ABC’s new procedural drama creates its own reality inside Davidson County. Between new laws of physics, surprise tornadoes, immaculate municipal facilities and universally corny dialogue, 9-1-1: Nashville — the latest entry in Ryan Murphy's ever-expanding 9-1-1 franchise — is cobbling together an action-packed soap opera out of the city’s stereotypes.
From Altman’s ‘Nashville’ to Khouri’s ‘Nashville,’ ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ to ‘Scarpetta,’ does our town have the infrastructure to become Movie City?
The show, which debuted Oct. 9, centers on a family headed by Nashville Fire Capt. Don Hart (Chris O’Donnell). During the day, Hart works closely with his son Ryan (Michael Provost) at the station; at night, the two rope calves at the Bridgestone Arena rodeo. (The venue is the Nashville Arena in the world of the show. Though filmed locally, 9-1-1: Nashville's various settings and places of business often vary ever so slightly from their real-world analogs.) Blythe Hart (Jessica Capshaw), Don’s wife and Ryan’s mother, supplies enough family wealth to fund the family’s luxury hobby farm.
In a plot twist that would satisfy both Dolly Parton and Shakespeare, the show introduces an existential threat to the Harts in Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes). While we can look to our city's trained professionals in times of natural disaster, the show’s L.A.-based creators (Murphy, Tim Minear and Rashad Raisani) suggest that church, love, teamwork and honesty can conquer all human-made chaos.
The pilot sprinkles in other Nashville faces, like dispatcher Cammie Raleigh (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) and country star Kane Brown, who marshals an impromptu rescue effort when a massive tornado suddenly tears a path toward his midday Ascend Amphitheater concert. In Centennial Park, another dubious disaster disrupts a child’s birthday party; when hot chicken indigestion strikes an unprepared bachelorette party, their runaway pedal tavern careens into Broadway traffic. These Easter eggs are fun for locals to spot and help distract from the storyline’s dramatic absurdity.
Locals may cringe at the show’s power to reduce the city to a few dimensions. We know them well: hot chicken, cowboy hats, country dreams, downtown benders, bachelorette parties. 9-1-1: Nashville ensures that these remain Nashville’s major cultural exports. Its frustrating stereotypes also underscore the need for more mainstream art made by the city’s many creative ambassadors. (Hayley Williams added her voice in August with “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.”)
For now, consider ABC a weekly participant in the multi-sided battle over Nashville’s complicated identity. The first episode brought in a reported 3.72 million viewers. Episode 2 will air at 8 p.m. Central this Thursday, Oct. 16, on ABC, and will be available via Hulu the next day.
