Taylor Swift Dominates at 2013 Billboard Music Awards
Tim McGraw's 'Superstar Summer Night' Special to Air May 19
Tim McGraw Stops Atlanta Show to Help Ailing Fan
Carrie Underwood 'Goats' Hunter Hayes With Blown Away Tour Prank
Jennifer Hudson Performs 'Inseparable' With 'American Idol' Winner Candice Glover
PHOTOS: Tornado Aftermath Leaves Trail Of Destruction
Blake Shelton Will Return for Season 5 of 'The Voice'
PHOTOS: This Is The Best Response To Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries We've Seen Yet
Beyonce Releases New Anthem, 'Grown Woman'
Tornadoes Strike Oklahoma
Miguel and Fan Are 'Okay' After Crazy Kick at 2013 Billboard Music Awards
Oklahoma Senators Face Difficult Options On Disaster Relief
Stone Temple Pilots Tap Linkin Park's Chester Bennington as New Singer
JODI ARIAS WANTS LIFE
Trace Adkins Named Winner of 'All-Star Celebrity Apprentice'
Police END Search For Susan Powell
WATCH: Mom's Emotional Reunion With Son After Tornado
CBS Pulls 'Mike & Molly' Tornado-Set Finale
WATCH: Tornado Victim Finds Dog During CBS Interview
PHOTOS: Tornadoes Wreak Havoc On Central U.S.
PHOTOS: Tornado Devastates Moore, Oklahoma
PHOTOS:Eva Longoria's Almost Wardrobe Malfunction At Cannes
Grossed Out Student Finds "Worm" In His McMuffin
LOOK: The 14 Most Endangered Heritage Sites In Europe
Justin Bieber BOOED While Accepting Award
Who Won 'DWTS'?
LOOK: Kid Knows Exactly Where She Stands
Guess Who?
Mila Kunis And Ashton Kutcher Put Their Romance On Display
15 Incredible Cat Photobombs
Student Expelled, Charged With Felonies For Same-Sex Relationship
Stefon Marries Anderson Cooper In Final Show
LOOK: Dolphins Make Rare Underwater Find
Bob D'Amico, ABC
Yet, for all of the praise "Nashville" had received there was a rather large group of viewers who would reserve judgment until they had seen at least one episode of the sudsy, music-filled series: Nashvillians themselves, especially those working in the country-music business.
The verdict? For the most part, "Nashville" gets it right. And for residents to be able to recognize so much of our fair city in each episode is great fun, right down to the Bluebird Cafe, which isn't actually the real Bluebird but a meticulously-reconstructed facsimile you'd be hard-pressed to pick out from the original.
But what about the accents? Sticklers for such detail that we are, it's nice to hear them done so well, representing -- just as they should -- the fact that Nashville is populated with a mix of natives and transplants from around the world, including cast members Sam Palladio (Gunnar) and Clare Bowen (Scarlett), who hail from England and Australia, respectively.
One of the comments we've heard most from colleagues in the industry is that the music featured on the series isn't exactly what passes for the country music that we hear on the radio. In truth, many of the songs -- especially those by Palladio and Bowen -- fall more into the Americana format, a rootsier, less pop-rock driven format than what's played at country radio. The soundtrack album, and indeed the show itself, however, do represent both sides of the coin. Credit music producer T Bone Burnett for making that happen and handling it all beautifully, giving us new music to enjoy as the perfect accompaniment to all the high drama each week.
And what else is there to say about the resplendent Connie Britton and the multi-faceted Hayden Panettiere? They are the two brightest spots in a cast that is quickly establishing itself as the best ensemble on television today. They're making "Nashville" and Nashville look good!
4 Comments