I love a good TV series that incorporates music into the plot. But it must be done correctly.
Admittedly, I never could get behind Cop Rock. That 1990 ABC effort (co-created by Steven Bochco) was neither fish nor fowl. Something about police and perps and judges and juries breaking into song in a serious drama was just too bizarre to handle.
ABC pulled the plug after 11 episodes and the series wound up as No. 8 in TV Guide’s “50 Worst TV Shows of All Time.”
(For the record, TV Guide’s list came out in 2002. The No. 1 worst then was The Jerry Springer Show. That unconscionable dreck is still tops in my book. You can feel your brain cells dying while you watch it.)
Back in the day, The Partridge Family incorporated music organically into the series. In a more contemporary show, NBC’s Smash worked the music in as part of the natural plot about a series set on Broadway.
Less successful in its recent seasons, Glee began by promising not to have the kids simply break out in song while walking down the hallway. I could forgive expanding a bit on the scenes set in the choir room, but these days Glee doesn’t even pretend to keep the music confined to a logical scenario.
I’ve lost interest.
That brings us to Nashville, the soapy ABC series that incorporates juicy drama with some really decent country singers and songs.
I’ll even overlook that two of the best in the cast are imports. Clare Bowen, who plays Scarlett O’Connor, is from Australia. Sam Palladio (Gunnar Scott) is British. Their harmony will give you goosebumps.
Connie Britton from Friday Night Lights - who knew she could carry a tune? Heroes’ Hayden Panettiere - the girl can sing and pull off catty country princess at the same time.
But what I like most about the series is that it keeps the music confined to places where one would expect it - in a cafe, in a quiet private duet, at a concert.
Even the adorable singing sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella (who play Rayna’s daughters, Maddie and Daphne) get to sing in a manner that’s rational to the storyline.
With Nashville, there’s no bursting into song when the mood strikes. The series keeps to a certain verisimilitude that allows the drama to unfold naturally.
That brings us to Wednesday’s special episode, “All or Nothing With Me,” featuring guest appearances by first lady Michelle Obama and country favorite Kellie Pickler.
The first lady is working up quite a TV resume. She’s already made appearances on the sets of Jessie, Sesame Street, iCarly, The Biggest Loser, Puppy Bowl X, The Wanted Life and last month’s season finale of Parks and Recreation.
The 27-year-old Pickler won our hearts with her quirky North Carolina charm during Season 5 of American Idol, finishing sixth in the year won by Taylor Hicks. Pickler earned a whole new batch of fans by winning Season 16 of Dancing With the Stars (with partner Derek Hough) in 2013.
On Wednesday, Rayna (Britton) organizes a charity concert at Fort Campbell, Ky., after learning Luke (Will Chase) has been injured in Afghanistan, forcing him to cut his tour short.
Check it all out at 9 p.m.
Meyers tapped. Former Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers (now host of NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers) has been named host of the 66th edition of the Emmy Awards, set to air Aug. 25 on NBC.
Ferguson farewell. In case you missed the notice last week, Craig Ferguson has announced he’s bailing out of CBS’ The Late Late Show at the end of December.
Ferguson has been host of the show since 2005 and his announcement comes a few weeks after David Letterman announced his retirement sometime next year. CBS is replacing Letterman with Stephen Colbert. Maybe Ferguson was holding out for that job and now sees no future in late night.
Ferguson, 51, told The Associated Press, “I’ll go and do something else. Probably, I’m thinking, carpentry. But I haven’t made my mind up yet. I feel like doing this show for 10 years, that’s enough.”
CBS said it will be searching for another host to replace Ferguson.
New on USA. USA has scheduled two new summer dramas to begin July 17.
Rush follows renegade, bad-boy physician William Rush (Tom Ellis, Miranda) at 8 p.m. Rush privately caters to Los Angeles’ elite and charges a hefty price for his services.
Satisfaction, starring fan favorite Matt Passmore and Stephanie Szostak, debuts at 9. Passmore’s Jim Longworth was gunned down just before his wedding on A&E’s The Glades in August. The series then was abruptly canceled. Fans were not pleased to have their hero left bleeding on the floor.
On Satisfaction, the “provocative” drama will “explore modern marriage at its midpoint” and answer the question, “What do you do when having it all is not enough?” The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email: mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style, Pages 30 on 05/06/2014