Sadly, I will watch this purely for the Maureen McCormick phenomena, but the LAST thing I need is to get hooked on yet another reality show; there just aren't enough hours in the day.

I swore I wouldn't watch the Tila Tequila show....and I did. It's all been downhill since then. Reality shows will be the bane of my fabulously trashy existence.

“I sit up here and snap my fingers and say, ‘Girl, you lookin' hoochie!'"

I caught the re-run on VH1 too.  And since I love country music, I decided to stick around.  Oh goodness, this should be good... 

Nobody objects to a woman being a good writer or sculptor or geneticist if at the same time she manages to be a good wife, good mother, good-looking, good-tempered, well-groomed, and unaggressive. - Leslie M. McIntyre

Two major storylines: (1) they had to cook dinner for members of the the Muzik Mafia and John Rich's grandmother to appreciate "Southern/Country hospitality." (2) they had to perform their own (previous hit) songs with John Rich's band to get their first taste of performing live in Nashville.

(1) Bobby Brown slept through the shopping trip because he had partied too hard the night before. He was very contrite when he got up, which won him points with the others. Carnie Wilson took charge of the cooking -- planning everything and doing all the hard stuff herself. The meal was deemed a success. Oh, and the other men got annoyed when Julio Iglesias Jr. took a nap during prep time.

(2) Sisqo struggled a little with the music because it was two octaves too high. Diana Degarmo had a great performance with a boring song. Carnie Wilson was really nervous and not very good. Bobby Brown was a hit. Dee Snyder wowed everyone with his stage presence but the pissing match with Bobby Brown flared up again. Julio Iglesias Jr was a hit with his father's "To all the girls I've loved before." John Rich joined him in the duet. Maureen McCormick chickened out and didn't perform.

This week they shoveled sh*t and roped horses at Gretchen Wilson's ranch in order to learn about the "country lifestyle." Bobby Brown freaked out about the horses.

Then they went back to Nashville without having hte opportunity to shower and participlated in some type of contest that involved belching and spitting watermelon seeds. Bobby Brown stormed off at some point and got really drunk and then got weirdly attached to a cheesesteak. Then that night he was sleepwalking and almost peeing all over his and Dee Snyder's room.

There's no county music in the show. It's getting annoying.

Well...there was a little bit of music this week. It was not the focus, but it was there.

This week began with a charity car wash to raise money for the music therapy program Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. (Apparently, country artists do a lot of work with children's hospitals -- which is kind of cool.) They washed and vaccuumed cars, and everyone did their share of work, but Julio Iglesias, Jr.. That seems to be a pattern.

After the car wash, they visited the hospital and participated in a group music therapy program. They hung out with the kids and parents, and Maureen McCormick got past her fear of public performance. It's hard not to be moved by children's hospital, so this whole part was pretty touching. Then Bobby Brown was comforting a woman whose baby was dying. Eventually, he and Sisqo went upstairs (off camera) to see the baby. Afterwards, Bobby was extremely emotional about his life and his kids. (At the end of the show, John Rich addressed the camera to provide the update that the baby had unexpectedly survived and was doing well.)

Finally, they showed the contestants working on their songs with their writing teams. Bobby Brown was singing about "the man I want to be." Maureen was singing something kind of rednecky wiith a bunch of "ain'ts" in it. Perhaps there will be more music next week.

The episodes have been building up on my dvr and I finally sat down and watched the last three tonight. And the final one was an hour! (It was a little exhausting.)

Episode 1 of 3

They began by getting outfitted to establish their country "look". Carnie Wilson had size issues. (but she eventually ended up with a Dollywood jacket that I want!)  Dee had country-style issues, but eventually realized he needed to embrace them to adopt a country persona. There were a few minutes with the songwriters! Maureen had a nice vocal about distinguishing herself from Marcia Brady. But she needed to sing it in the bathroom. Julio’s songwriters had a song for him that had nothing whatsoever to do with his style and he freaked a bit. Sisqo reiterated that he wanted to prove that he could master any style. (He’s my favorite, I think.) Then they did some press and Bobby was belligerent. Then they line danced. Sisqo and Bobby could move very well. Dee could not. And there was a bunch more about Bobby sleepwalking and peeing.  

Episode 2 of 3

The emphasis was finally completely on the music. (Well almost.) First there was a brief ATV-riding escapade with a seriously hot professional ATV racer, Krista Marie. Then they had to record a demo of their song and play it for John Rich and the lead singer of Alabama (Randy Something). All of them were present for the demo-playing.  

Julio Iglesias, Jr. had a crappy countryish ballad. It was a better song for him than last week's, but ugh. JR and Alabama guy liked it except for the Latin ending.  

Dee Snider "30 (Rock With Your Rooster Out)" Kind of a rockabilly track. Not bad but JR and Alabama guy found it trite.  

Sisqo "The Way That I Love You" Boring country ballad. JR was disappointed. Said no lines "had any teeth to them."  

Bobby Brown "Man I'm Gonna Be" JR liked it. I was bored.  

Maureen McCormic "Being Me" It was a little sappy, but surprisingly good. JR and Alabama guy liked the palpable emotion.  

Carnie Wilson "Everything Changed" nice pop country song. I liked it more than JR and Alabama guy did.  

Diana Degarmo "Right Back Where We Ended" Very pop, not very country. She had some voiceover musing about how similar country is too pop these days. Then JR ripped into her for having such a pop song. Then when JR asked her why she was in the competition, and she replied that she was interested in the challenge, he went ballistic about the integrity of country music and how he would kill or die for it.  

He reminded them that they still had time to revise their songs before the big show.  At this point I'm pulling for Maureen McCormick, but I've got a soft spot for Sisqo.  

Finale (3 fo 3)  

It's the big night! They're performing at the Wildhorse Saloon (where I've been, thank you very much) and this place is huge! Huge! And it's full of people. They get suited up, rehearse with the band and get ready to go.    

First up, Carnie Wilson. Her song sounds like a polished, country pop song (aided by steel guitar). The crowd liked her and she was very happy with her performance. She was not, however, wearing the Dollywood jacket. It was moving how proud of herself she was.  

Next was Julio Iglesias, Jr. His song sounded a wee bit more country, but I found it boring. Girls were screaming and he sat on the stage and sang to one of them.  

Then came Maureen McCormick with her sweet little song. She almost didn't make it onstage due to stage fright, but she got out there and did a fantastic job. The audience started to clap along. It was very nice.  

Diana Degarmo followed with her slightly countrified song. (Steel guitars really help.) She was good, but the song was too generic pop for me.  

Next was Bobby Brown. He's a hell of a performer but he just doesn't sound country to me, even with the steel guitar.  

Sisqo's song was better live than on the demo. The other contestants were appalled when he added some Sisqo-esque dance steps at the end.    

Finally, Dee Snider rocked the house. His revised song was much better and he comes alive on stage.  

The whole thing was pretty impressive. I would have given it to Maureen McCormick or Dee Snider with an honorable mention to Carnie Wilson.    

They're back at the house and JR is giving them feedback. He has nice things to say about all of them. And then he announces the winner...Julio Iglesias, Jr.  

Ugh. Wrong, wrong, wrong. But JR thinks he's the most bankable country star. It was the girls screaming, apparently. Of course, early on, JR was most excited about bringing the Latino market to country music so it felt a little pre-ordained.