Nashville's New Image

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

Never judge a new television series until the end of its third episode. By then the stunting is over, you are beginning to see the characters. The storyline settles down.

ABC's "Nashville" on first night was pretty good. It was busy. The critics liked it and the audience was a healthy nine million. The 18-49 advertiser audience almost four million. Wishing the show luck as it tries to establish a beachhead at 10p ET on Wednesday nights.

The music might have been the weakest part of the show. Acting the strongest. Story might be a bit busy with a lot of characters to learn. At least in episode one.

The acting was strong and everyone wants to say who the actresses are channeling. Overall, a strong effort that has a mission impossible: Outlive the hype! The strength of the cast is their gold key to success.

"Celebrity Apprentice All Star edition" has begun production. Trace Adkins is back ... with crazy Gary Busey, Dennis Rodman and Bret Michaels. John Rich is up for being a mentor/advisor in the boardroom as a former winner.

CMA time is racing toward us. Nov. 1st with the Presidential elections a few nights later. November will be memorable. CMAs better hope the World Series doesn't go to seven games! Game 7 on Fox - Nov. 1st!

Luke Bryan stays in the news for all the right reasons lately. Big street party coming Oct 17th in downtown Nashville. On the same night a big event with Randy Owen, Vince Gill and Charlie Daniels -- career recognition for those three. Lots of stars in to support them. Going to be hard for newspeople to be in both places at the same time. It happens.

The holiday crop of new CDs are beginning to arrive. Jason Aldean this week, followed by Taylor Swift. The Christmas CDs are landing, too. Temps are cooling and things get busy...

When you watch the candidates battle this time of year ... every four years ... you wonder what the next four years will be like. More consolidation? More consulting from upon high? Or will local radio break out again? Will technology make TV more portable? The future seems more cloudy than ever. The economy? The political leadership, the motivation and habits of the public. Anyone who says they can read the tea leaves are lying. We may be in the most uncharted territory in the last 50 years.

2013 is booking up on Music Row. The tours, the releases. You just wonder how much more the audience is going to change in the process?