By BRIDGETTE NORRIS
Between the perfect blend of a serious storyline and laugh out loud moments, the show Malibu Country made the right kind of first impression to viewers in its season premier on Nov. 2.
The show features Reba McEntire as Reba Gallager, a former country star who leaves her cheating husband. Reba takes her two children, played by Justin Prentice and Juliette Angelo, and her mother and heads for California. The oldest child played by Prentice has difficulty adjusting after the move and accepting he is not the popular jock like he was in Nashville. On the other hand, her daughter played by Angelo makes friends easily, more specifically a male friend who lives next door. Prentice’s character is similar to the brother in the Disney show Hannah Montana, and the annoying next-door neighbor is similar to the character Barbara Jean in the show Reba.
The show starts with Reba’s husband claiming in a press conference that his wife has forgiven him and plans to support him, he then asks her to tell the crowd that this is true. She mumbles he better not ask her that, but he insists and she calls him a moron, announces she is leaving him.
On the same day the family moves in, the annoying next-door neighbor barges in to welcome Reba but ends up stepping on both her and her mother’s toes. Sometime shortly after this, Reba’s mother switches from moonshine to marijuana, claiming she saw a sign that read to call this number if one had been feeling anxious.
On a more serious note, while Reba attempts to support her family without her husband, she tries to get back into the music industry. She is denied at first but it’s obvious her character is determined. One can predict Reba will be singing throughout the series and her comeback career will be a part of the show.
Far from boring, the characters are humorous with just their facial expressions. The family displays stereotypical folks from Nashville; hence Reba and her mother drink Moonshine at the table in the middle of the afternoon. The next episode is Friday at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. 3 out of 4 stars.
The 411
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 30 minutes
Season premiere: 11/02