Entertainment

TV REVIEW: 'Cheyenne' comes off as an infomercial, but it isn't all glamour

11:05 AM CDT on Thursday, June 1, 2006

By MANUEL MENDOZA / The Dallas Morning News

"I Want To" by teen-idol-to-be Cheyenne Kimball is stuck in my head, not necessarily a good thing.

It's the generically catchy first tune on the 15-year-old Frisco native's upcoming album, due out in July after three years in the making. But first she's starring in an MTV reality series, Cheyenne , about her life as she tries to become a pop star.

Of course in the fun-house mirror that is pop culture, the show won't just chronicle her journey; it's another promotional device pushing her toward the goal. Here are some of the highlights from the first episode, which premiered Wednesday night.

The dark side: While this is a bit of an infomercial, it also shows – perhaps unintentionally – the difficulties that can arise because of the choices this girl has made with the endorsement of her family. At her 15th birthday party, which opens the series, she sees friends for the first time in years. She's apparently been on the road since sixth grade.

We see boyfriend and stage-mom troubles (and if you've been following the press you know the boyfriend is long gone). Her mother plays the witch, saying at one point that she's grounding Cheyenne. This is on the car ride to the airport as they leave for New York for recording sessions. That's some grounding. Later in a voiceover, Cheyenne laments that her mother is more of a manager than a parent. We all know who eventually wins these power struggles: the star.

The first crisis: Cheyenne's voice is shot as she prepares for her first showcase, at the Roxy in LA. The doctor pronounces her OK to perform but she still looks worried. "Can a 15-year-old have a heart attack?" she asks. Her mom says sometimes you have to perform even when you don't feel well. We won't find out how it went until next week.

Funniest moment: Reminiscent of American Idol dimwit Kellie Pickler, Cheyenne doesn't know whether to list herself as a professional or an amateur while filling out some paperwork. Her mom and co-manager Eddie laugh at her. She's a pro, they assure her.

Her major ambition: "Play music in an arena someday."

Next on 'Cheyenne': In the coming attractions, she questions her boyfriend about another girl. Sounds like material for a song.

E-mail mmendoza@dallasnews.com

Cheyenne

Grade: C
9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, MTV. 30 mins.