Concrete Cowboys

"***Jerry Reed and Tom Selleck as cowboy P.I.s in Nashville with Morgan Fairchild*** Two cowboy buddies (Jerry Read and Tom Selleck) train hop to Nashville where a woman hires them as private investigators to find her missing sister, who was trying to make it in the country music biz (Morgan Fairchild). Claude Akins is also on hand while several country stars are featured in bit parts (Barbara Mandrell, Ray Stevens, etc.). This was the 1979 pilot movie for an unrealized series, also known as “Ramblin’ Man.” Country singer-turned-actor Reed, known for the Smokey and the Bandit flicks, was the leading man while Selleck only appeared in this pilot, which is strange because this movie gives the impression that they’re an ongoing team. The two leads are entertaining and the pedestrian detective story is relatively compelling. Ray Stevens performs live and it’s a highlight. Meanwhile the striking Fairchild was hot stuff at the time. This is TV fare from that era not far removed from, say, The Fall Guy series or the Smokey and the Bandit flicks. The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes and was shot in Nashville. GRADE: C+/B-"