Countryfied

CMT is quickly becoming one of my favorite networks. Last night, I was excited to watch the beginnings of two reality shows, "Gone Country 2" and "Outsiders Inn". These shows are linked because the three stars of "Outsiders Inn" were contestants on the first season of "Gone Country." I really wanted to like the second show. Maureen McCormick, Carnie Wilson and Bobby Brown had already been part of the reality tv world before they competed with each other to be country singers.

Now, though, they are working together, running an inn. Though this is being called a reality show, I have my doubts. A hot tub store that also sells moonshine and happens to have a piano? I don't think so. I like Maureen McCormick, though I'm surprised to see her embracing her Marcia Brady past. For so long, she avoided being linked to the show. She only did the video for a song in the movie Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star because the words for her to sing were very negative and bleepable. I wanted to like the show.

Maybe it will be better next week, but so far it looks like "Newhart" meets "Green Acres". Funny neighbors, fussy guests, crazy situations. It should be amusing, right? I'll have to see if it's better next week, eternal optimist that I am.

I have a lot more hope that "Gone Country 2" will be more entertaining. This year's contestants are an interesting mix. Lorenzo Lamas must have liked the exposure he got when his daughter was on "The Bachelor". I think the show is a good fit for him, though. I was happy to read that Irene Cara was going to be on the program, but so far she seems a little standoffish. I wonder how many of the people on the show are cussing out their agents?

The other competitors are Sebastian Bach, former Skid Row lead singer, Chris Kirkpatrick from 'N Sync, Mikalah Gordon from "American Idol", Jermaine Jackson of The Jackson 5 and actress Sean Young. The five singers on the show probably have the inside track. I think Lamas has had some singing experience, too. On last night's show, they all performed on a riverboat and Young seemed completely out of her element.

Chris Kirkpatrick was the one whose performance I liked most. I never paid attention to his boy band, so I had no idea what to expect. He's following other bandmates, Lance Bass, J.C. Chasez and Joey Fatone into the reality tv world. Fatone has been fairly successful at moving from "Dancing with the Stars" and "Fame" appearances into hosting jobs on shows like "The Singing Bee" and the recent "Celebrity Circus". Even Justin Timberlake has popped up on "The Osbournes" and "Punk'd".

I'm also looking forward to seeing what Jermaine Jackson does. It would be nice for one of the other brothers to have a career of his own. I thought he did a good job with his performance on the riverboat, but it wasn't a country song. It will be interesting to see how he does with the genre and what the song he writes in like. Writing songs is one of the most interesting parts of the series to me. I liked seeing the performers on "Can You Duet" sing their original songs. Hopefully, some of the "Gone Country" participants will do as well.