When the inductees for the 2008 Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony were announced, I had to admit it was a head scratcher. Madonna in the Rock Hall? Leonard Cohen? John Mellencamp? Well, at least John Mellencamp put out a few good Midwest rockin' tunes and a Hall of Famers list of influences.

So, I tuned in to watch the ceremony on VH1 only to find out that it was going to be broadcast live on VH1 Classic. Instead, I was treated to an episode of one of VH1's many celebreality programs. Oh, how the coverage of rock royalty has fallen.

Then again, the induction ceremony isn't that rockin' of a good time. If you like speeches, this is a program for you. But I have to comment on this particular class of 2008.

First, Leonard Cohen. An amazing and influential songwriter? Sure. Otherwise, Jeff Buckley wouldn't have have covered "Hallelujah." But rock n' roll? Even Cohen was shocked that he got in. That should tell you something.

John Mellencamp may be mostly associated with Chevy trucks, but he did write "Jack and Diane," "Small Town" and "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." Plus, he at one point had the middle name of a wild animal that would rip your face off, and that undoubtedly rocks.

But the name at the top of the list was Madonna, the mother of pop reinvention, sexual provacateur, female icon, the list goes on. But with the exception of her rebellious attitude, there is nothing about Madonna's music that is rock n' roll. Listen to "Cherish" and tell me I'm wrong. She did have Iggy Pop and the Stooges cover two of her songs and drench them in Motor City rock sludge (and sadly, The Stooges are NOT in the Hall of Fame). A cover by the Stooges does not a rock star make, especially when you have Justin Timberlake handing you your trophy.

There were the less notable inductees that shouldn't be forgotten about. The Dave Clark Five, part of the British Invasion in the 1960s, finally got their due. The instrumental rock band The Ventures wrote "Wipeout" which was the first halfway difficult drum rhythm I ever learned growing up. They deserve Hall recognition for that song alone, and thankfully, this year they got it. Then there was the obligatory induction of an African-American blues musician. This year, it was blues harp player Little Walter. Not to say he didn't deserve it, but it's just sad that a ceremony has become so predictable that honors music that is at it's best when it's unpredictable.

For next year's Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, hopefully it will get major television coverage. Hopefully its nominees will have thoroughly rocked in their careers. And most importantly, Billy Joel will give every induction speech. He tells it like it is, which is what most influential rock music has always done.