I’ve been getting over some kind on non-H1N1 bug. Feeling better, finally. In my delirium, I decided the following:

All fake bands from TV shows should be required to put out an album and go on tour.

Think about it — it’s a (not so) grand tradition, from Ricky Nelson to the Partridge Family to Hannah Montana. Shit, these days we’ve got a goddamn cartoon metal band on the road.

Yet sadly, there are TV bands that we’ll likely never get to hear or see live. One faux-act that springs immediately to mind is Creation from the terrific but short-lived “Freaks and Geeks.” Now there’s a supergroup: Jason Segel, James Franco and Seth Rogen. I mean, dig this raw talent:

Of more recent vintage is Crucifictorious, Landry Clarke‘s band from the wonderful but underwatched series “Friday Night Lights.” (I love this show and I hate football.) Sadly, there are no clips of this Christian thrash-turned indie-emo band. But they rule.

Perhaps the greatest fake TV band to never record or hit the road is Zit Remedy, from the original “Degrassi Junior High.” Those wacky Canadian kids wrote one of my favorite ditties of all time, “Everybody Wants Something.” Actually, I think that was their ONLY song. YouTube has the “official” music video. So real. So pure.

So yeah, this is what a stomach bug/head cold looks like. But I do want to know: who in teeveeland would you like to see move from the small screen and into your heart?

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About the author

Casey Rae-Hunter
Casey Rae-Hunter is a musician, public policy wonk and the editor/publisher of The Contrarian Media. An in-demand speaker, he gives frequent talks at conferences and campuses on issues at the intersection of creativity, technology, policy and law, and is a go-to source for major media outlets from NPR to the New York Times. Casey works alongside leaders in the music, arts and performance sectors to bolster understanding of and engagement in key policy and technology issues, and has written dozens of articles on the impact of technology on the creative community. Casey is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and the Deputy Director for Future of Music Coalition. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Media & Democracy Coalition and the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture. The Contrarian does not necessarily represent the views of the organizations to which he belongs.

2 Comments for Fake TV Bands That Should Tour Or Record

Chris Parizo

My two votes:

Cat Walk. The only syndicated television show that used to come on NBC after Saturday Night Live during my freshman year of high school. Neve Campbell played the keyboard player. Cat Walk sounded like Stereo MCs or something like that.

Electric Shoes: Kevin Arnold’s band from The Wonder Years. The episode made me pick up the strat copy my grandmother gave me for Christmas the previous year – life changed drastically.

Eric Mangol

Enjoyed your post, but why bother with fake TV bands when you can create your own fake band – check out our site I think you’ll enjoy it. Figment – http://www.figment.cc.