Fans of the ABC musical drama,Nashville, were disappointed when music producer, extraordinaire, T Bone Burnett left the show his wife executive produces, citing a busy schedule of upcoming projects as the reason.
Now, Burnett admits that there was just as much soapy drama behind the scenes as in front of the camera:
Burnett left ABC’s Nashville after one season, in which his idealized version of what country music ought to sound like won plaudits from fans and critics. Officially, he already had overstayed his welcome because he’d promised the showrunner — Callie Khouri, his wife — only a 13-episode commitment.
“I love working with Callie,” explains Burnett. “I have no problem working with Callie. I have a problem when people don’t treat Callie right. I like to see artists treated with tremendous respect, and I like the executives to say, ‘How can I help you do what you do?’ That’s what I do.”
And ABC didn’t? “Some people were making a drama about real musicians’ lives, and some were making a soap opera, so there was that confusion. It was a knockdown, bloody, drag-out fight, every episode. You remember that show The Prisoner? If I were to tell you the truth, you’d think I was insane. “
Oh! I wish he’d elaborate. It sounds like network suits being their typical micro-managing uncreative selves.
The rest of the interview, with The Hollywood Reporter, delves into Burnett’s recent projects. There are no holes in that man’s schedule. ABC’s loss.
Make sure to join Windmills for tonight’s Nashville discussion at 10/9 pm.