GONE COUNTRY Episode Descriptions

01/14/08



Episode 101   PREMIERE: “Comin’ To My City”
Premieres Friday, January 25 at 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., ET/PT

Known for pushing the limits of mainstream country music with the genre-bending MuzikMafia, John Rich, of the hit country duo Big & Rich, takes on his biggest challenge yet, taking seven established performers from every realm of the entertainment and music industries and immersing them in all things country for a chance to break out as the next big country superstar. The one who is most successful at crossing-over by the end of the series, will have a country single produced by Rich.

The series opens with a tour bus scouring Nashville to pick up the seven cast members at different “Music City” landmarks: Carnie Wilson, Dee Snider, Diana DeGarmo, Julio Iglesias Jr., Maureen McCormick, Sisqo – and lastly, the unlikely country hopeful, Bobby Brown. The cast arrives at the Nashville mansion that will be their home during these two weeks and gets to know each other. Rich Rich arrives in larger than life fashion, introduces himself to the group and joins them for a down-home southern dinner. During dinner, Rich announces that they will each have to compose an original country song with the help of Music Row’s finest songwriters and perform this song in front of a live Nashville audience.

Episode 102   “Cooking Up a MuzikMafia Showdown”
Premieres Friday, February 1 at 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., ET/PT

Rich schools the group in what he calls “southern hospitality” and asks the cast to host a meal for his MuzikMafia family. The group must shop, prepare and serve the dinner, using John’s grandmother’s recipes, for the Mafia and other guests that night. After dinner, the Mafia challenges the group to perform each of their mainstream hits onstage. Nerves and tensions mount as the contestants test their skills before their first live audience in Nashville.

Episode 103   “Redneck Woman & the Hick Chick Challenge”
Premieres Friday, February 8 at 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., ET/PT

Rich takes the cast to Gretchen Wilson’s ranch to learn the country way of life. The “redneck woman” puts the group to work cleaning stalls, corralling yearlings and feeding horses; after all the chores are done, Wilson gives the cast gives a lesson in skeet shooting. That evening, the group heads downtown for a “Hick Chick” challenge that involves a belching contest, a watermelon seed spitting competition and a toilet seat toss. Tempers flare later in the evening.

Episode 104    “Washing Cars & Baring Souls”
Premieres Friday, February 15 at 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., ET/PT

Rich advises the cast that there is more to “going country” than donning a cowboy hat and playing a guitar; it’s also about helping out your fellow neighbor. The group is challenged to raise money by hosting a charity car wash for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. After the car wash, the cast travels to the hospital to meet the children whom they have worked to help, and one special story steals their hearts. Upon returning to the house, the group unwinds and comes together for an impromptu group therapy session.



Episode 105   “Image Is Everything”
Premieres Friday, February 22 at 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., ET/PT

Rich turns the on the contestants’ physical image and introduces them to legendary designer, Manuel, who will provide the group with special attire for their final performance. After shopping, the cast heads back to the mansion for another lesson in image, preparing for press interviews when changing their image. Two journalists come to the mansion to ask the group the tough questions they can expect when attempting to cross-over to country music.

Episode 106   “Demo Day & Critiques”
Premieres Friday, February 29 at 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., ET/PT

A note from Rich tells the cast that later in the day they will be recording a demo of their country singles and he will review each track that evening. The group first blows off some steam by participating in an ATV challenge (which ends up being more of a mud fight) and then gets to work laying down their tracks. Country music legend Randy Owen of Alabama, accompanies Rich to the mansion that evening where the two review the cast’s country singles. Afterwards, the group scrambles to interpret their critiques and begin to question their future in country music. The cast learns that their final performance will be the next night and all of Nashville has been invited.

Episode 107   SEASON FINALE: “Who Has Gone Country?”
Premieres Friday, March 7 at 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., ET/PT

The final performance is upon the cast, and their nerves are on edge as they prepare to present Nashville with their songs. The cast enters the Wildhorse Saloon, where they will be performing that evening, and gets ready for their performance with rehearsals, sound checks and hair & make-up. Rich arms the gang with one of the things that inspired him most in life as a performer, an inspirational prayer and a pep talk from his father, the preacher. The cast takes the stage and performs – and in the end, only one remains as the GONE COUNTRY winner.

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