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ABC New Fall Series Preview – Nashville

ABC had a few misses with its most recent batch of fall series (PanAm, The River). I remember being excited about both of those shows last year this time, alas they failed to live up to their promise. As I continue to look at the next batch of fall series, Nashville looks like one of those shows that I really like the idea of, but I’m worried about its staying power.

That said, this preview trailer is fantastic.

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Chart-topping Rayna James (Connie Britton) is a country legend who’s had a career any singer would envy, though lately her popularity is starting to wane. Fans still line up to get her autograph, but she’s not packing the arenas like she used to. Rayna’s record label thinks a concert tour, opening for up-and-comer Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), the young and sexy future of country music, is just what Rayna needs. But scheming Juliette can’t wait to steal Rayna’s spotlight. Sharing a stage with that disrespectful, untalented, little vixen is the last thing Rayna wants to do, which sets up a power struggle for popularity. Could the undiscovered songwriting talent of Scarlett O’Connor (Clare Bowen) be the key to helping Rayna resurrect her career?

Complicating matters, Rayna’s wealthy but estranged father, Lamar Hampton (Powers Boothe), is a powerful force in business, Tennessee politics, and the lives of his two grown daughters. His drive for power results in a scheme to back Rayna’s handsome husband, Teddy, in a run for Mayor of Nashville, against Rayna’s wishes.

“Nashville” stars Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights,” “American Horror Story”) as Rayna, Hayden Panettiere (“Heroes”) as Juliette, Powers Boothe (“MacGruber,” “24”) as Lamar, Charles Esten (“Enlightened,” “Big Love”) as Deacon, Eric Close (“Chaos,” “Without a Trace”) as Teddy, Clare Bowen as Scarlett, Jonathan Jackson (“General Hospital”) as Avery, Sam Palladio as Gunnar and Robert Wisdom as Coleman.

“Nashville” was written by Callie Khouri (“Thelma & Louise”) who is an executive producer along with R.J. Cutler (“The September Issue,” “The War Room,” “Flip That House,” “A Perfect Candidate”) and Steve Buchanan. The pilot for “Nashville” was directed by R.J. Cutler. The series is produced by Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Gaylord Entertainment.

Nashville is currently scheduled to cap ABC’s very successful Wednesday night comedy block. That means it will get a great lead in. Will you be watching?

4 thoughts on “ABC New Fall Series Preview – Nashville”

  1. This show looks interesting. Not sure it will do well, but it looks like it may entertain a niche audience.

  2. Will watch. There is a lot of talent there..and they can all sing. My daughters played me some songs from the JJ guy and his range is great plus he wrote the songs and he’s listed near the bottom of the heap, he may just race to the head of the pack.

  3. I was chosen last month by All You Reality Checkers to watch the 45 minute pilot of this show. I am currently living in Nashville for the time being and have a relative who is a long time successful musician here.

    I had mixed feelings. This had the feel of a southern soap opera and frankly, NONE of the characters are in any way sympathetic. In fact, they are cookie cutter characters and the cliches ran wild. The music made me reach for the earplugs. No one is even remotely talented here and frankly, they would never make it here as pros.

    Let’s talk cookie cutter characters, shall we? Rayna is the typical has been who helped build her record label and the head of the company lets her know that doesn’t matter. He wants her to be the opening act for Juliette and has 0 loyalty to Rayna. Rayna has no real relationship with her kids and thinks life is all about her. I feel sorry for her husband Teddy. He wasn’t her first choice and she never lets him forget it.

    Juliette is a typical blonde bimbo with no talent but who looks good so hey, that’s all you need isn’t it? She is a sort of Miranda Lambert type (you know, the vixen who broke up Blake Shelton’s marriage) with less talent than Taylor Swift.

    Rayna’s dad is your typical full-of-himself rich guy, JR Ewing meets Donald Trump. It was unbelievable enough when they have a black man running for mayor (this is white Bubba central folks, NO black is going to be mayor of this city anytime soon) but Rayna’s dad wants Rayna’s unemployed husband who failed in the business world to run for mayor. Really? Based on WHAT?

    The acting is stiff and some people stand around looking uncomfortable. The music is so bad, oh goodness, it was terrible. One of the more bizarre storylines was about Scarlett, a server at the Blue Bird Cafe. She’s another little blonde thing (ALL the women in the show are) who writes poetry. A singer performing there one night reads one of her poems and bam! he has her on stage singing the poem while he plays and of course Rayna’s manager comes in and hears it and thinks this girl will save the day for Rayna with her little song.
    Will this last a whole season or beyond? I don’t think so.

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