In Search of the Partridge Family, Episode 4: The Battle of the Dannys

Hello again! Seems like only yesterday that we selected the “Lauries,” and it’s already time to choose the “Danny” finalists. Actually, that’s somewhat true since it took me a full week before I was able to sit through the entire “Laurie” episode. This week, I vowed that I would watch the show as it aired on Sunday night, and get it over with. It’s kind of like going to the dentist. You put it off and put it off until, finally, you need a root canal – in this case, the root canal comparison applies to having to watch two episodes of this show on two consecutive days!

What’s strange is that, normally, I can watch just about any reality/talent show – Lord knows I’ve covered some gems in the past year or so! It has been puzzling me, then, that I have had such a hard time just sitting through an entire episode of In Search of the Partridge Family, let alone writing a recap of it. As I was watching last night, I finally figured out what my problem is. The whole premise of this dud is to select a cast to star in a remake of the Partridge Family, which will air on VH1. Okay, but why? Certainly, the original has become somewhat of a TV icon, and it’s fun to watch the old episodes and check out the clothes and the dated jargon. Those of us who were into this show when it first aired have all passed our 40th birthdays, and can appreciate this type of nostalgia. But, here we are in the 21st century. How viable is the concept of a cheerful, singing family, traveling around on a bus from gig to gig? How many kids are going to be able to relate to this format? I don’t have the answer to these questions, but I do know that, with a cast of amateur singers who have never acted before their auditions, the outlook for this series is dismal. I won’t be watching, that’s for sure.

All that being said, let’s proceed. We have our “Keiths” and “Lauries,” now it is time to pick the “Danny” line-up. The original Danny, Danny Bonaduce, gleefully introduces the eight finalists – Spencer Tuskowski (Stevens Point, WI), Blayze Dawson (Moreno Valley, CA), Alex Oyen (Orlando, FL), Chris Farach (Miami, FL), Peabo Powell (Dalton GA), Keaton Savage (Burbank, CA), Matthew Vrchota (Southern Pines, NC), and Clayton Griffin (Lake Park, GA). Let me tell you, these boys are sassy, and make all kinds of scripted cracks about Danny B. and his rather checkered past. One kid said he was looking forward to being the new Danny so that he could be on Surreal Life in the future!

Our genial, somewhat mannequin-like host, Todd Newton, joins Danny on the stage, and together they enthuse over the events to come. We watch as the boys go to Partridge boot camp and meet the original Keith, David Cassidy. But Danny totally overshadows David C. by roaring in on his motorcycle and teaching the boys how to pick up chicks. The kids go to the radio station where Danny works, and he even brings them to his house where they meet his nine-year-old daughter and throw one another in the pool. Can you stand all this fun?

Danny tells us that if he had to get by on his singing voice, he wouldn’t have made it past the first episode. Lucky for these guys, the judges are looking at the whole package, including what they saw at boot camp. And then it is time to eliminate the first three. Sadly, we say goodbye to Peabo, who looks like an 18-year-old, as well as Matthew and Blayze.

Now for the not-so-important singing round of the competition. Danny warns us that the judges are looking more for personality and performing skills than actual singing talent. This would explain the horrendous singing demonstrated by the “Lauries.” They don’t have to know how to sing. Ahhh, I must have missed this warning on the last episode.

The first “Danny” up is Spencer Tuskowski. He brought his cheese head hat from home and seems to be quite the cut-up! He thinks he is just like the original Danny and “sees dead people.” He is singing “Happy Together.” Or at least that’s what I think he is doing. I hate to criticize little kids, so I will say no more about this performance except that I groaned, very, very loudly. He gets mediocre scores from the judges.

After Danny whines about how much mileage he’s gotten from this show, he introduces the next performer, Alex Oyen. Alex plays guitar for real, and says he is Danny Partridge. Alex has chosen to sing “Respect.” Why? Not only can he not sing, he can’t spell either. “R-E-S-P-E-C-D, Take out T-C-D.” Again, I will refrain from further comment. The judges all give him outrageously high scores. I give up.

Now for Chris Farach, who is quite the little dancer. He loves singing, and has just discovered he loves acting too. He doesn’t have red hair though. He is singing “Hungry Like a Wolf,” and, because he is a very good dancer, his performance doesn’t make me want to run howling from the room. Actually, he is rather good. He can even sing in tune. The judges did not seem to appreciate his talent though, and his scores are probably not high enough to keep him in the running. Obviously my approval is the kiss of death on this show!

Todd and Danny remind us that VH1 will be producing the New Partridge Family Show in the fall, just in case you have completely missed the point of this exercise, and then it is Keaton Savage’s turn. He plays guitar as well, and is singing “Burning Down the House.” I can’t understand a single word he’s singing. No further comment is warranted and, once again, the judges totally disagree with my assessment.