A sea of faces with few distinguishing features

The attention span of even the most ardent pop-culture devotee will be severely tested this week as VH1 rolls out a bloated five-day, 10-hour marathon devoted to the genre.

“The 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons,” which from 9 to 11 each night through Friday will count down the tops in pop, is an entertainment enigma. From the moment wrestling’s the Rock kicks off the list tonight at No. 200, followed a minute or two later by Queen Latifah at No. 199, the impulse to watch the screen is matched only by an equally strong urge to pick up the newspaper, pet the dog or relace those sneakers.

You aren’t necessarily bored enough to leave the room, but the scattershot pastiche of photos, film clips and observations from celebs (does the Sklar brothers comedy duo qualify?) generates only intermittent interest.

In compiling the list, VH1 used such criteria as: “Do they pass the one-name test?” (Elvis); “Did society imitate their sense of fashion or hairstyle” (Farrah Fawcett); or “Can you dress up as them for Halloween?” (Dolly Parton). Some of the picks are no-brainers (Muhammad Ali, Charlie Chaplin, the Beatles). Other choices feel, if not brainless, certainly something short of greatest (Bon Jovi, Judge Judy, Wonder Woman).

Still others invite debate on the process (Telly “Kojak” Savalas but no Peter “Columbo” Falk?), although the inclusion of Savalas did produce this heartfelt testimonial from noted pop-culture gatekeeper Ed McMahon: “Telly was down”). Sometimes, the narrated factoids we learn from the mini segments are almost as weak as the selection (“Axl Rose’s long hair, topped by a bandanna, was his trademark”).

Yet complaints aside, it’s probably worth sticking around. You won’t believe how much stuff you’ll get done.