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IFC's 'Z Rock' induces Zzzzzzzs

Verne Gay | Off Camera

August 29, 2008

THE SHOW "Z Rock," Sundays at 11:30 p.m., IFC

REASON Whitest Kids U'Know make a cameo Sunday, and for hard-core fans of said group, that's reason enough. Guys have got a big Web following.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT In the likely event you missed last Sunday's premiere, here's the quick overview. This 10-episode part-impromptu comedy follows three real-life rockers from Brooklyn - brothers Paulie Z and David Z (vocals and bass, respectively) and childhood pal Joey Cassata (drums); their band's name is ZO2, and by night they rock, and by day, do kids parties to pay the rent. The core cast is supplemented by fast-talking manager Dina (Lynne Koplitz), club owner Neil (Jay Oakerson) and Joey's girlfriend, Alison Becker (her real name). The guys - save Joey - are also sex addicts who hit on moms at birthday parties. Now to this Sunday: They're accidentally double-booked for a kids party on Long Island, and who else should show up but none other than their archrivals on the kid's entertainment circuit - Kidtastic! (Whitest Kids) - who, viewers will learn, probably shouldn't be in the kids entertainment business.

BOTTOM LINE We in the TV critical trade like to say "Oh, yeah, we've seen everything," and then along comes "Z Rock," and we realize, sullenly, that, "Oh, no, guess we haven't seen everything." This makes our lives adventurous, in a couch potato sort of way, but also painful. (Predictability does have its advantages.) Biggest problem with this show is vulgarity; "Z Rock" is vulgar, even by TV standards ... even by " South Park" standards. Yeah, it's for teen males, or any male permanently stuck around the chronological age of 17. (Whitest Kids is the tip-off there.) And that's acceptable (there is an R rating here) provided this was funny. It is not, or at least not consistently. Some amusing bits, but for every one of those, there are 10 misfires. That's a 10:1 ratio of bombs. That's bad. And so is this show.