After having been spoofed on "Saturday Night Live" and every late-night
talk show, "American Idol" will get another comedy licking courtesy of
Fountains of Wayne, who mock a televised talent show in their new video for "Mexican Wine."
The power-popsters' video for the second single off Welcome Interstate Managers opens with the pseudo show's host announcing last week's returning champions, Katie and Linda Lipschitz of Piscataway, New Jersey. Asked what song they'll perform, the
10-year-old identical twins shout, " 'Mexican Wine' by Fountains of
Wayne!" and break into song.
Although Katie's on harpsichord and Linda's playing guitar and
"singing," it's Fountains singer Chris Collingwood's voice we hear.
"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest had agreed to participate in the
video, which was shot in Los Angeles in December, but scheduling
conflicts prohibited his appearance, according to the band's
spokesperson. Chris Applebaum (Britney Spears, Kid Rock), who also
directed FoW's "Stacy's Mom" video, helmed the satire.
The scene shifts to the deck of a "Big Pimpin' " yacht for the song's
second verse, where Collingwood, bassist Adam Schlesinger, guitarist
Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young are performing for a fabulous crowd
amid a line of dancers. The bandmembers also mingle with the crowd
until a pillow fight between nubile young ladies breaks out.
The set then changes to a mock-up of Duran Duran's "Rio" video,
complete with a scuba-diving swimsuit model sipping a glass of Mexican
wine underwater.
The final scene returns to the talent show's soundstage, where little
Linda Lipschitz stands behind a makeshift kitchen counter. Her sister
is absent until Linda removes the lid from a big, simmering pot. There
she finds Katie's head, framed by black beans — à la Wall of
Voodoo's "Mexican Radio" video — and singing the remainder of the
song as the judges rejoice.
"Mexican Wine" is expected to surface at radio beginning January 20,
with the video airing at the end of the month.
