The show could grow on you quickly because those involved are actually talented and engaging on- and offstage. One upside to Nashville is that it doesn't feel as staged as "Laguna Beach" or, in particular, "The Hills," a spinoff of "Beach."

It's clear that this new Fox original series has its class act together as it follows singers both on the verge or stardom and just starting out as they chase their dreams in the capital of country music.

All the slick production values and some decent music in Nashville can't make up for these one-dimensional subjects, and their angst over their fledgling careers grows tiresome.

The show is as directionless as its stars.

Almost every scene on Nashville feels ploddingly staged. Every conversation is alarmingly, and unconvincingly, topical; no scene is wasted.

The show's dialogue feels scripted, its frequent hookups and breakups abrupt and phony, and its scenes from the music business out and out fraudulent.

Even if you're a shameless lover of "Laguna Beach" and its spinoff, "The Hills," you should probably avoid this country-flavored iteration of the semi-scripted reality soap formula. It's pretty doggone dull.