How “real” is “Real Country” (10 p.m., USA, TV-PG)? The “new” reality musical competition features Shania Twain, Jake Owen and Travis Tritt as hosts and mentors of aspiring country artists. It takes place in a huge amphitheater before a loud, hooting audience with a professional studio band and all the bells and whistles of every other musical competition series you’ve ever seen.
While there’s nothing terribly new here, you can’t fault the hosts for trying to put a new spin on a familiar format. But sometimes they seem to assume that we’ve never watched television and haven’t heard this all before.
The promotional material made available includes some absurd whoppers.
Tritt is on hand to champion old-fashioned country, harkening back to the days when things were simple and pure. But he looks like he spent more time in hair and makeup than Shania. Twain says she wants to champion “diversity,” then brings out a singer whose peroxide persona would not be out of place on “Fox & Friends.” Owen says he’s all about contemporary sounds.
My favorite bit of hyperbole comes from Twain, who says, “there’s never been anything” like “Real Country.” I’d believe that if I suddenly suffered amnesia and forgot all of the country moments on “American Idol” and “The Voice” or series like “Nashville Star,” “Gone Country” or “CMT’s Next Superstar.”
I guess nothing says reality TV more than people trying too hard to seem genuine. This would be easier to take if they just relaxed and embraced the spectacle.
More than most genres, country music has always been up-front about combining the razzle-dazzle with the illusion of sincerity. The first country stars to transcend regional appeal were Hollywood stars. And Roy Rogers was as glammed up as Liberace. There’s nothing more Nashville than a Nudie suit, the gaudiest getup imaginable.
Perhaps nobody summed up the fakery of Nashville showbiz better than Dolly Parton, who famously quipped that “it takes a lot of money to look this cheap.”
For all of its “American Idol”-inspired production values, “Real Country” still puts giant hay bales on its stage, just like they used to on “The Porter Wagoner Show,” when Parton performed there more than 50 years ago.
— In other musical news, Netflix begins streaming “Loudon Wainwright III: Surviving Twin.”
TV-themed DVDs available today include the complete series collection of “Detectorists.”
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Back in the pews on “The Conners” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
— Decades after combat, soldiers reunite with men who saved their lives on the second season premiere of “We’ll Meet Again” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings), hosted by Ann Curry.
— “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” (9 p.m., A&E) interviews former members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect, who share stories of tragedy and loss.
— Weapons of mass distraction on “The Kids Are Alright” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
— War stories on “This Is Us” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— “Native America” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) concludes with two episodes.
— “The Curse of Oak Island” (9 p.m., History, TV-PG) enters its sixth season.
CULT CHOICE
— Political intrigue and violent spectacle blend in the 2000 epic “Gladiator” (10:30 p.m., Starz Encore), starring Russell Crowe.
SERIES NOTES
An art theft points to a darker conspiracy on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … The playoffs continue on “The Voice” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Crowdsourcing on “The Gifted” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … Rag Doll arrives on “The Flash” (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG).
Thieves pose as police on “FBI” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … Mykelti Williamson guest-stars on “Lethal Weapon” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … A music lesson fit for a Prince on “blackish” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … A stranger’s story proves terrifying on “Black Lightning” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) … A battle for territory on “Splitting Up Together” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Radicals rock the French Quarter on “NCIS: New Orleans” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14) … A transplant procedure goes south on “New Amsterdam” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … Training day looms on “The Rookie” (10 p.m., ABC).
LATE NIGHT
Jimmy Fallon welcomes Viola Davis, Wyatt Russell and Muse on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Jeff Goldblum, Dick Cavett, Mark Iacono and Caitlin Kalafus visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Elle King appears on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
