It's Thanksgiving weekend and for the Opry that usually means a pretty good weekend of shows as many of the artists who live in the Nashville area are home for the holiday weekend. And this weekend's shows are pretty good with appearances by Brad Paisley, Lorrie Morgan, Rhonda Vincent and Jimmy Wayne among others. Overall, it is a pretty balanced line-up of shows for this weekend. Here are the line-ups:
Friday November 27
7:00: Jeannie Seely(host); Jim Ed Brown; Rhonda Vincent
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Lorrie Morgan
8:00: Riders In The Sky(host); Jan Howard; Jimmy C. Newman; Matt Kennon
8:30: Mike Snider(host); Connie Smith
Saturday November 28
First Show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Jimmy Wayne
7:30: Mike Snider(host); Jim Ed Brown; The Whites
8:00: Lorrie Morgan(host); Riders In The Sky; Cherryholmes; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson(host); Connie Smith; Brad Paisley
Second Show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Lorrie Morgan; Brad Paisley
10:00: Mike Snider(host); Charlie Louvin; Jimmy Wayne
10:30: Jeannie Seely(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson(host); Connie Smith; Cherryholmes
They have top loaded the 2nd show on Saturday night with Lorrie Morgan and Brad Paisley in the 1st segment. The Ryman Auditorium is always tough to get emptied and to get the people in for the 2nd show as there is limited lobby space and entrances to the building. Add that to the parking situation in downtown Nashville, especially if there is a hockey game or concert going on, and many, many people are late getting in to the 2nd show. Some of them I am sure will be unhappy if they miss the star power during that segment. Also, David Ball is hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree at the record shop. I am sure almost all of you remember back in the day that the Midnight Jamboree guest host was always on the Opry. Not so anymore. There is still a slot to fill on the Friday night show, during the final segment. Typically, that is a pretty good act in that slot, so maybe the Opry will fill it with a quality performer and not Mandy Barnett or Rebecca Lynn Howard, which seems to be usually the case. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend to all!!
Yeah, unless they've figured out a guaranteed way to get the audience in and out quicker, they really need to schedule the major people at least 10 or after. This didn't used to matter as much when the shows were 2 1/2-3 hours long and cost half or 3/4 of what they cost now but with the short shows and the nearly $60 price on the good seats, they need to make sure all the people have the chance to get something for their money and are able to see the headliners.
ReplyDeleteI think you meant that they should schedule a star and not one of the "fallback" performers whom Fisher turns to when he needs to fill a hole. Of course, they may plan a surprise, or figure Vince Gill will be popping in, as he sometimes does.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the toploading of the second show has anything to do with Lorrie or Brad wanting to get out of there, so to speak. Sometimes over the years the manager has had a performer work the 8:30 and 9:30 segments so that s/he can get in and out quickly due to other commitments.
Thanks for pointing out my misuse of words. Sometimes with Vince and the Ryman, you have to look at the schedule for the Nashville Predators, as Vince enjoys going to the games and many times, if the Predators are playing at home on a Friday or Saturday night, he will schedule his Opry appearances either before the game, when he thinks the game will be in intermission, or after the game. I don't know if it is the case, but Vince used to walk back and forth between the Ryman and the Arena. I also just want to make one point regarding some of the comments I make regarding Mandy Barnett and Rebecca Lynn Howard. I know that they are on the Opry a lot, or so it seems, and I know that I make some comments about them not being "top of the line" stars. But, I actually enjoy both of them and they do, in my opinion, have talent. I know that they have both had a little success, but just never that breakout hit. As they grow older, I know the chances of that happening are slimmer. But, from everything I have heard, they are both good people. So, when you read my comments on Mandy and Rebecca Lynn, it is nothing personal.
ReplyDeleteListened tonight on WSMonline. Doyle Dykes ended up filling that slot. Also, during Mike Snider's segment tonight he was talking and his cell phone started ringing repeatedly. Dickens cancelled tonight(Jack Greene filled in). A lot of these new male singers sound alike but I thought this Matt Kennon was actually pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the last hour of it. I did not know Jimmy Dickens cancelled. Did Jack Greene host the segment, or did they just extend Jeannie Seely and added Greene. Also, I did hear Doyle Dykes on but I did not catch who was singing Amazing Grace while he played. Did anyone catch it? Doyle is one of the best guitarists around.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Dickens was not on the Saturday shows either. Mike Terry said on the Opry warm-up show that Jimmy was under the weather. Jim Ed Brown hosted the opening segments on both shows in place of Jimmy. To fill the slot that Jim Ed had later in the 1st show, Mike Terry said he thought Charlie Louvin would fill it. I did not hear that part of the show so I do not know if Charlie did take that spot or not. On the 2nd show, Jim Ed was not originally scheduled so he was an add-on for that show.
ReplyDeleteI only listened on Saturday from 8 CT on... so I don't know if Charlie Louvin was on the 1st show or not. He was on the 2nd show.
ReplyDeleteOn Friday, Lorrie Morgan hosted the segment with Jack Greene and Bobby Osborne.
Doyle Dykes daughter sang Amazing Grace.
Brad Paisley was great last night on both shows. I always enjoy it when these big people play without their noisy loud bands and just with their guitar because you can hear the lyrics and their voices so clearly. I really never listened to the lyrics on some of Brad's songs until last night. It was interesting to actually hear the words and how funny a couple of these songs actually are.