Sequins, Singing & Struggling for Power: Branson Famous Premieres on truTV Monday

At my very first Channel Guide blog meeting, the Editor in Chief, Barb, asked what show I’d like to get my feet wet with. “What kind of shows are you interested in?” Before I could say “Not reality TV —pleasepleasePLEASE not reality TV,” the first episode of Branson Famous landed in my lap. And I was fully prepared to hate it. I am, by no means, a highbrow kind of person — one look at my DVR would tell you that. I just find reality TV to be formulaic, scripted and, well, not grounded anywhere in reality. It is by far my least favorite genre. So, of course, this is the point in my posting where I (in the spirit of almost any reality show) make a totally predictable move and grudgingly admit I might be hooked on Branson Famous after one episode. (Shhhh. Please don’t tell anyone. I have a reality-hating reputation to uphold.)

Debuting this Monday, Dec. 29 at 10pm ET/PT on truTV, Branson Famous is billed as the first-ever Reality Musical. From what I can tell, that means it’s dropped into a typical reality show template (those camera angles, and that canned music, and those “meetings” that no group of friends or family ever really have, and those testimonials — oh, those testimonials). But this reality show comes with a twist: half of those testimonials (OH, THOSE TESTIMONIALS) are sung to the camera in Branson-style family musical format. Now, I personally find it very awkward when someone sings directly to me, even on TV, but despite my discomfort, I COULD NOT STOP WATCHING. It’s one thing to watch someone go off about a fellow castmate’s shortcomings on camera; it’s a whole other thing to watch her sing about it in a sassy country music-style. (I only hope that when my friends talk about me behind my back, they also burst into song. Nothing would make me happier.)

Branson Famous stars members of the Mabe family, who have been struggling for some time with declining ticket sales for their Branson variety show, The Baldknobbers Jamboree. Tim and Patty Mabe, who oversee the variety show and the family (respectively), are joined by their son Brandon and his girlfriend Megan (who, upon meeting, divorced their respective spouses, which is clearly a Whole Thing in the plot of this show). Breezy Mabe, Patty and Tim’s daughter, is the only Mabe to star in Branson Famous but not in The Baldknobbers Jamboree, though she has aspirations to do both. Also starring are Brent and Denton Mabe, who either were not in the first episode or had such small parts that they didn’t make a “denton” my psyche (groan), and Heather Gentry, the newest member of the variety show’s cast and the biggest threat to Megan’s ego. We’re talking Branson, so of course we’re talking big hair, cowboy hats, glitter, sequins and more makeup than your nearest Clinique counter. And singing to the camera. Have I mentioned the singing to the camera thing? Oh, I have? Could NOT stop watching, people.

In hopes of saving their Branson empire, the Mabes audition Heather, a blonde bombshell, to join their act. Result: power struggles. They do their best to dazzle an investor in hopes of getting some new financing. Result: power struggles. Megan wants a ring from Brandon. Breezy wants outta the giftshop and onto the stage. Brandon and Tim both want control over the business. Power struggles, power struggles, power struggles. To be fair, what would a reality show be without power struggles? These days, my main power struggle involves getting an 8-year-old to go to bed at a reasonable hour, which involves no singing, nor dancing, nor big hair and makeup. I guess I’ll have to get my singing-dancing-big hair fix from Branson Famous. I admit it: I’m hooked. (Shhhh, don’t tell.)