George & Tammy

As Episode 1 of "George & Tammy" (2022 release; 6 episodes of about 50 min. Each) opens, the King of Country is barely holding it together at the Grand Ole Opry. Soon after, Tammy is introduced to George at a seedy motel where he is staying with 2 women (neither being his wife), and she convinces him to let her open some of his shows. It's not long before George takes a serious interest in Tammy, who is married herself... At this pint we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this is the long-delayed mini series, helmed by Australian director John Hillcoat ("The Road", countless music videos). It brings the story of George Jones, then in his late 30s and already on the decline, and Tammy Wynette, more than a decade his junior and just about to rise like a meteor. In that this reminded me immediately of "A Star Is Born", rather than, say, "Walk The Line" as one of the other reviews states. The central question is: why would Tammy Wynette chose a life with a guy who is an alcoholic, a serial cheater (if not worse) and basically an overall loser? We get snippets of an explanation in Episode 1. I was quite impressed with Episode 1, from the production sets to the music, etc., but let's state the obvious: the lead performances by Jessica Chastain (as Tammy) and Michael Shannon (as George) are simply outstanding. Chastain IS Wynette, period. (Chastain also performs the songs, check out "Apartment No. 9" and "D. I. V. O. R. C. E." in Episode 1, and you'll see what I mean.

Episode 1 of "George & Tammy" premiered on Showtime last night and is now available on SHO on Demand and the streaming all. The remainder 5 episodes will be released on Sunday evening at 9 pm Eastern over the next 5 weeks. Can't wait to see the remainder episodes. If you have any interest in Tammy Wynette (or George Jones), or simply are in the mood for a mini-series with great lead performances, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

UPDATE Just saw Episode 2 and it reinforces all I saw before. Must see!

This review is written to those who were never brought up listening to "country" music. I'm one who wasn't. I watched this series because I like the main actors. Man, I blown away by the lyrics of these songs and the way they were sung! I didn't care if George and Tammy's life was accurately portrayed. I cared more about how the actors and the series itself made the words to these songs so vivid to me. I congratulate everyone who made this emotional story possible... which included their youngest daughter. It made me appreciate this music so much more. I'm impressed how how these simple songs can be packed with so much emotion. I'm convinced that anyone who isn't familiar with this genre will develop a special liking for it. I sure as hell did.

It seems to be a trend right now to have shows about true life stories or loosely based stories. From start to finish it really kept my attention their love and struggles while hearing music I enjoy. I see people posting the singing was terrible, but I do not think so. Shannon especially sounded good. I think people get in their head the real singers and will not have it in their heads someone else singing some of the songs. Sometimes we do not see past the true performances on stage and tv. The characters we derive in our heads may be completely different than their true personalities so you got to go into it open minded. Unlike some of the other stories I have watched recently that the captivating parts were in the first 2-3 episodes this was different it kept my attention start to finish. I am sure that everything is not completely accurate, but I found it well put together and interesting.

I am not much of a country fan so I had no expectations or the knowledge to nit pic the performances. I think both Jessica and Michael should win awards for their fantastic roles and, I loved their singing as well, this is a departure for Michael Shannon from my experience and he blew me away, Jessica Chastain is so beautiful, I now have a crush on her. I had no idea that their story was so fraught with addictions, jealousy and the usual hangers on pushing them to perform so they could make money off them. Overall great casting and a heart felt sad love story worth telling. I am telling everyone I know to watch the show.

George Jones was already a country music legend but heavy drinking was taking its' toll and he was on the way out unless he could do something about it. But there is no sign that he is about to do this or that he even cares what he is doing to himself until Tammy Wynette enters his life. Tammy was on the rise being only a year and a half in Nashville with three successful records to her credit. Tammy idolizes George or rather his music and finally is able to be hired as an opening singer for him. She is in love with him from the start but he is married and so is she with three kids of her own from a previous marriage and three inherited from her second husband. George falls in love with her and takes her away from her husband but their problems are just beginning and the biggest problem is that George is a self-destructive abusive drunk. I've only seen the first two episodes but it is pretty obvious how this is going to play out. Tammy is going to rise to the heights while George is probably going to sink to the depths and Tammy is going to hold onto him as long as she can but it will prove more than she can bare.

I know what happens later on and its' not pleasant. In fact, even episode two was hard to watch in places. So why do I think this is a 10 and plan to watch each episode multiple times as I have with the first two? First, it is extremely well written. It is very fast moving with each scene well thought out and placed. The scenes tell the story often without the need for dialog. George and Tammy are together and the scene cuts to her singing. He's singing and the scene cuts to her in the shower. She is singing "Stand By Your Man" and there are intercuts to George punching out Tammy's evil husband and retrieving the nude photographs he has been blackmailing her with. Second, the picture we get of the music industry in Nashville is revealing to say the least and the character development is sharp. Finally, the two main characters are terrific. Jessica Chastain as Tammy steals your heart as she stole George's and she is a heroine as she tries to rescue George from himself while putting up with his abuse. Of course she doesn't sound exactly like the real Tammy but to me she sings and performs the songs very well. George as played by Michael Shannon is probably a much stronger presence than was the real George Jones. He almost has to be in order to make the character palatable. The real George was 5-7 and quite ordinary looking while Shannon is 6-3, handsome and masculine. It is easy to see why Tammy, who was in love with his music, can also be in love with the man. And to me, Shannon not only sings like George, I think he sings the songs better than George. I love listening to him sing those great George Jones songs.

This is a long sad story about two people in a rut who work in a business populated by drunks, womanizers and con-men. And yet it is fascinating to watch. Highly recommended.