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NASHVILLE Series Finale: Why The Creator and Lead Studio Decided To End On The Juliette/Avery Cliffhanger!

Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

If you were like us, you were preparing to see all the loose-ends of the storylines tied up, and to say one last goodbye to the characters you have loved over four seasons on the music city soap opera, Nashville, during Wednesday night’s series finale.  Earlier this month, ABC had previously announced they decided to cancel the series.  However, as viewers witnessed, the series creator Callie Khouri and lead studio Lionsgate TV decided to go with a shocking cliffhanger, instead of a finale happy ending fplanned or long-suffering lovebirds, Avery (Jonathan Jackson) and Juliette (Hayden Panettiere).

The reason is simple. They have high hopes that Nashville will live to see another day and have its fifth season, either on an online platform such as Hulu, or perhaps a basic cable and premium network that Lionsgate co-owns such as Pop or EPIX.  Following the conclusion of Nashville, Khouri revealed to Deadline: “Nashville fans are the absolute best, and support for the #BringBackNashville campaign has been amazing. We are so grateful for our extremely loyal following. We have stories left to tell and songs left to sing.”  Meanwhile following last night’s broadcast, Lionsgate tweeted out, What a cliffhanger! But we won’t leave you hanging. There’s more story to be told.

The studio has already funded a season five writers room, led by new showrunners, Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, who succeed Dee Johnson.  But will they get the chance to show what they can do with the show?  Will this fan driven effort and that of the studios fall by the wayside as TNT’s Dallas did, despite its best efforts to find another home for several months after its cancellation?

Courtesy/ABC

As to the series finale recap of the action, here is what went down! The emancipation of Maddie (Lennon Stella) came to a happy conclusion following a Deacon (Charles Esten) rescue attempt that worked!  Maddie, who had defied her parents, signed a record deal and cannot be located or communicated with, and is headed for big trouble now that a certain record producer has taken over producing her first album.  When Rayna (Connie Britton) finds out who that is, she panics!  She tries to desperately get a hold of Maddie to warn her. Seems when Rayna was a young artist, saidproducer tried to have sex with her, and now she is concerned he is preying on her daughter.  When Maddie’s record level exec won’t help Rayna, she takes it upon herself to write an open letter on the guy and her past with him, and have it posted online via the Huffington Post, so Maddie might see it.  And just as Maddie is alone with the producer and he is pouring her drinks and ready to make his move on her, Maddie gets a text about her mom’s letter.  She reads it online  and panics.  Just then, Deacon busts in and saves his daughter.  Crises averted.  He brings her home to Rayna and the whole family is finally back together in one piece.

Courtesy/ABC

Finally, Scarlett (Claire Bowen) tells Gunnar (Sam Palladio) she loves him, but at the most inopportune time as Autumn (Alicia Witt) walks in and lets Scarlett know that she is now with the love of Scarlett’s life!  It takes the entire episode for Gunnar to finally come to his senses and in what would have been the final performance of the duo known as “The Exes”.  But right in the middle of their song, Gunnar plants a kiss on Scartlett.  Scott Reeves, who plays their manager is looking on from the wings next to Autumn.  He gloats:  “Looks like they are still a duo.”   To which an irate Autumn replies, “Yeah, but they are so fired!”

Will (Chris Carmack) makes it on to conservative talk show host, Cynthia Davis show, after Luke (Will Chase), Kevin (Kyle Dean Massey) and he organize a street rally/protest.  When Will sits on-air with Davis, he tells her she is scared and pushes back against her anti-gay agenda by noting: “People’s minds change when they stop being afraid. I’m a human being, I’m a good man, I’m a good son.”  After his victory on the show, he takes to the streets to perform his original song along with Luke Wheeler.  Kevin is in the audience watching.  Afterwards, Luke advises Will to grab love while he can and to try to make a go with Kevin, who is a good guy.  He is going to do the same and try to get back with his ex-wife.  Will goes into the crowd and Kevin and him kiss; deciding to try again at their relationship.

Courtesy/ABC

The vindictive Layla (Aubrey Peeples) is finally caught in her web of lies after she is the one who leaks the truth of Juliette’s involvement in Jeff Fordham’s death.   As Avery and Cadence are set to fly to LA, since Juliette wants to see her daughter and is heading to the Oscars, Layla sets her plan in motion. But Juliette decide to set the record straight.  Before going inside the Oscars, she decides to do a live TV interview where she admits Jeff saved her from committing suicide.  Avery is watching and is devastated because shortly before she tried to end her life, he served her with divorce papers.  Suddenly both Avery and Layla’s manager get a clue! It’s Layla who leaked this info on Juliette and she manipulated this situation with Avery  all along.  Avery is furious and tells Layla to go to hell.

Then in the final moments, following her TV reveal, Juliette decides to forego the Oscars and has her plane take her to Nasvhille instead stating: “I have somewhere more important to be!”   Meanwhile, Avery with Cadence is waiting at the airport for Juliette’s flight to arrive, only to have an airport representative tell him that Juliette’s plane sent out a distress signal and they have lost contact with her flight! Fade to black!

What did you think about the series finale?  What did you think about the cliffhanger?  Do you think Nashville will be picked up somewhere and air its fifth season?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Plz plz Nashville back for 5th season it’s gre as t look forward to wednesday nights love the show put it back on its soo loved

I sure hope someone else picks it up. Abc is always getting rid of good shows. It’s there M.O.

I agree Diane, hopefully Netflix or USA Network pick up Nashville. ABC are pathetic for cancelling Nashville. ABC will stab you in the back, cancelling OLTL and AMC was the worst mistake ABC made. They will never admit there mistake. I hope they choke on it.

I’ve noticed that, too. Like when NBC canceled SOUTHLAND and TNT ran it for several successful seasons after picking it up. Are we to believe that TNT doesn’t care about ratings or profits or could it be that they just put more trust in the audience to find their way to the show? We NEED NASHVILLE BACK.

Please,please someone bring it back.

I thought the finale was spectacular and couldn’t love these characters more. Luke stands out in my mind because I loved him from the beginning. Though I was and am a Deacon fan I was never of the camp that thought Luke was evil and out to hurt Rayna. He just got caught in the middle of an unfinished love. I bring him up because he was just such a standup guy, going to bat for Will. Will…sigh. Talk about gorgeous! Loved his story and how he eventually became the hero of his own life. Just beautiful…lol…I’m getting misty.
Scarlett and Gunnar, so great together. Love how their story came full circle. Fear, hurt, commitment issues, insecurities, emotional upheaval…through it all and their separate ways you felt their underlying love. Their kiss was perfect, the song they sang perfect too. As always, the writers managed to tie the music to the story.
Layla. Poor, fragile, beautiful Layla. Never could keep love. So happy she was finally appreciated as an artist. Bittersweet…
Rayna and Deacon finding their way back to each other, Maddie coming home, the open letter to her, the social commentary about the dangers of the business for young artists…and happy Daphne was included. She got to sing…the writers left the family in a great place.
As for Avery and Juliette, I think it was so heartwarming to see the woman Juliette had become. Clearing Jeff’s name, his reputation, acknowledging that he died a hero saving her life…so glad for that. I was also very happy that Avery learned the truth, his love and compassion strong. And, if it WAS Juliette’s swan song, (I hope not) I’m happy that she knew Avery still loved her.
I thought the writers did a phenomenal job tending to each character’s story, it didn’t feel rushed but organic.
I’m personally glad they left us sith a cliffhanger. It gives me hope that this show will find a new home and continue on. If any show deserves to be saved, Nashville ranks in the top as one that definitely does! A bientot Nashville…

Nice post. ITA. Bring back Nashville!

Thanks Trudy. Fingers crossed…

Great post, Rebecca. I agree with your every word.

So Nashville is what it takes for us to agree??? Lol, thanks Harry!

Shame ABC cancelled NASHVILLE. After two difficult seasons, it seems the powers that be set up a revived series. Am hoping this new TV landscape of streaming and corporate cable partnering allows for a fifth season, even a couple of movie events to take us further along.

YES! If they can’t resurrect the entire show, at least a couple of two-hour movies would be appreciated!

Have this show back, it’s awesome, a great cast and the gay story line is awesome too! I want it back like so many others. ABC is so dumb to cancel it out, the President of ABC is the one that should be shown the door.

To whom it may concern:
Please reconsider your decision to cancel this show permanently. I absolutely agree that some station needs to pick Nashville up. It is far too good of a Soap to end. I will be looking forward to its return, to see and hear about all the many issues that the characters have dealt with and the many more they can deal with in the future episodes. There is still so much of a story to tell.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Jeannie

EVERYONE SIGN PETITION AND HOPE THIS WONDERFUL SHOW RETURNS TO A NETWORK WITH SOME COMMON SENSE…..AND…STOP WATCHING ABC!

LOVED IT!!! I will miss this show so much.

This cliffhanger for a cancelled show was well done. I can imagine how the characters would end up. Nicely done. I hope an online outlet or Netflix, Hulu pick Nashville up for a fifth season.

This is one show that I love. I hope some other station will pick it up. I am so sick of ABC getting good shows and just cancel them with no thought of fans. I so wanted Juliette and Avery back together. I just sit there with my mouth open. I do not think I can shut it after watching that episode. I will forever be a Nashville fan.

This was a bad joke. They put an end to all the other stories, then stuck it to the loyal fans with a Bronx cheer. ABC CAN WATCH THEIR OWN CHANNEL
EL.

Could not agree more. After the ABC executives work all day long they can go home and watch their own stupid shows.

Didn’t like Jonathan Jackson working with Hayden P. to me he was a wasted talent on a so so show and actress.

WHY, ABC, WHY?
Aside from GH, Nashville was the ONLY ABC show I watched. I even watched it on real time and yes, saw some commercials. This is a stupid move.

X-cellent finale recap, Michael…Thank YOU!

Here’s hoping “Nashville” will find a new home and will live to see another season!!

Nashville

Hayden Panettiere Reveals Filming ‘Nashville’ was ‘Traumatizing’; Writers Used Her Personal Struggles with Addiction, Postpartum as Storylines

Nashville and former Guiding Light star, Hayden Panettiere (ex-Lizzie, GL) opened up about her final seasons on the ABC country music primetime drama, where the show touched too close to home for the actress who played lead character, Juliette Barnes.

In an interview with The Messenger, Hayden shared that during the run of the show from 2012-2018, she feels that the writers, more often that not, pulled from her real life while crafting Juliette’s storylines.

Hayden said on the years she spent filming the series that it was “also very traumatizing because I felt like I was acting out my own life.”

Photo: JPI

Previously, the actress had shared that her dependency on alcohol and opioids as a teenager led to her dependency in her adult life. In addition, Nashville told the story of Juliette’s postpartum depression, which also mirrored Panettiere’s experience who went through the same thing when her own daughter was born.

Explaining what went down behind the scenes, Hayden recalled: “Straight from the beginning, it was like, I’m dating a football player, (and then) Juliette dates a football player. And then they turned her into an alcoholic. Then they turned to her leaving her daughter and going to this crazy (place) in Europe, and it was very obvious.”

Photo: ABC

The actress added, ‘They weren’t doing their homework. They weren’t creating new storylines. They were just looking at my life and going, ‘Oh, let’s just take what she’s going through and put our little spin on it.’ And then, ta-da! It’s done and done.”

Photo: JPI

Hayden added that she didn’t have time to care of herself and the pain she was going through physically and emotionally, so she tried to watch mindless TV and shows to help her calm down. Panettiere also felt that when she knew she had to go back to the set of Nashville, she did, “anything to keep my mind off of that because I knew that next day I was going to be back at it again. I was like, tear central. I don’t even think on a soap opera that I cried as much (as I did) on Nashville.”

Hayden is set to make three upcoming appearances of her A Conversation With Hayden Panettiere live series in New York on February 23 and Washington D.C. on February 24.

So, do you think the Nashville writers literally stole creative ideas for the character of Juliette Barnes based on Hayden’s personal struggles? It certainly on paper seems so. Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Jonathan Jackson Reunites with Stars from ‘Nashville’ for New Tour Across the UK

He won five Daytime Emmys as General Hospital’s Lucky Spencer and now actor and musician, Jonathan Jackson is scheduled to head to the United Kingdom this fall, when he reunites with some of the cast of the former ABC primetime music city drama, Nashville.

Jackson shared on his Instagram, “This has been in the works for a while, and I’m thrilled to announce that the NASHVILLE cast and I are reuniting for a special UK tour this October. I’m excited about this!”

Courtesy/ABC

On Nashville, Jonathan Jackson starred for six season as Avery Barkley before the series concluded in the summer of 2018, after it moved from ABC to CMT for its final two seasons.

Joining Jonathan on the Nashville reunion tour are his former co-stars Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, and Sam Palladio. The fab four will play shows in Glasgow, Birmingham,  London, and Cardiff, as they tour the UK.

Photo: GigsandTours

If you are in the UK and wanted to get your tickets early, the presale is already underway.  The general sale tickets will become available tomorrow on Thursday, March 9, beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Go to Gigs and Tours.com to purchase.

With GH’s 60th anniversary just a few weeks away, do you wish somehow Jonathan Jackson was brought back just for even a little while to reprise his role as Lucky? Would you like to see the ‘Nashville’ tour here in the states? Comment below.

 

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Guiding Light

GL and ‘Nashville’ Alum Hayden Panettiere Loses Her Younger Brother Jansen at 28-Years-Old

Just devastating news to report on Monday evening.  Hayden Panettiere’s (ex-Lizzie, Guiding Light, ex-Juliette, Nashville) younger brother Jansen Panettiere has died at only 28-years-old.

According to TMZ,  Jansen died over the weekend in New York.  His cause of death is not available, but there was no foul play suspected in Jansen’s death.  Police responded to a call and came to a residence at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday where they found Jansen.

As with his sister, Jansen was deep into his acting career and was only five years younger than Hayden.

Throughout his career he appeared in Even Stevens, The X’sTiger CruiseRacing StripesThe Martial Arts Kid, The Walking Dead, Major Crimes, and the holiday film Love and Love Not.

Less than 3 weeks ago, Jansen shared an adorable picture on his Instagram with his hair being cut by his big sister, Hayden.

Jansen is survived by Hayden and their parents, Lesley Vogel and Skip Panettiere.

Send your love and condolences to Hayden and her family on the sudden passing of Jansen via the comment section below.

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