9-1-1 Nashville spoilers and updates reveal Rashad Raisani, showrunner for the latest in the 9-1-1 franchise, dishes on crossover plans for the program in an interview. He also comments on “Unrecognizable Dixie,” referring to Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes).
Ryan Murphy’s Franchise Sought To Heal A ‘Lone Star’ Shaped Hole In Fans’ Hearts
Ryan Murphy’s “9-1-1” franchise aimed to fill the void left by “Lone Star” in the hearts of fans with the premiere of the new spinoff “9-1-1: Nashville” on October 9. While it shares a cowboy vibe similar to Fox’s “9-1-1: Lone Star,” ABC’s “Nashville” introduces an entirely fresh cast.
Chris O’Donnell (Captain Don Hart), Jessica Capshaw (Blythe Hart), Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Cammie Raleigh), LeAnn Rimes, Hailey Kilgore (Taylor Thompson), Michael Provost (Ryan Hart), Juani Feliz (Roxie Alba), and Hunter McVey (Blue Bennings.
This is along with a new setting and fresh drama in the personal lives of its first responders, featuring long-lost sons, scheming ex-partners, and envious brothers. Blue and Ryan clashed from the very start; their father’s solution was to make Ryan train Blue as a fireman cadet!
The Show Returns October 23 With Its Third Episode
The show is set to return on October 23 with its third episode, which will continue right from where the two-part series premiere concluded. It featured a multi-episode arc involving a tornado and a stadium collapse disaster.
While the “9-1-1” franchise has previously tackled a twister, showrunner Rashad Raisani reassures fans that “Nashville” will set itself apart from its L.A.-based counterpart, “9-1-1.”
Both Raisani and series creator and showrunner Tim Minear had previously worked on “Lone Star.” Additionally, the first crossover episode with the lead-in “9-1-1” will occur in the second episode of “Nashville.”
Raisani Talks About The Upcoming Crossover
“A small event is set to occur very soon, particularly during the ‘9-1-1’ hour,” Raisani playfully hinted to Variety in anticipation of Episode 2. He further elaborated, saying: “We are actively strategizing and exploring ways to make this crossover happen. Whether it will take place towards the end of Season 1 or at the beginning of Season 2, it is definitely in the planning stages.”
Regarding the possibility of reintroducing any beloved characters from ‘Lone Star’ into ‘Nashville,’ Raisani expressed his enthusiasm, stating he would “absolutely love it.” But he emphasized that “it will ultimately hinge on the storyline and the availability of the actors.”
Raisani Continues Talking About Crossover Possibilities
“We are certainly eager to bring them on board. And I believe we will find a way to balance that with our desire to allow the characters from ‘Nashville’ to establish themselves with the audience and truly shine.
Once that is fully underway, we can begin to weave in some of these other characters.” Raisani pointed out that “Lone Star” lead Rob Lowe’s character, Owen, ended up in New York at the conclusion of the Fox series, “so that’s not too far away.”
In addition, Lowe’s real-life brother, Chad Lowe, serves as a producer on the “Nashville” set, which means there are always opportunities.”
“Variety” Interviewed Raisani About The Show, See The Interview Below
Interviewer: “9-1-1: Nashville” sets a new standard compared to “9-1-1: Lone Star,” which might have been “9-1-1: Austin.” Did you think about calling it “9-1-1: Music City” instead?
Raisani: We did look at several titles; as we learned about Nashville and spoke with locals — and honestly, some marketing folks — we felt that “Nashville” captured it best.
“Music City” seemed vague, suggesting it was solely about music, and we wanted to highlight that Nashville has much more to offer. Ultimately, we decided on “Nashville” for its broader appeal, rather than focusing on just one aspect of the city.
What About The Long-Lost Son Storyline, Where Did that Come From?
Interviewer: What inspired the long-lost son storyline involving Don, his son, and estranged son Blue? Raisani: Ryan Murphy had the initial idea; he wanted to tell a story about a father and son, where the son believes he has the perfect family until it’s shattered.
That was Ryan’s vision for the series, and we built on it. Personally, I’ve always been drawn to the prodigal son tale from the Bible, as I’m an older brother-I relate to the brother who feels overlooked after doing all the work. It’s a powerful story for me, and I connected with it immediately when he pitched it.
How Did LeAnn Rimes Get Involved?
Interviewer: How did LeAnn Rimes get the role of Dixie, Blue’s mother and Don’s ex-girlfriend? Raisani: She got involved the traditional way.
The role was simply written as Dixie, and she auditioned. I’ll never forget the call from casting right after her audition saying, “We just saw lightning in a bottle.”
Watching that audition was electric and incredible-I’ve known LeAnn Rimes for years, but she was unrecognizable as Dixie. Even before she spoke, with the cigarette in her hand, I thought, “That’s it. That’s her;” she truly delivered the best audition ever. It was amazing.
Was There Any Connection Between Dixie’s Son Being Named Blue, And LeAnn’s Famous Song?
Interviewer: I need to find out whether the name for Dixie’s son, Blue, was established before or after the casting of LeAnn Rimes, who is known for her hit song titled “Blue”. Raisani: That’s simply a coincidence, a stroke of fate.
Ryan Murphy, in addition to his many impressive insights, once remarked, “And I believe the son ought to be called Blue because I think the country is prepared for a child named Blue.”
This was determined before we realized that LeAnn would be part of the project; I then remarked to her, “Isn’t this just strange?” It’s merely coincidental, although I think it’s fate.
How Was The Big Opening Emergency Decided?
Interviewer: How did you choose the major opening emergency for “Nashville”? Raisani: It was a mix of factors-one, a real stadium collapse, a tragic event that inspired us; we had considered it during “Lone Star,” but it didn’t fit creatively or logistically. As we searched for the most iconic way to start “Nashville,” that collapse kept coming to mind.
Our partners at ABC suggested, “Let’s cast a real singer, not a fake one, someone who can act and be part of the show;” that’s how Kane Brown came into the picture. It felt exciting to have someone famous with a great song who could also help resolve the story.
Variety Wanted To Know What Raisani Can Tease About Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s Character
Interviewer: We only got a glimpse of Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s character, Cammie, the 9-1-1 dispatcher, in the premiere; what can you share about her?
Raisani: We refer to her as the Southern heartbeat of the show; Kimberly shines as Cammie, bringing a sweet yet witty energy- I adore all her calls; she’s fantastic.
We’ll discover that Cammie didn’t start as a 9-1-1 dispatcher; she transitioned to this role later in life, just five years ago.
Previously, she was a music producer, but after a tragic event, which we’ll explore in the show, she changed careers; there’s a lot more to her than meets the eye.
Is The Field Training Cadet Program Real?
Interviewer: In the premiere, Don offers his long-lost son, Blue, a job at the fire station with him and Ryan, mentioning a cadet program for field training.
Is that real- how will this play out in the show-it seems wild even for ‘9-1-1.’ Raisani: Yes, the cadet program is real and has been for a while; it’s typically used in extreme emergencies, like the biggest fires.
So, Don is correct; it exists, but Ryan thinks it’s crazy, and soon the fire chief will agree, saying it’s unacceptable, and things will get intense. A key point is that Don’s guilt drives him to make questionable decisions as a captain at first-that’s what sparks this situation.
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with 9-1-1: Nashville right now. Come back here often for 9-1-1: Nashville spoilers, news, and updates.
