Malibu Country (ABC) - Series Premiere: Synopsis and Review

ABC’s newest series ‘Malibu Country’ revolves around country singer Reba, portrayed by Reba McEntire (‘Reba’). She gave up her country singer career to be with her family, but is about to start anew with her life.

The episode starts with the revelation that Reba’s husband, country singer Bobby Gallagher, has cheated on her. Together with his wife Bobby speaks at a press conference to explain what happened. When he pushes Reba to speak as well, she realizes, and announces to the press, she wants to leave him. She moves from Nashville to Malibu with her mother Lillie Mae (Lily Tomlin, ‘Desperate Housewives’) and her two teenage children, and she plans on reviving her singing career.

Immediately she meets Kim (Sara Rue, ‘Popular’), her next door neighbor with no regard for boundaries. Cash (Justin Prentice) and June (Juliette Angelo), Reba’s children, struggle with the move. June however quickly lightens up when she makes a new friend; a boy named Sage (Hudson Thames) who lives next door and is Kim’s stepson. Reba is concerned about him being alone with her daughter, until she learns Sage is gay. Imagine her surprise when she finds June making out with Sage at his house. Apparently, they were practicing their kissing-skills. According to Kim he ‘does that with all the girls’.

Between the boy kissing her daughter and the fact that producers won’t meet her because she isn’t ‘young and sexy’, Reba decides that they should go home to Tennessee. Her mother then confesses to her that Reba’s father cheated on her, and she stayed with him, even though it killed her inside. Reba decides to stay and write an amazing song to get her career started.

I liked ‘Malibu Country’, although the acting seemed a bit forced. The jokes were alright, it wasn’t hilarious but I didn’t expect it to be. ‘Malibu country’ to me seems to be just another comedy series, with the same spectrum of jokes but a different storyline. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you like those kinds of series. If you enjoyed Reba’s previous series, ‘Malibu Country’ could be the right show for you.

‘Malibu Country’ airs on ABC on Fridays at 8:30/7:30c.