proceeds from the klieg lights to homeroom, where her high school peers mix jealous “who-does-she-think-she-is” stares with star-struck adulation.
But “Star” does follow the standard trajectory of backstage melodramas. The record producers associated with her talent showcase want her to drop her earnest folkie image for something hipper. So they hire Tom Quincy (Tim Rozon), a former boy-band heartthrob, to produce her first record.
At first Jude recoils from his reputation as a walking sellout. She even calls him “lame.”
But after about five seconds he seems to bring out the best in her music and makes her heart go pitter-pat. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s got the smoldering good looks that keep his mug in the tabloids.
Jude’s best friend describes him as “an Orlando Bloom sundae covered in Johnny Depp sauce.” What’s a girl to do?
Like “Degrassi,” this series does a good job of integrating the central teen characters into home and family life. Jude’s parents bicker over her sudden fame, and her more conventionally good-looking sister (a cheerleader, naturally) never misses an opportunity to take Jude down a peg or two.
Unlike many American melodramas that portray teenagers as miniature 30-year-olds with impossible good looks, “Star” and “Degrassi” present their complicated characters on a human scale.
Eight urbanites compete to see if they are worthy of saddles and spurs in the rodeo competition reality series “Cowboy U: Texas” (8 p.m., CMT).
“Child Prodigies” (8 p.m., CBS) recalls news stories about gifted children, including a 14-year-old golf star and a 13-year-old musical whiz.
Speaking of gifted youths, it looks like “Joan of Arcadia” is gone for good. The show will not return on next fall’s schedule, and CBS has moved repeats of “60 Minutes II” into its time slot effective next Friday.
Other highlights
Scheduled on “Dateline” (8 p.m., NBC,): Tom Brokaw accompanies Aron Ralston to the remote Utah desert canyon where he was trapped under a boulder for six days before amputating his own arm with a pocket knife.
The voices of Jeff Goldblum, Elizabeth Perkins and Tobey Maguire can be heard in the 2001 special-effects comedy “Cats & Dogs” (8 p.m., Fox).
Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in the 2001 romantic thriller “Harvard Man,” (8 p.m., UPN).
Coates’ past resurfaces on “JAG” (9 p.m., CBS).
Death rides the rails on “Numb3rs” (10 p.m., CBS).
Double jeopardy on “Law & Order: Trial by Jury” (10 p.m., NBC).
Cult choice
A therapist (Joanne Woodward) treats a disturbed young woman (Sally Field) in the 1976 made-for-TV classic “Sybil” (8 p.m., TV Land).
Series notes
Tart art criticism on “8 Simple Rules” (8 p.m., ABC) … On back-to-back episodes of “What I Like About You” (8 p.m., WB), Vince’s surprise (8 p.m.), and Luke Perry (8:30 p.m.).
On back-to-back episodes of “Hope & Faith” (ABC), matchmaking (8:30 p.m.), and left at the altar (9 p.m.) … Rival birds to baste on “Reba” (9 p.m., WB).
An awkward getaway on “Less Than Perfect” (9:30 p.m., ABC) … Cupid’s arrows take aim on “Living with Fran” (9:30 p.m., WB).