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There have been a number of shows to come since American Idol first hit the scene a few years ago, all hoping to capitalize on the same sort of interest - getting the audience involved to a degree so that they simply cannot let go. This time around it's taken to an entirely new level.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and if that's the case, this must be about as sincere as it gets, because this show is about as blatant a ripoff as you'll be likely to find. Three judges (David Ian, Jim Jacobs and Kathleen Marshall), one male host (Billy Bush) and a bevy of people who can't sing but think that they can.

Sure, there are a few changes, like a female host who shows up now and again (Denise Van Outen), a lot fewer aspiring stars, and an end result that will be different - the promise that whoever viewers choose will end up starring in a Broadway production. But all in all, it's the same show.

To start things off, the show heads to California, where all of these hopefuls audition to become the next Danny or Sandy. Unfortunately, most of those that they show in the auditions don't seem to understand that the important thing is that they be able to sing. Those few who can sing don't seem to understand that this isn't the radio, and they'll need to be able to pull off the image aspect as well - they have to look the part too.

More than one person is way too old to play the part for which they audition, and there are some that are too young too. Those too old probably have the best presentation, while those that are too young may have some voice, they simply don't have what it takes to hang a $10 million investment on (the cost of the production, as fronted by David Ian).

After a few non-memorable people audition and are given the chance to come back for a second day of auditions to see if they can dance, some cuts are made, those left standing will get a chance to come back to Grease Academy, and the whole production picks up and moves to Chicago for another round. This one focuses less on the singing and more on the dancing, and another (smaller) batch of hopefuls is chosen.

What strikes me as perhaps most annoying is that David Ian seems to be a stand-in for Simon Cowell, Kathleen Marshall a more caustic filler for Paula Abdul and Billy Bush a poor man's replacement for Ryan Seacrest. Jim Jacobs, the author of the original Grease, doesn't seem to do much other than take up space (this isn't a slam on his size - just that he doesn't do much other than comment on how he wrote the original, so he should have input). Denise Van Outen is more cheerleader than anything else.