Welcome to Season 6 of Nashville Star on NBC!
A big hello to all the returning fans (Walnut Valley Girl) as well as to everyone who is checking this out for the first time!
For those of you who don't know, my name is Wix Wichmann and every week I'll be having fun looking at the contestants through my patented "reality glasses" and throwing my 2 cents into a blog as the contest progresses. I've been lucky enough to be involved with Nashville Star since the first season and I'm thrilled to be contributing again this year.
Besides being a fool-time comedian, I've also spent the past 15 years in the country music business. I worked at a major record label responsible for launching the careers of the Dixie Chicks, Gretchen Wilson and Montgomery Gentry. I spent 8 years on the road opening up shows for Montgomery Gentry and then signed my own record deal with Universal South to support my comedy album I'LL QUIT WHEN WILLIE QUITS in 2006. What does this have to do with Nashville Star? Nothing, I'm just trying to see if NBC will let me plug my album here.
I do know that many of you have questions about the new season on NBC and I look forward to answering those. Important questions like the one from travis232 that asks, "Is Miley going to be on the show?" Or the one from wix_fan4ever that asks, "Do you really type your blog without pants on?" On second thought, maybe that's not the best example.
Some of you may be wondering, "Hey, what happened to the web series you used to host called BACKSTAGE ACCESS with WIX WICHMANN?" I know I am. Unfortunately those have been canceled this year, either because enough of you didn't demand to bring them back, OR because I spilled red wine on a television executive at the wrap party last year. Not sure which.
Nonetheless, we are going to have a couple of laughs at the expense of the contestants getting their dreams crushed in true Schadenfreude-form! And it all starts with the 2 hour debut tonight on NBC at 9/8c!
You know, I've found that many people are curious as to what the contestants are up to after the show has completed. You'd have to be a moron to not know what Miranda Lambert is up to. She just won the Academy of Country Music's Album of the Year award for her platinum selling "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
I still keep in contact with many of the former contestants, and I'll try to highlight their successes along the way. For instance, season 2 alum Matt Lindahl and I used to get together once a month and drink milk products until he became lactose intolerant and I told him to kiss my Sweet Acidophilus. We've since reconciled and he's currently working on a movie for the Sci-Fi network!
What has changed this year? Well they've added the immensely talented songwriter Jeffrey Steele to the judges lineup. I've known Jeffrey for years and greatly look forward to his insight. Many of you may not know him, but I guarantee you know his songs that other artists have recorded. It would be hard to listen to a country radio station and not hear one.
They've also added Billy Ray to the show. I've always liked Billy Ray. Did you know that when he was a nobody starting out, he went to visit a radio station at the top of this huge hill in West Virginia. The road up the hill was gravel and Billy Ray told the DJ that if he ever had any success in the music business he would pave the road. Guess what? He did it after the Achy Breaky Heart success. That's a testament to what kind of guy he is!
Another awesome improvement to the show is that they culled the military for talent this year. That is a fantastic idea and I can't wait to see who made it from our Armed Forces. A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to perform on a USO tour in Japan with new country artist Jeremy McComb, and we were astounded at how talented many of the serving young men and women are. Another big change this year is the admission of duos and trios! What do you think about that? I think it's about time!
Well I better save something for the debut later tonight, so until then I look forward to hearing what everyone thinks!
Cheers
Wix
Love ya Wix!
Hey Wix, This is my first time reading your blog, and if the show is half as entertaining as your writing, it will be great! Looking forward to checking back in with you throughout the series.
I can't believe how patronizing Rich was to that Coffey guy. The guy was off pitch so bad at times its sounded like a middle school talent show. If they want a black guy to win, at least find one who can sing.
Whats up with the audio on tonights show? You would think a prime time show would have the bugs worked out.
The judges were totally off key on sending Charlie Jenkins home tonight.
He was fantastic and certainly not justified in being voted off.
The judges were totally off key on sending Charlie Jenkins home tonight.
He was fantastic and certainly not justified in being voted off.
they were the best i thought bring the song life .
POOOOOR judgement. Charlie was great. One of the top three. If that is the best these judges can do. Which doesn't suprise me, I wouldn't own any of their music, I will be watching anything but this show next Monday.
Send the judges home!!! If they think Charlie was the bottom of the twelve they need to hang it up! I would have bought twelve of his records to one of theirs no wonder they can't judge. I have been listening to country music before they were born and he was in the top three. POOOOOR judgement. My husband and I will be watching some other channel than NBC next Monday.
I think the judges were way off tonight. I had planned on voting for the guy they voted off. In my opinion the bottom two were Shawn (#3) and the young guy Justin. His voice wasn't powerful at all. Ya'll need to figure out how to redo!!!
The sound quality was poor tonight. I hope NBC repairs the problem before they lose a big fan of the show.
Color me disappointed! I've watched all previous seasons of NS and was looking forward to seeing it on a major network. I guess I should have known better. Tonight's crop of talent was the worse start I've ever seen on the show and the judges were totally out to lunch! Why not allow the viewers to vote on the judges? I vote to send Jewell home. She should not be judging country music! How about replacing her with the record company rep from previous seasons? I think her name was Alexandra?
Loved Charley. Thought he was great and several others could of left!
I cannot figure out where I go to vote for my choices on the Nashville Star show.
Not that it matters but I was extremely disappointed with the show tonight. I am 59 years old & love country. And, I follow the show religiously because I love all the new and young talent. To think the judges would keep Justin, who has NO voice (but he's "cute") or Stanley and vote off such a dynamic voice is appalling. If they didn't appreciate his Garth Brooks theatrics at least LISTEN. He has a terrific voice. And I happen to like the similarities with Garth...at least voice wise.
Thank goodness the judges aren't making future decisions. Justin is cute but that's about all he's got going for him. Are they trying to get more people to watch or are they looking for talent?
okay what the crap...charlie jenkins was not the best, but he was not the worst. this is kind of like the grammy's. a certain show will win, then you go see it because you are curious and throughout the show you wonder who the *#@! votes for this @*#!? (i.e the movie "Sideways") I may just be your average mary jane from the boondocks, but i think NBC screwed up when they took this away from the "voters". (Would that not be me?) I do believe that NBC would vote for Hillary!
I think the judges made a huge mistake. Charley should have never been eliminated. He had real talent and I think he could have gone further then half the people on the stage. I think the vote should be recast by the public. Bring Charley back. I am sure those three guys with no real lead singer who were in a time warp would have been a better choice.
It looks like Nashville Star finally got it right. Last year was a circus; the previous years, with all due respect to Miranda, were like amateur night in the high school auditorium. This year, the show has production values (I'm using that term so it will appear that I actually know what I'm talking about) and there's some real TALENT on the show. I think they sent the wrong cowboy home last night, but we'll see what America thinks about the rest of them. (I don't vote; just criticize.) Jewel has come into her own as a judge. John Rich apparently is a genius; I'd like to have him producing MY record! And Jeff Steele looks like a handsomer, younger, cooler version of Mutt Lang.
I was totally disappointed in the Nashville Show last night. Where on earth did they find what they call talent and John Rick makes Simon Cowell look an angel. I will not be watching that show any more this season and maybe never until they find better judges and what they call talent.
The judges really,really SUCK!Get some judges with more then a couple of songs to decide who's got talent.And if contestants want to sing Rock "N' Roll Go On Another Show.That's another thing,Judges should know the difference between Rock And Country,Have them listen to George Jones Or Merle Haggard And So On
I think the wrong guy went home--Charley has a great voice and stage presence. Allison was bug eyed and faking it.
I think the end game will be Coffey and Gabe.
Big Mistake letting this guy last night go...He was the only one I liked listening to..Coffey should have gone plus Navy and Pretty Boy
I watched the show last night and was so disappointed that Charley Jenkins got voted off. The judges kept telling the contestants to involve and engage the audience, and so he does and as a reward he gets voted off. And you know I don't think he sounds like Garth Brooks, but last time I checked Garth has sold a few million albums so somebody in the world must like that sound. But I give him credit for showing class about that big disappointment. I was ok with him not being the top, but he surely wasn't last place. I guess it really is true that good guys finish last.
wix rox!
I watched last night and was kind of disappointed. What were the judges looking for? They kind of contridicted themselves. There were not very many who could sing! Charley was one of the better ones in my eyes. I liked the girl trio, girl duo and the last girl from Texas to sing. I am rooting her on for now. She is an inspuration to others that may not be a size "2", to follow their dreams. I did not like some of the dancing moves she did but that girl has some pipes!
Charley was not the guy to send home home last night, at the beginning of his performance the judges seemed to enjoy it and at some point something happened and the judges looked disappointed, i still believe he should not have been booted out and the people should have decided, after all is it not the people who buy the albums.
For all of you that agree that Charley should not have been sent home he does have two albums out! So you can give him a second chance! He writes all of his own music and is very very talented! I looked him up on Itunes and his two albums are "Ridin" and "Round Here". I agree the judges are ridiculous!
This show is a disgrace to country music. It makes me sad that Nashville's talent and country music is being paraded around in this awful way. Sad. Sad. Sad. Last night was the first time I've watched, and it will be the last. Too bad the world's twisted view of what real country music is will continue to be perpetuated, in part by this show.
Well Charley has a myspace, a couple actually. www.myspace.com/charleyjenkins and http://www.myspace.com/charleyjenkinsfanclub. He also has great music! I've been to several of Charley's concerts and he does an excellent job. If you want to listen to a great song go to his myspace and select Yippy Ki Yi Yo! He does right all of his own music and a lot like "Hero at Home?" are about his own life. That specific song his about his dad who died of cancer. I also heard an interesting story from Midnight Sun Events. They "sponser" Charley in away and they had a very interesting post to their myspace that I think everyone should know about. I'll post it next.
FROM MIDNIGHT SUN EVENTS:
I am writing you to ask for your help. I want to get the truth out there to all real NS fans. I am writing you concerning the first taping of Nashville Star which took place on June 2nd. As you know they let Charley Jenkins go. This was a shock to the crowd, after all they had polled the crowd and Charley was never lower than 5th. However you might not know the real story. As will been seen on the 9th Charley handled the elimination with class and dignity. However the TRUE story comes afterwards. Charley was taken up-stairs at the theater to do some interviews and then brought back down stairs to the stage where Jewel walked across the stage and talked with Charley. With almost tears in her eyes she proceeded to tell Charley how things really went down. She told him that the judges did not want to send him home. In fact she told him three other names of the contestants that they wanted to eliminate besides Charley. Jewel said that the NBC high-ups would not let them get rid of the other contestants with included Justin Gaston and Third Town. Jewel said the NBC suits told the Judges who had to go. Jewel ended her conversation with Charley by saying she was so sorry and that NBC gave them no choice. Not only that, later that night Charley heard the exact same story from someone else who was in the deciding room. But in this account the informer told Charley about how headed it was in the deciding room and how forceful the NBC high-ups were on the judges.
I just wanted to write you this letter and ask for your help in getting the real story out there. Charley is a true gentleman and would never act as sore looser. But I was there and this is how it truly went down. Nashville Star is a set-up this year and everyone should know the truth not only for Charley's sake but all involved.
If you have any questions or know of how I can help get the word out please let me know!
Thanks for your help!
From the internet and a fan who was in the audience.....
Support Charley Jenkins.....he is WONDERFUL!!! www. myspace. com/charleyjenkins
Wix,
Where did you find those glasses? Those must be reaaaallly small, just to get by that giant snoz of yours. Ha, cha, cha, cha, cha!
Wix,
Where did you find those glasses? Those must be reaaaallly small, just to get by that giant snoz of yours. Ha, cha, cha, cha, cha!
BRING CHARLEY JENKINS BACK...AND I'M WITH THE REST OF YOU WHO SAYS THEY NEED TO SEND THE JUDGES HOME...WHAT ON HEAVEN EARTH MADE THEM THINK THEY COULD JUDGE REAL TALENT..
I been watching Nashville Star since it first came on and I have to say I'm more than disappointed in this one...From what I saw you had only a few that could really sing and you sent one of the best one home...STEELE and JEWEL...I don't see how you of all people could sent Charley home...AND as for you JEWEL he sings ciccles around you..MAYBE...That is whyyou thought you had to send him home is because he is a TRUE DOWN TO EARTH REAL COUNTRY ARTIST and YOU ARE NOT...and...JOHN i'm disappointed in you not as much as for STEELE and JEWEL...I think it is a disgrace of you all in what you did to CHARLEY and the way you did it..SHAMEFUL..
I HOPE AND PRAY SOMEONE OUT THERE HEARD CHARLEY JENKINS SING AND GIVE HIM A CHANCE AT A REAL RECORD DEAL and SHOW THE WORLD THAT EVERYONE AIN'T TONE DEATH AND WHO SEES REAL TALENT WHEN IT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM...MY GOD YOU PEOPLE AIN'T JUSY BLIND YOU ARE DOWN RIGHT STUPID AS WELL...i'M VERY DISAPPOINTED AS A COUNTRY FAN...MAYBE..I NEED TO RETHINK MY SUPPORT OF COUNTRY MUSIC...GEES
CHARLEY YOU DON'T GIVE UP...YOU WILL GET YOUR RECORD DEAL YOU WANT...I BELIEVE IN YOU AND YOU DON'T NEED THAT FORREST OF A SHOW TO MAKE YOU A NASHVILLE STAR...YOU ARE ALREADY A STAR AND A DOG GONE GOOD COUNTRY SINGER TO BOOT...CHARLEY YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES AND YOUR DREAM WILL COME TRUE...YOU ARE TRUELY A COUNTRY SINGER.
Shawn Mayer really rocked tonight. She is not only beautiful, but she has a beautiful voice. Way to go, Shawn!
seriously gabe is way better than charlie . i think the judges did love charley but it wasnt about higher ups it was about performance he walked up the stairs and sang i like it i love it he just walked around and got every one to stand up . not hard to do when the crew are asking everyone in the audience to make noise and get into it he just walked around . he had a moment to really sing one and show em what he had . the only time the judges saw him was when he walked by . i mean come on ya gotta get over it . he need to play the judges that night. that was the one night when it mattered
So the judges disagree at times. They're not perfect computerized judging machines, after all. But they HAVE been unanimous -- and haven't been able to contain their excitement -- for Gabe. Consistent through all three episodes thus far.
