Post by George WK Newman on Apr 6, 2010 15:30:42 GMT -5
1.01 - “Pilot”
guest; Dolly Parton
Jesse has a messy break from his struggling nu-metal band “Gutwrench” during a practice session in some low rent garage, leaving behind his girlfriend and her brother.
Jesse calls up his agent and long time friend Jonny Kleimo (played by Paul Reiser) to get drunk. They end up in a roadhouse that plays country music where they quickly get drunk, loud, and obnoxious. Just moments before they are put in their place by a couple of redneck boys Jesse makes a bet with Jonny that he could make it as a big time country & western star.
The next day Jesse wakes up with a bruised face and ego, a massive hangover and a message on his answering machine from Jonny. It’s a lead, a guy he knows (Steve Money) who normally produces Rock albums but has done some country ever since he hooked up with a hot female country star. Jonny says that is all the help he will get and the rest is up to him.
Jesse walks out the front door of his second level apartment to see his car, condo, and his cat have all been spraypainted by the Gutwrenchers. As he walks back into his apartment he hears the answering machine kick in and one of his old bandmates threatening to kick his ass.
Jesse goes to a pawn shop where he sells off his Fender and some cash for an acoustic guitar, and along with a duffle bag he grabs a flight to Nashville. On the plane he flips through a “Country Roots” magazine that is proclaiming Tab Franks to be the next great thing as his new song “Redneck Boy” has just hit #1. Standing with Franks in the picture is his producer, Steve Money. The headlines proclaim “He is one of us, as honest as the day is long, and as country as Wrangler Blue Jeans”.
Jesse arrives at the record company but can’t sweet talk his way past the receptionist, despite having an appointment with Money. In desperation Jesse begins to sing a song he improvises from the start, “My Dog Drove My Truck Over the Cliff (To Bad My Wife Wasn’t Init)”. She’s not impressed, in fact she’s more annoyed. However, we see a comely looking blonde (Jessica) who gets quite the case of giggles as she watches in the foyer.
Into the foyer walks Tab Franks on his way out, and he tells Jesse he sounds like a Yamaha in a wind tunnel. Tab tells the receptionist to call security. Jessica stands up for him saying he's just trying to get a break, remember what it was like? But Tab just tells her to hit the road, like she did when he kicked her out last time. This brings Jesse face to face with Tab as security arrives. Tab takes the opportunity to catch Jesse with a sucker punch to the face, right on his already brusied cheek.
Jesse and Jessica find themselves on the street in front of the building. In a case of misery likes company they go to a nearby café for a drink and desert. They get to know each other. Jessica says she is from a long line of Country performers, but it’s a history of backup singers and studio musicians, with some jingle writers thrown in. She had bigger aspirations and contacts, Steve Money’s wife, but she also had a leech of a boyfriend (Tab) who stole her music and then kicked her to the curb when Steve Money told Tab that single artists sold more records then attached ones. She still gets the occasional work in Nashville, mostly as a backup singer, but was thinking of heading back to Kentucky soon. Jesse says that would be a shame and makes her blush. She asks for his story, and he starts by saying he’s from New Jersey, which gets a shocked outburst from her. New Jersey? Country singer? He retreats, realizing he needs to come up with a cover story. He claims his parents moved there from Texas when he was a youngster but he was C&W through and through. Jessica asks in song if he "is country from his head down to his toes", and its obvious that he doesn’t “get it”. They change the subject to Tab and what occurred. After a brief rehashing in which they make fun of Tab’s big, plodding mannerism they both break into fits of laughter. However they soon sober up to the fact that they have made serious enemies in the town.
“I couldn’t help but overhearing what you two poor love birds were saying, and it’s a shame” a voice from behind Jesse. “Oh we’re not lovebirds..”starts Jesse as he turns around to see Dolly Parton standing there. They are both speechless. Dolly says that it’s a shame, and Nashville just isn’t the same anymore. She says there was once a time when the industry and fans would see right through a phoney like Tab Franks. Well she says, she is not without friends in this town. She hands Jesse a business card and says to call her tomorrow to set something up. Then she says, “now where are my manners, I didn’t introduce myself…”you’re Dolly Parton” finishes Jesse. They all shake hands and Jesse introduces Jessica, and then himself as “Jesse Taylor”. This immediately concerns Dolly, as she says “as in the Baptism of?”. Jesse says he has heard that many times. Jessica immediately suggests Jesse Traylor for his stagename, and the two women swoon over the name and him. Jesse tries to object saying it sounds like Traylor-trash. Dolly says, “I’ve seen them come and go in this town kid, and you have it. You are going to be a huge star. As long as you can connect with the fans” "Call me tomorrow sugar"
1.02 - "Sing For Your Supper"
guest; Dolly Parton
Jesse & Jessica hit the bar scene looking for work. Most places find Jesse too "urban" and by that we don't mean Keith Urban, another wants Jessica to strip while Jesse plays, and the only one that offers Jesse a job looks like something straight off the Blues Brothers, chickenwire enclosed stage and all.
They run into one of Jessica's older brothers who is a studio musician, mostly does jingles, who immediately begins to sniff out Jesse (literally) for a city slicker. He puts doubt into Jessica's mind about the story of moving from Texas.
In the meantime Jesse keeps trying Dolly Parton at the number she gave him, to no avail. He finally believes that they have been blown off by her. Jessica says that's not the way it's done in Nashville, maybe in New Jersey. This creates the first fight between the fledging couple.
Jesse's agent and friend Jonny flies down to Nashville to find Jesse (who doesn't have a phone yet) and tries to track him down through the record company. He runs into Tab Franks and gets the same awful treatment that was afforded Jesse previously.
Jesse and Jessica take the stage that night at the Roadhouse, and after a rough start with some very country songs, they find their gear with more uptempo rock & country material.
Meanwhile Jonny wants revenge, 'joisey style', so he pays off the limo driver and takes his place, driving Tab Franks to his promotional appearance that night. But instead he takes him to a different establishment, a male strip club. Tab walks in and almost immediately realizes the mistake, but he's recognized and people start to snap photos of him. He tries to grab the cameras from the patrons, but that just allows more time for an ever increasing number of shots to be taken; now with a male dancer posing right behind Tab.
Jesse & Jessica finish their set but the payoff is only a few bucks and supper (a grissly steak and over cooked potato).
As they commiserate over the dinner in walks Dolly Parton. She apolgizes for not calling them back sooner, but a dear friend of hers passed away this morning and she was with the family today. She looks like she could use a drink and suddenly the cheapskate owner is falling all over himself, (and fixing his comb over) to ply the table with beer. She tells "J&J" that she caught the last couple of numbers they did and it really lifted her spirits. She asks if they have one more still in them. They take up their guitars and with Dolly Parton perform "Down In The Valley".
1.03 - "Hold My Beer"
guest: Aaron Pritchett
Dolly Parton sends a young songwriter "Buck" from Nova Scotia Canada (played by Aaron Pritchett) over to see Jesse with a song he wrote "Hold My Beer" that she thinks has potential for Jesse.
Things don't go well though as Buck takes an instant disliking to anyone or anything below the 49th parallel but above the Mason-Dixon line.
Things go from bad to worse when the boys try and patch things up over a few beers. They get into an over competitive game of air hockey, and then when Jesse turns down the advances of Buck's sister Dory (who is built like a linebacker and is the current armwrestling champion of Tewksbury, Nova Scotia) Buck takes it personal.
In the end it takes a mutual enemy in Tab Franks to pull things off. Buck takes his song to Franks who laughs him out of the studio. With a burr in his saddle Buck returns to see if Jesse will try the song out. He does so, on stage at his bar gig in a duet with Buck, and the crowd eats it up.
1.04 - "Midnight in Montgomery"
guests: Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr.
Discouraged that he is still playing the bars Jesse asks his agent Jonny to try and find him a gig. When Jonny comes back that he can get a gig at Mobile Alabama in front of thousands of fans Jesse jumps at the chance. The catch though is that it is not country, but a 80's glam rock band who need a lead singer for the night as an opening act on a big 5 band show. He agrees to do it anyway, saying this country stuff isn't working out. When he tells Jessica his intentions that leads to a fight and he goes alone. As bad luck would have it Jesse's car breaks down near Montgomery. He finds himself walking to try and find help and ends up at a graveyard. He thinks he sees a man at a gravesite so he makes his way there, only to find it deserted. He looks down and see's the well kept grave of country legend Hank Williams.
Jesse is startled by a voice behind him a drunken man in a cowboy suit, He said 'friend it's good to see you, it's nice to know you care'. (Hank Williams Jr.) and then just as quick the man disappears.
A startled Jesse takes off running and soon finds himself at a train station. His luck begins to turn when he manages to catch a train leaving for Mobile. On board he is invited to play cards with two older gentlemen wearing cowboy boots and hats, guitars nearby (Kenny Rogers & Willie Nelson). When Jesse tells them about the cemetary Willie asks him "what have you been smoking?" As the card game winds to an end and Jesse tells them of his struggles to make it as a country singer, Kenny begins to fade to sleep. As he does he tells Jesse "You never count your money when youre sittin at the table, there'll be time enough for countin' when the dealing done. 'cause every hands a winner and every hands a loser. Kid, you just got to play your cards right."
When the train arrives in Mobile Jesse gets off, and immediately boards a train headed back to Montgomery.
1.05 - "When Country Wasn't Cool"
guest: Tanya Tucker
1.06 - "Baptism of Jesse Traylor"
guests: Oak Ridge Boys
1.07 - "Traylor Trash"
guests: Jeff "Mutt" Lang
1.08 - "Johnny Rosen Up Your Bow.."
guests: Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley
1.09 - "Celebrity"
guests; Brad Paisley, Gary Coleman, Howie Long
1.10 - "Gone Country"
guest; Alan Jackson
1.11 - "You Can't Go Home"
guest; Jon Bon Jovi
1.12 - "When I Get Where I'm Going"
guests; Brad Paisely, Dolly Parton
1.13 - "The Bickersons"
guests: Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
1.14 - "Some Gave All"
guest: Billy Ray Cyrus
1.15 - "Faithfully"
guest; Steve Perry
1.16
1.17
1.18
1.19
1.20
1.21
1.22 - "Shotgun Wedding"
guest; Dolly Parton
Jesse has a messy break from his struggling nu-metal band “Gutwrench” during a practice session in some low rent garage, leaving behind his girlfriend and her brother.
Jesse calls up his agent and long time friend Jonny Kleimo (played by Paul Reiser) to get drunk. They end up in a roadhouse that plays country music where they quickly get drunk, loud, and obnoxious. Just moments before they are put in their place by a couple of redneck boys Jesse makes a bet with Jonny that he could make it as a big time country & western star.
The next day Jesse wakes up with a bruised face and ego, a massive hangover and a message on his answering machine from Jonny. It’s a lead, a guy he knows (Steve Money) who normally produces Rock albums but has done some country ever since he hooked up with a hot female country star. Jonny says that is all the help he will get and the rest is up to him.
Jesse walks out the front door of his second level apartment to see his car, condo, and his cat have all been spraypainted by the Gutwrenchers. As he walks back into his apartment he hears the answering machine kick in and one of his old bandmates threatening to kick his ass.
Jesse goes to a pawn shop where he sells off his Fender and some cash for an acoustic guitar, and along with a duffle bag he grabs a flight to Nashville. On the plane he flips through a “Country Roots” magazine that is proclaiming Tab Franks to be the next great thing as his new song “Redneck Boy” has just hit #1. Standing with Franks in the picture is his producer, Steve Money. The headlines proclaim “He is one of us, as honest as the day is long, and as country as Wrangler Blue Jeans”.
Jesse arrives at the record company but can’t sweet talk his way past the receptionist, despite having an appointment with Money. In desperation Jesse begins to sing a song he improvises from the start, “My Dog Drove My Truck Over the Cliff (To Bad My Wife Wasn’t Init)”. She’s not impressed, in fact she’s more annoyed. However, we see a comely looking blonde (Jessica) who gets quite the case of giggles as she watches in the foyer.
Into the foyer walks Tab Franks on his way out, and he tells Jesse he sounds like a Yamaha in a wind tunnel. Tab tells the receptionist to call security. Jessica stands up for him saying he's just trying to get a break, remember what it was like? But Tab just tells her to hit the road, like she did when he kicked her out last time. This brings Jesse face to face with Tab as security arrives. Tab takes the opportunity to catch Jesse with a sucker punch to the face, right on his already brusied cheek.
Jesse and Jessica find themselves on the street in front of the building. In a case of misery likes company they go to a nearby café for a drink and desert. They get to know each other. Jessica says she is from a long line of Country performers, but it’s a history of backup singers and studio musicians, with some jingle writers thrown in. She had bigger aspirations and contacts, Steve Money’s wife, but she also had a leech of a boyfriend (Tab) who stole her music and then kicked her to the curb when Steve Money told Tab that single artists sold more records then attached ones. She still gets the occasional work in Nashville, mostly as a backup singer, but was thinking of heading back to Kentucky soon. Jesse says that would be a shame and makes her blush. She asks for his story, and he starts by saying he’s from New Jersey, which gets a shocked outburst from her. New Jersey? Country singer? He retreats, realizing he needs to come up with a cover story. He claims his parents moved there from Texas when he was a youngster but he was C&W through and through. Jessica asks in song if he "is country from his head down to his toes", and its obvious that he doesn’t “get it”. They change the subject to Tab and what occurred. After a brief rehashing in which they make fun of Tab’s big, plodding mannerism they both break into fits of laughter. However they soon sober up to the fact that they have made serious enemies in the town.
“I couldn’t help but overhearing what you two poor love birds were saying, and it’s a shame” a voice from behind Jesse. “Oh we’re not lovebirds..”starts Jesse as he turns around to see Dolly Parton standing there. They are both speechless. Dolly says that it’s a shame, and Nashville just isn’t the same anymore. She says there was once a time when the industry and fans would see right through a phoney like Tab Franks. Well she says, she is not without friends in this town. She hands Jesse a business card and says to call her tomorrow to set something up. Then she says, “now where are my manners, I didn’t introduce myself…”you’re Dolly Parton” finishes Jesse. They all shake hands and Jesse introduces Jessica, and then himself as “Jesse Taylor”. This immediately concerns Dolly, as she says “as in the Baptism of?”. Jesse says he has heard that many times. Jessica immediately suggests Jesse Traylor for his stagename, and the two women swoon over the name and him. Jesse tries to object saying it sounds like Traylor-trash. Dolly says, “I’ve seen them come and go in this town kid, and you have it. You are going to be a huge star. As long as you can connect with the fans” "Call me tomorrow sugar"
1.02 - "Sing For Your Supper"
guest; Dolly Parton
Jesse & Jessica hit the bar scene looking for work. Most places find Jesse too "urban" and by that we don't mean Keith Urban, another wants Jessica to strip while Jesse plays, and the only one that offers Jesse a job looks like something straight off the Blues Brothers, chickenwire enclosed stage and all.
They run into one of Jessica's older brothers who is a studio musician, mostly does jingles, who immediately begins to sniff out Jesse (literally) for a city slicker. He puts doubt into Jessica's mind about the story of moving from Texas.
In the meantime Jesse keeps trying Dolly Parton at the number she gave him, to no avail. He finally believes that they have been blown off by her. Jessica says that's not the way it's done in Nashville, maybe in New Jersey. This creates the first fight between the fledging couple.
Jesse's agent and friend Jonny flies down to Nashville to find Jesse (who doesn't have a phone yet) and tries to track him down through the record company. He runs into Tab Franks and gets the same awful treatment that was afforded Jesse previously.
Jesse and Jessica take the stage that night at the Roadhouse, and after a rough start with some very country songs, they find their gear with more uptempo rock & country material.
Meanwhile Jonny wants revenge, 'joisey style', so he pays off the limo driver and takes his place, driving Tab Franks to his promotional appearance that night. But instead he takes him to a different establishment, a male strip club. Tab walks in and almost immediately realizes the mistake, but he's recognized and people start to snap photos of him. He tries to grab the cameras from the patrons, but that just allows more time for an ever increasing number of shots to be taken; now with a male dancer posing right behind Tab.
Jesse & Jessica finish their set but the payoff is only a few bucks and supper (a grissly steak and over cooked potato).
As they commiserate over the dinner in walks Dolly Parton. She apolgizes for not calling them back sooner, but a dear friend of hers passed away this morning and she was with the family today. She looks like she could use a drink and suddenly the cheapskate owner is falling all over himself, (and fixing his comb over) to ply the table with beer. She tells "J&J" that she caught the last couple of numbers they did and it really lifted her spirits. She asks if they have one more still in them. They take up their guitars and with Dolly Parton perform "Down In The Valley".
1.03 - "Hold My Beer"
guest: Aaron Pritchett
Dolly Parton sends a young songwriter "Buck" from Nova Scotia Canada (played by Aaron Pritchett) over to see Jesse with a song he wrote "Hold My Beer" that she thinks has potential for Jesse.
Things don't go well though as Buck takes an instant disliking to anyone or anything below the 49th parallel but above the Mason-Dixon line.
Things go from bad to worse when the boys try and patch things up over a few beers. They get into an over competitive game of air hockey, and then when Jesse turns down the advances of Buck's sister Dory (who is built like a linebacker and is the current armwrestling champion of Tewksbury, Nova Scotia) Buck takes it personal.
In the end it takes a mutual enemy in Tab Franks to pull things off. Buck takes his song to Franks who laughs him out of the studio. With a burr in his saddle Buck returns to see if Jesse will try the song out. He does so, on stage at his bar gig in a duet with Buck, and the crowd eats it up.
1.04 - "Midnight in Montgomery"
guests: Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr.
Discouraged that he is still playing the bars Jesse asks his agent Jonny to try and find him a gig. When Jonny comes back that he can get a gig at Mobile Alabama in front of thousands of fans Jesse jumps at the chance. The catch though is that it is not country, but a 80's glam rock band who need a lead singer for the night as an opening act on a big 5 band show. He agrees to do it anyway, saying this country stuff isn't working out. When he tells Jessica his intentions that leads to a fight and he goes alone. As bad luck would have it Jesse's car breaks down near Montgomery. He finds himself walking to try and find help and ends up at a graveyard. He thinks he sees a man at a gravesite so he makes his way there, only to find it deserted. He looks down and see's the well kept grave of country legend Hank Williams.
Jesse is startled by a voice behind him a drunken man in a cowboy suit, He said 'friend it's good to see you, it's nice to know you care'. (Hank Williams Jr.) and then just as quick the man disappears.
A startled Jesse takes off running and soon finds himself at a train station. His luck begins to turn when he manages to catch a train leaving for Mobile. On board he is invited to play cards with two older gentlemen wearing cowboy boots and hats, guitars nearby (Kenny Rogers & Willie Nelson). When Jesse tells them about the cemetary Willie asks him "what have you been smoking?" As the card game winds to an end and Jesse tells them of his struggles to make it as a country singer, Kenny begins to fade to sleep. As he does he tells Jesse "You never count your money when youre sittin at the table, there'll be time enough for countin' when the dealing done. 'cause every hands a winner and every hands a loser. Kid, you just got to play your cards right."
When the train arrives in Mobile Jesse gets off, and immediately boards a train headed back to Montgomery.
1.05 - "When Country Wasn't Cool"
guest: Tanya Tucker
1.06 - "Baptism of Jesse Traylor"
guests: Oak Ridge Boys
1.07 - "Traylor Trash"
guests: Jeff "Mutt" Lang
1.08 - "Johnny Rosen Up Your Bow.."
guests: Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley
1.09 - "Celebrity"
guests; Brad Paisley, Gary Coleman, Howie Long
1.10 - "Gone Country"
guest; Alan Jackson
1.11 - "You Can't Go Home"
guest; Jon Bon Jovi
1.12 - "When I Get Where I'm Going"
guests; Brad Paisely, Dolly Parton
1.13 - "The Bickersons"
guests: Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
1.14 - "Some Gave All"
guest: Billy Ray Cyrus
1.15 - "Faithfully"
guest; Steve Perry
1.16
1.17
1.18
1.19
1.20
1.21
1.22 - "Shotgun Wedding"