Reality Shows That Are Actually Good- No. 3

NUMBER THREE: The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott, Wednesday at 9 PM or Fridays at 8 PM on UPN

Forget American Idol with the mediocre criticism and commercial talent. America's next star should come from this show. The Road's final episode airs this week. I was not going to watch this show because as much as I like occasionally listening to Get Ur Freak On, I could not imagine how this show was going to distinguish itself from other shows featuring wannabe stars.

I started watching The Road during the second episode. I was impressed by the show for many reasons. First, the contestants have a lot of talents. Unlike their counterparts on American Idol, they are not given a list of preauthorized songs to drone to and bop their heads to like zombies with a fake plastered smile, but are expected to write songs at the spur of the moment and choreograph an elaborate dance routine at a drop of a hat.

Second, the contestants' lives and history are just as compelling as the show. In one challenge, they were expected to construct an art piece from the materials in a junk yard to describe their past. Not only are they amazing vocal artists, but their visual compositions and accompanying narratives were compelling. I did not want any of them to be eliminated after hearing about how their past shaped their work today. There are not many shows where artists are asked about what made them choose a certain path in life. From physical abuse to abortion, these artists exposed the raw nerve in their life. For the most part, these contestants respected each other as artists and wanted the most talented ones to stay.

Finally, elimination decisions were not based on sound bites that could be easily aired on Entertainment Tonight, but actually rooted in honest criticism of the artist's work and ability to work in the business. I was surprised at how much thought and consideration was put into Missy Elliott's criticisms. Her judges are self confident and do not seem to need a show to validate their feeling of self-importance.

Mona Scott rocks! I do not know a lot about her, but this executive producer is confident, beautiful and strong during every appearance on The Road. Any woman who can appear so poised, have a successful career in two difficult industries (television and music), and have a family is remarkable. When she appears, a viewer does not know about her personal life or her struggles, and frankly I prefer that approach. I do not want to know about Randy Jackson's weight loss, Simon Cowell's love interest or Paula Abdul's next career move. The show should not be about the judges' fame-whoring efforts, but should further the goal of looking for the best performer. Mona does her job well.

Dallas Austin also deserves kudos. He notices the slightest changes in each contestant's performances and songs and really appears to love creating music.

What really surprised me about the judges? They cut one contestant out of the show when he used a sexual vulgarity to insult a fellow contestant in a rapping faceoff challenge. I scoffed at the idea that their precious little ears burned because each of them worked in the urban music industry. Come on!! They have not only heard worse, but probably have promoted artists guilty of same transgression.

Still, they appeared to really believe in what they said, and Missy Elliott even went so far as to check in with the contestant who was involved in that face off. When the contestant did not seem offended, Missy Elliott seemed alarmed at her lack of indignation. This contestant seemed to be used to being treated badly in a sexual context, which was apparent from the start of the show, and Missy Elliott practically shook her and said 'Get some self respect.'

In the end, this show is about being creatively involved in every aspect of your career. Those contestants who tried to fit into a certain image or could only show talent in one area were soon eliminated. Missy Elliott appears to want an artist who has enough talent to be well rounded and stand up against a music industry which may push an artist into betraying their past experiences or artistic ideas in exchange for commercial success. I hope that UPN gives the Road another opportunity to show viewers that music is not about fame or money, but a person's voice.