Reviews Mixed for Nashville "Reality" Show

9/14/2007 Stephen L. Betts Early reviews of the Fox-TV music/reality series Nashville, debuting tonight, 9/14, at 9 p.m. (ET) are in, and they’re not exactly glowing. The Ottawa Citizen reports, “It's billed as being ‘from the creative minds behind the [MTV] series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.’ With a billing like that, you know it won't be boring. Trashy, perhaps, but not boring. Nashville hopes to do for the country-music scene what Big Brother did for cabin fever, with TV cameras.” Variety is a little more direct in their dislike for the show, saying it “is based on people with model looks, minimal talent and only a modicum of a shot of making it as country music performer.” They also add that the show is “as directionless as its stars. The creators of Laguna Beach have added twang, tight jeans and a pinch of aw-shucks attitude to the Laguna model, striking a flat note for Fox as it gathers a crew of chiseled young adults to dream about stardom in the country music capital. Lacking the excitement of its key timeslot competition, [NBC’s] Las Vegas, [Nashville] could quickly be relegated to the sale bin in the Ernest Tubb Record Store.” The New York Times singles out Rachel Bradshaw, the daughter of former NFL quarterback (and current Fox Sports personality) Terry Bradshaw, saying she is the aspirant “least likely to win the authenticity badge,” adding that Nashville “makes a theme of its inauthenticity.” Tell us what you think after you’ve seen the show. Send your comments to stevebetts@countryhound.com