Practicing to Become a ‘Rock Star’

Undaunted by the tepid response to its pseudo-documentary series about a pop group in the making (“Popstars”), the WB tonight introduces a fictional approach to the same topic with the lighthearted “My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star.”

Oliver Hudson--Kate’s brother and Goldie Hawn’s son--stars as an unemployed twentysomething singer who lives with his parents in a Seattle suburb and dreams of leading his rock band, SlipDog, from rehearsals in his bedroom to the top of the charts. His character provides voice-over narration as the story unfolds, explaining to other would-be popsters the key steps toward success.

At least as interesting a premise would be a “WB Guide to Transforming a TV Series.” The differences between the first two half-hour episodes, airing back to back at 8 and 8:30 tonight, are striking.

The first installment has all the appeal of an amateur night for garage bands, filled with disagreeable behavior, crude sexual innuendo and a plentiful lack of humor.

The make-over for the second includes much more than a change of drummers. Gone is the vulgarity, replaced by a modicum of charm and visual style. Hudson’s bandmates--played by Lauren Hodges, Kevin Rankin and Emmanuelle Vaugier--are much more appealing.

This “Guide” still suffers for leading us through very familiar territory, but at least, like SlipDog, it’s moving in the right direction.