Idolator passes along the news that networks are feverishly trying to counterprogram against “the allegedly low starpower of the veteran rocker” at the center of Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show, Tom Petty. But how could that be? Peter Bogdanovich spent four hours telling us that Petty is the biggest, most beloved, and most important rock star IN THE WORLD. I simply refuse to believe that a work-for-hire hagiography might have embellished the appeal of the man who commissioned it. If Spike TV execs think their competitive eating special will out-draw “Free Fallin’”, then I can only assume they didn’t see Bogdanovich’s movie.

To be fair to Bogdanovich, Idolator’s Maura Johnston calls a bit of bullshit on the story, which originated with The Hollywood Reporter, and Idolator’s hipster commenters come out in full force to defend Petty’s demo-crossing likability.

That still doesn’t change the fact that the most interesting thing about Bogdanovich’s film is the way it betrays the fact that Petty paid him to make it, an issue which I went into in this podcast. Also of note: I sat through the entire four-hour film, totally sober, and didn’t nod off once, and I STILL don’t know who did the guitar solo on Runnin’ Down a Dream. I would have liked to find out because, to use what I believe is the appropriate parlance, it’s fucking sick.