Ed Bark

CBS' Rock Star: Supernova resumes tonight (8 p.m., Channel 11) with Texas women Dilana Robichaux, Patrice Pike and Zayra Alvarez among the 11 competitors. Their tunes again will have punch. Rock Star has cleared music from the Beatles, the Stones, the Who and Pink Floyd, among other heavyweights. Holdouts still include Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam and Green Day.

Unlike American Idol, the CBS competition began with its 15 finalists in place rather than weeding out the William Hungs of the world for weeks on end. "Maybe it's hurting us," in the ratings, says executive producer David Goffin, who used to work on Idol. "But we made a conscious decision to do quality over train wrecks."

All of the shows are taped, largely because Supernova judges Gilby Clarke, Jason Newsted and especially Tommy Lee haven't mastered the art of curbing their enthusiastic profanity. Succinct "sound bites" also elude Mr. Newsted, which is why much of what he says has been hitting the cutting-room floor. Mr. Goffin hopes the finale can be live, but "I have to protect my talent to make sure I don't make them look stupid."

Ed Bark