TV REVIEWS : In Search of the Real Whitney Houston

Has there ever been a superstar contender in pop with a less defined image on stage than Whitney Houston?

Six years after entering the pop scene with one of the most dazzling voices since Barbra Streisand, Houston took advantage of her live “Welcome Home Heroes” HBO special Sunday night to try on as many stage roles as she did colorful costumes.

Saluting military personnel from the Persian Gulf War in a concert broadcast live from the Norfolk Naval Air Station, Houston attempted, at least fleetingly, to project some of the sensual tease of Madonna, the glitzy show-biz exuberance of Diana Ross, the dance sensibilities of Janet Jackson and the theatrical drama of Streisand. She didn’t seem especially comfortable in any of the approaches.

Houston doesn’t come across as naughty--or ambitious--enough to challenge Madonna, sufficiently obsessed with audience approval to rival Ross, graceful enough to match the moves of Jackson or individualistic enough to stalk Streisand.

Despite direction by David Mallet that gave the broadcast a far greater sense of intimacy than last year’s live Madonna production on HBO, Houston remained a star without an artistic compass--not so much a mysterious figure, but a vacuum. There were moments of convincing vocal passion Sunday, but mostly Houston’s phrasing was as ill-defined as her manner.