Nashville (Show) is an American musical drama television series created by Acadamy Award winner Callie Khouri and produced by R. J. Culter, Khouri, Dee Johnson, Steve Buchanan, and Connie Britton. The series stars Connie Britton (Spin City, Friday night Lights) as Rayna Jaymes, the current reigning “Queen of Country” whose stardom and luster of the spotlight begins to lose its sparkle, and Hayden Panettiere (Hero’s) as rising teen diva Juliette Barnes is the record label’s new ingénue. The series premiered on ABC on October 10, 2012, and had more than 8.93 million viewers. The pilot episode received many positive reviews from critics, specifically praising Callie Khouri’s writing, casting, and the performance of Connie Britton.
Lets put the Cunt Back in Country
Rayna’s latest album is not selling well and her tour is playing to half-empty venues. Her record label suggests that she open for Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), who’s the best selling singer of bubble gum country. In the music business, someone is always biting on your heels. However, Juliette sees Ms. Rayna as an all washed up, yesterday’s old lunch and someone her drunken Mama listens to when she was expecting. Since she and her crispy fried mother don’t get on, she associates Rayna’s sound to bad times from the past.
She alienates Rayna. Now our reigning Legend hates Juliette’s style of bubble gum, teenage pop-o-matic auto tune music, and rejects a joint tour. The two women come into conflict as both try to get guitarist Deacon Claybourne played impressively by the very talented Chip Esten. Deacon is Rayna’s bandmate and former lover and desperately looking for the idea that will recharge her career. Rayna, in desperation, decides to organize a special tour pulling them together with hope their old magic will spark the audience and their now stagnant careers. Rayna’s life is further complicated when her estranged father, Billionaire businessman Lamar Wyatt, played deliciously by Powers Boothe, convinces Rayna’s husband, Teddy Conrad (Eric Close) to run for the position of Mayor of Nashville.
Nashville is written and paced like a Spanish Novella. The scenes jump every few minutes. This is believed to be the best way to appeal to a short attention span public. It does limit the relationship with the character and the audience. Here is the review from the latest episode title ‘You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave)’. I call it like I see it.
Ole Blue Eyes crying In the Rayna
Rayna is hanging out listening to her hot new track. She knows that her new album needs a “different energy” and has an idea for a producer: Nashville transplant and edgy rocker Liam McGuiness who is not on the label’s approved list primarily because he told the head of the label to go Fuck themselves on the VMA’s. Liam on the other hand has gone on to critical acclaim since then winning 5 Grammys or so the story goes.
Rayna tries to convince Bucky by saying he has a dog named June after June Carter Cash. Bucky reminds her Liam friend that he is a rocker and not a country artist, but in her gut and isn’t that where most good songs come from she knows he has something she needs. Just what that is, well that is yet to be discovered?
So Rayna heads over to the Rock of Ages grungy studio, and he just shuts her down, telling her that she’s all about “Moms and SUVs.” He doesn’t take her serious or her music, but does say as he slams the door in her face he won’t charge her for the session. Now that is class. Rayna is aware that she needs a different more edgy approach if she is to appeal to a modern market. So she returns to the scene of his crime and appeals to Liam’s better side – his Ego. Intrigued by the stroke, he invites her in.
The two confront and begin to bond over music. Rayna tells Liam she got into music to “share her truth.” I was unaware Rayna’s first hit was My dad is a crook and my mother is dead because of it. Her real truth was “get me the heck out of dodge. And away from this family.” That one I know well. Somewhere along the way she lost her voice. She was too busy selling her image. The two start shooting whiskey. They both get hammered and Rayna has just got to sing.
Rayna goes back to the house that rude built and there is some discussion about their drunken session together, Liam calls it “magical.” Like sex magical? No, like studio music magical, as filmed on a holy iPAD tablet. Step Back David Copperfield.
Take my Record and Shoving it
Now Rayna calls a meeting for the head of the label and plays him her new tract. He loves it until he discovers who produced it. He says no way. Absolutely not. Nota. Rayna says, “this is my new sound so you had better get on board.” Label head ” so you want to play hard ball.”
“No,” she replays “I want to make my music my music”. He says she cannot use Liam, well she reminds him that Nashville is full of record companies that would love for the opportunity to buy out her contract.
He storms out the door. She has found her sound but will she now have to find another label?
Over in Politicsland, remember you parked in special interest, we have a surprise: Lamar Wyatt Eurp has a bold idea, its called corruption. On the day of the signing of the Clean Campaign Pledge Initiative, Lamar will have the opposition candidate pulled over by the Belle Meade Police Department! Belle Meade is the Beverly Hills of Nashville. He sets up a little traffic violation with Teddy’s blessing don’t you know. Now, if you watch the previous episode you learned that Coleman, 20 years ago was addicted to pills and alcohol now free from all, he runs a program to help other fellow addicts. He sponsored Deacon back in the day and Rayna paid the tab. So when Deacon helped Juliette to place her drug addicted mama in a rehab center, OxyContin fell out of her pocket. Deacon took them and in a moment of weakness counted them all night long. The next day he handed them over to Coleman at the IHOP. Where else is it more pathetic but to hand over drugs next to eggs over my hammy? So Coleman threw them into his glove box and to be honest forgot about them. So who gets busted with the pills? You got it - Coleman. Of course it was an illegal search and seizure.
I just couldn’t resist. The SET UP with the cops makes Coleman late for the “Clean Campaign Pledge.” Teddy makes promises he won’t be able to keep, and has a photo opp with his old girl friend and co-thief Miss Peggy who is also a Belle Meader. Oh and her rich husband is out of town.
Coleman calls for a press conference and tells the truth about the Oxy and admits to being an alcoholic, now 20 years clean. Knowing he is an honest man, well that means he will lose the election or mend his positive ways. Luke goes to the darker side. So comes over and says he will go to the Tennessean, the local paper and tell all. Coleman says no. The program works because it is anonymous. Coleman hired a private investigator to trail Teddy the red nose politician, snapping out-of-context pictures with Peggy. The pickies make their meeting look like a tryst. Coleman is having mixed emotions but his wife is saying screw them, screw them all before they can again screw you. She is such a burst of sunshine.
Juliette hires a Butler
Juliette is made to show repentance. She is sent to do a charity function at the zoo. Trying to create more viewers between the ages of 12 and 18 a new character has emerged. A rather thin rookie (laugh laugh) football player Sean Butler is so sweet we have to get an insulin shot. Later, a rather bad photo is taken and we are meant to think America loves it and Juliette is now back.
McKenna the publicist sets up a date for Juliette and Sean. Juliette is not pleased well not at first, because he has weak stats but when she thinks she can corrupt him she seems more interested. She takes Sean on her private jet and flys to South Beach! By the way that plane cost 20 million.
That’s a lot of tunes to sell. Sean plays Juliette’s song for her and, she sings along. In South Beach, Juliette takes Sean to The Balcony, South Beach’s Hottest Club. Sean doesn’t drink but on the way out they, like most stars, are confronted by the evil paparazzi. This slime ball is razzing Juliette about her Junkie Mom. So super Sean knocks the guy down, well he really just pushes him down and his camera went off. By the time Juliette makes it home, McKenna notifies Juliette about the pictures that have gone viral and says, “This is not how you do PR!” I wanted to throw up. Juliette knows how to deal with slime she simply buys them off with a check made out to $25,000 cash. Sean thanks her for her thoughtfulness and invites her for a “stay in” date.
Frankly Scarlett, Avery doesn’t give a Damn.
Scarlett has been covering the rent for her boyfriend Avery, the biggest corn kernel in Turd City. He is jealous of Scarlett’s big break and doesn’t believe she is actually more talented then he is. HE PLAYS A CLUB GIG AND I HAVE TO SAY IS RATHER GOOD. He invites promoter Reed Olsen to stop by the 5 Spot and hear their set. This could lead to a big break. His ambition is to open for the band called The Lumineers. They are similar to the Jordanians but with more light. So who’s that woman? That older woman with her tongue out for some young musician meat. That’s Marilyn paved bad Rhodes, a band Manager who exposits young men for money, sex and power. Sounds fun. She thinks Avery could be huge (his dick, not his band) and gives him her card. Avery shows up with no spine at Deacon’s house the next day under the guise of gifting a delicious casserole Scarlett has made as a peace offering. Nothing says I am sorry like a tuna casserole.
Deacon tells him to stay away from the succubus Marilyn, she will only steal his money, his relationship, and his dreams. Deacon will put in a good word with Reed to see about an opening spot. Avery says “I thought you didn’t like me,” So Deacon sets out to see Marilyn the soul eater at The Bluebird, and asks her to stay away from Avery and his band, because she will hurt him and it will hurt his niece and he doesn’t want what happened like it did for him years ago. He doesn’t want Scarlett to get hurt. Gunnar eavesdrops. That’s the way the scene was written; don’t blame me.
Another band got the gig. Avery must be really upset; he almost had an emotional response other than self-pity. Marilyn was hanging around 5 Points Bar, the local high school was already out. She gave him the ole routine of I can make you a star. First, I will get you on Collage radio. Wait just an ivy picking minute. I went to the university in Nashville as a matter of fact.
And Vanderbilt doesn’t have a hip college radio station. He agrees to meet with her later. Gunnar finds Scarlett and tells her that Deacon was chastising up Marilyn and Scarlett leaves for Deacon’s house. Once there, she goes off on Deacon. Now the plot thickens and Deacon tells her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Marilyn only reps “good-looking guys under 30 and only signs them after a certain closeness has been established.” You be good to mama and mama will be good to you.
Avery goes to first and second base but before a grand slam bam thank you mam he decides to have morals and walks out. Later at home, Scarlett fever has taken over and she’s at boiling point. She gives Avery’s weak personality the opportunity to be upset for being scolded and doing the right thing. Scarlet knows he was aroused, hello, battle of the bulge. She asks if he slept with her. He denies it, which is true, but she is still over the top. Next you see her in front of Deacon’s house with a suitcase, so Avery is off and on top of the situation. He doesn’t waste time. I wonder if Marilyn had been a Michael, a male producer, would he have rushed over so quickly or reluctantly come by after a lot of alcohol.
Stay tuned for more episodes of Nashvegas by Lou Ceffer.
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