• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, November 4, 2004

Phew! It's finally over. There is no cultural icon left who hasn't tried to rock primetime television.

Now Elton John wants to produce a sitcom.

Mind you, not a drama, not a miniseries, not a reality show, not a movie. But a sitcom - the toughest and typically the most trivial of all TV forms. Goodbye yellow brick road.

The series was a collaboration with Elton John and his longtime manager, who witnessed and took part in many fun adventures with rock 'n' roll characters over John's long history since the late 60s. The central aging rock character will be similar to John - but not exactly. Rather it'll be an amalgam of other rock stars including Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Freddie Mercury. The 'male divas,' as John likes to call them.

Okay, let's say Elton John and his other producing pals, including "Desperate Housewives" creator Michael Edelstein and ex- "Sex and the City" writer Cindy Chupack, come up with something. Rock stories - especially if the real interesting tales are used -- might be a little rough for primetime. One wonders how few won't involve drugs.

But still, haven 't we seen this already, in a more raw form with MTV's "The Osbournes?"

And why now for Elton John? We have been hearing about his financial troubles for sometime. A good sitcom could push him back into the black. Hmmm. In that regard -- in same financial breath -- did someone just mention Willie Nelson?

ABC is picking up the project and if it goes, there'll probably be a nice merchandising angle to sell John's CDs. You'll see those touted at the end of the show when the credits are run. John says he has already written the show's first song.

Elton John has always been a character -- that'll go a long way. But, past the first season, one wonders how much of a story arc will remain. If it doesn't go well, I recommend using Bernie Taupin for some good writing and lyrics -- all to not let the sun go down on Elton John.