Shatner, Trump Vie for "Emmy Idol"

As if waiting to see the winner of Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special or Animation wasn't compelling enough to keep viewers tuned in to the Emmys, the producers of TV's annual self-back-patting fest have come up with a new gimmick: a celebrity sing-off.

Organizers of the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, airing Sept. 18 on CBS, unveiled a lineup of stars and professionals who really can hit the high notes (opera singer Frederica von Stade) and some who seem to think they can (Donald Trump) for Emmy Idol, described in the official press release as "an American-Idol-esque contest."

The stars' performances of classic TV theme songs will be scattered throughout the three-hour ceremony. Viewers will be encouraged to vote during the live broadcast, either by text message or via cbs.com, with the winning rendition announced at the end of the show. (As of yet there's been no decision what prize, if any, will be awarded.)

Kristen Bell, star of UPN's girl detective series Veronica Mars, whose extensive musical theater credits include an acclaimed performance in A Little Night Music, will be the only star to sing solo. She will perform the theme song from Fame.

William Shatner, Emmy winner for The Practice and now nominee for the spinoff Boston Legal, is still damned for his rendition of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. But he did get some good notices for spoken-song album Has Been, and he will team up up with mezzo-soprano von Stade, currently starring in the title role of the Los Angeles Opera's production of Offenbach's The Grand Duchess. They will perform the theme from, naturally, Star Trek, the sci-fi series that make Shatner a star as Captain Kirk.

An even odder coupling is ubiquitous tycoon Trump and Emmy winner (and nominee again this year) Megan Mullally of the NBC sitcom Will & Grace. Mullally's Broadway musical credits include Grease and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. As the latter is obviously not Trump's theme song, the duo will perform the theme from Green Acres.

I Try Grammy winner Macy Gray, who is featured in the Emmy-nominated HBO movie Lackawana Blues, teams up with Gary Dourdan, whose singing may surprise fans, although his c-stars on CBS' CSI know he's a fine musician. They will perform the Movin' on Up from The Jeffersons.

Song-and-dance acts on awards shows have been mocked and derided in the past--most memorably Rob Lowe's partnering an unauthorized Snow White in the opening number of the 1989 Oscars--but the Emmy brain trust is apparently confident their Idol gambit is worth a try.

"There are certain television theme songs that are nearly as memorable as the shows connected to them," says Ken Ehrlich, the executive producer hired by CBS and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to try to reverse the show's ratings slump.

"By jogging memories as well as creating wonderful moments by having them performed on this year's Emmy show, we think we're giving viewers one more reason to tune in and be entertained. I think we've got some great television moments in this year's broadcast and our Emmy Idol performances are just the tip of the iceberg."

The show will open with the Black Eyed Peas and Earth, Wind and Fire performing "September," with the "Do you remember ??" lyrics playing over clips of the past TV season's "most memorable moments."

All presenters and performers on the show will be given magnolias, the state flower of Louisiana and Mississippi, the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and viewers will be provided information as to ways they can contribute to recovery efforts.

Ellen DeGeneres, a Louisiana native, who has been personally impacted by the devastation, is the show's host. She previously hosted the Emmys delayed in the wake of the 9-11 tragedy and was praised for hitting all the right notes that time.