PILOT REVIEW: Nashville

NASHVILLE

Starring: Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Clare Bowen, Eric Close, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladino, Robert Ray Wisdom, and Powers Boothe

Created by Callie Khouri
Written by Callie Khouri, Directed by RJ Cutler

Nashville is a glossy new soap set in the country music capital of the world. The show centers on two country music superstars. One one side, there is aging diva Rayna James (Connie Britton), a Reba McEntire-type singer who has dominated country music for years but fighting to stay relevant. On the other side is Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), a vixen Taylor Swift-type who is the next big thing in country music with big crossover appeal. In the pilot, Rayna's label asks her to consider touring with Juliette as a way to gain new fans. Rounding out the main cast is Rayna's lead guitarist and ex Deacon Clayborne (Charles Esten), Rayna's husband and new mayoral candidate Teddy (Eric Close), Deacon's niece, singer/songwriter Scarlett O'Connor (Clare Bowen), her boyfriend Avery (Jonathan Jackson), and friend Gunnar (Sam Palladino), Rayna's powerful and controlling father Lamar Wyatt (Powers Boothe), and Teddy's opposition in the mayoral contest and Rayna's friend, Coleman Carlisle (Robert Ray Wisdom).

THE GOOD: I knew I would love Connie Britton in this show and I absolutely do. In a role that definitely brings back memories of her Tami Taylor character in Friday Night Lights, Britton shines in every scene she's in. She is simply one of the best actresses on TV today who can do so much with a simple inflection or line. I knew I would love Britton but I was also thrilled with Hayden Panettiere who is devilishly good in her role. She plays the entitled brat real well but it was also interesting to see her have a deeper side in relation to her estranged mother. The entire supporting cast is strong too with the real standout outside of Britton and Panettiere being Powers Boothe as Rayna's father. The music is good and the city where country music is king has a million stories to tell. The pilot set up lots of plot directions really well and gave strong indication that this is going to be a well-written, character drama.

THE BAD: Hmmm... I'm really digging deep for this one. I guess I'm not totally sold on the side storyline with Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, and Sam Palladino. But that's more because I constantly want Connie Britton or Hayden Panettiere in the scene. It also felt like the whole mayoral candidate announcement could have lasted another episode because it felt rushed. But this is nitpicking.

BOTTOM LINE: This is the first new show of 2012-13 where I have really really loved the pilot. Nashville was everything I hoped it would be. A stellar cast, great writing, fun music, and interesting stories. There are so many places this show can go. I hope it doesn't go the way of Smash with a major letdown after a great pilot and I don't think it will. The people behind this show seem like they know what they're doing. Country music specials and awards always do well on TV. This show deserves to be a hit.