Six Degrees of Martina McBride

"Six Degrees of Martina McBride" is a TV pilot where 6 aspiring country singers from America's smallest towns try to connect themselves to Martina McBride [http://www.martina-mcbride.com] in under six points of human connection. The program, tests the "Six Degrees of Separation Phenomenon"Those that make it from "Nowhere to Nashville to New York," get a studio session with Martina McBride and a shot at a record deal with Sony BMG.

The show also tells Martina McBride's own unique story of six degrees which helped advance her from selling T-shirts for Garth Brooks to opening for him on stage to becoming one of Country music's biggest superstars.

Rodney Atkins, Ray Benson, Little Big Town, and Miranda Lambert all appear in the show.

The pilot program was produced for the ABC Television Network by the production team of ABC News Primetime. This program is the first of its kind. It aired on July 30, 2007 as an entire season compressed into a one night 2 hour broadcast, and was produced by ABC News, for the ABC Television Network. On July 27, 2007, Executive Producer, David Sloan described the show as a "hybrid" to the Chicago Tribune"ABC News is looking for new ways of interacting and engaging with the viewer. This represents that effort."

[http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-fri_phil_0727jul27,1,4177337.column?ctrack=2&cset=true]

On July 30, 2007 the special aired and DeAnne Roberts won the final competition. Thomas Stratton and Kristina Craig were the other two finalists.

On August 1, 2007 SONY BMG released all three finalists' singles digitally on iTunes.

Host: Jay Schadler

Contestants:

Mark Jaspers [http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/07/27/news/local/136881.txt]

Thomas Stratton

Dani Riker

Kristina Marie Craig

DeAnne Roberts

Ken Swick

Judges:

Miranda Lambert

Ray Benson [http://wwww.asleepatthewheel.com]

Beverly Keel [http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/COLUMNIST0501/707230353]

Credits: (as aired on the broadcast)

Executive Producer: David Sloan Executive Producer: Robert Lange Senior Producer: Eric Ortner Series Producer: Thomas Berman Producer: Christine Murphy-Costello Editors: Bram Harris & Jack Pyle Editors: Joy De Leon, Michael Mongulla, Allison Steadman Director: George Paul Senior Art Director: Carlos El Asmar Broadcast Producer: Danielle Baum Art Directors: Barbara Gill-Vayo Christa Garubo Sheldon Smith Set Writer: Kim Powers Coordinating Producer: Joan Lefosse Producers: Bill Barrett Ani Mozian-Whitney Michelle Smawley David Perozzi Anna Sims-Phillips Tamara Weitzman Field Producers: Angela Chanbers Naria Halliwell Susie Whitley Legal: Betsey Schorr, David Artim, Jill Greenwald Music Clearance: Alex Springer Publicity: Paige Capossela Senior Production Associate: Samantha Wender Production Co-Coordinator: Farnaz Javid Production Support: Ke'Yuanda Evans, Tracie Hunte Associate Directors: Tim Langtry, Shanna Forlano, Michaela Leon, Craig Bigelow Director of Production: Tony Mandile Senior Production Manager: Ron Calhoun Senior Post Production Manager: Patrick McNeive Post Production Managers: Jessica Stark, Michael Rose Special Thanks: SONY BMG Music Entertainment TV, Jeremiah Bosgang, SONY BMG Commercial Music Group, Jeb Hart, Christian Svendsen, Tara Bruh, Kathy Best, Amy Kuland, Bluebird Cafe, Richard Paris, John McBride

References

References:

* Media Bistro: [http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/abc/what_is_news_63963.asp]

* Chicago Tribune [http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-fri_phil_0727jul27,1,4177337.column?ctrack=2&cset=true]

* Martina McBride A Day in the Life of the Country Music Queen [http://www.tvguide.com/news/martina-mcbride-CMA/070720-06]

* What is Six Degrees of Martina McBride? ABCNews.com [http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/SixDegrees/story?id=3385867&page=1]

External links

The Official Show website [http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/SixDegrees/]

Martina McBride Official Site: [http://martina-mcbride.com]

Miranda Lambert Official Site: [http://mirandalambert.com]

Kristina Craig Official Site: [http://kristinacraig.com]