I can't help it. I started watching this reality show the first week it was on CBS and fell in love with it.

It's Rockstar: INXS - a show where 15 people with rock backgrounds basically audition to become the lead singer of INXS, tour with them for a year and cut an album with them (it's still nebulous to me if the gig is a one-time/one-year thing, or could it be permanent depending on the chemistry)

It has all the good stuff about American Idol without the sugar coating and without the godawful weeks of showing the crappy auditions.

There ain't no crappy auditions. These 15 people come in experienced and capable. There's also one focus: Rock. You don't variation here as you do in American Idol. That's not the purpose of the show. It's all rock and roll, baby. And I like it.

Each week there are 3 shows.

The first show is the "Reality" show part, as all 15 people are living together in a huge house in the Hollywood Hills. It shows them living together, rehearsing songs, and interacting. To me, insightful bu ho-hum.

The second show is the "Performance" show. Previously, the contestants were given a classic rock song to sing (depending where they are in the process, they get to pick the song out of the bunch). They rehearse wit ha house band (called... wait for it... The House Band). On Performance Night, they perform with the house band at the Mayan Theater with a live audience and, more importantly, in front of INXS. At the end of their performance, INXS (oh, an host Dave Navarro) critique their work. At the end of the night, the viewing audience votes (via Verizon cell phone or via website on who they liked the best.

The third show is the "Elimination" show. Based on viewer voting, the bottom three people (i.e. the 3 people with the least number of votes), now have to sing an assigned INXS song. This allows INXS to see how the performer handles the band's work. The performer is critiqued again by the band and Dave. At the end of the night, INXS decides who will leave. Their elimination slogan: "You're just night right for our band, INXS". (Not as good a "the tribe has spoken" or "You're fired", but still till the point and re-emphasizes that it may be a public competition, but INXS still says who stays and who goes.)

So, tomorrow the contestants are whittled down to three. Our favorite is home-town boy Marty Casey. Our other favorite is MiG, and we like Suzie as well (even though I can't imagine an established rock band that's had a male singer all its life would be comfortable changing to a female lead singer). Our least favorite is J.D., who's been kissing ass ever since day one, because he really wants to be in the band... and may be doing a few things just for the band... but I always question if they're sincere or not or just a way to get closer to them.

The finale - one week from tonight.

Update: So long, Sweet Suzie McNeil. Next week's finale is between Marty (who was NOT in the final three this week), MiG (who was in the final three for the very first time), and ... J.D.