Reba: Starting Over

((Fri. (24), 10-11 p.m., CBS))

Filmed in Nashville and Chockie, Okla., by High Five Prods. in association with Starstruck Entertainment. Executive producers, Narvel Blackstock, Bud Schaetzle; producer, Martin Fischer; writer-director, Schaetzle.

Band: Doug Sisemore, Scotty Hawkins, Charlie Anderson, Paul Hollowell, Tery Crisp, Chris Hicks, Kent Wells, Lang Scott, Linda Davis, Regina Leigh, Melissa Coleman.

Top-drawer live performances and Reba McEntire's vocal perfection give life to what could have been an unremarkable one-hour spec, which traces the life of one of country music's reigning stars.

Unlike most offerings of this nature, "Reba: Starting Over" offers more than just a trip down memory lane: Show's producers mesh humor, music and poignancy to create a spec that is as well-rounded as McEntire's abilities.

On display are the requisite homevideo footage, fond remembrances of days past offered by parents, siblings and peers, and

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living-room sing-alongs (the latter seemingly added for anyone not convinced McEntire came from a musical family).

These segs are buffered by well-executed live perfs by the singer. Show's concert highlights, taped at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, are numerous -- including a surprisingly pristine version of "Please Come to Boston."

But the show's centerpiece is teaming McEntire with songstresses Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood and Linda Davis, a backup singer and tune co-author with McEntire, who belt out a stellar rendition of "On My Own."

As a soloist, McEntire shines on every tune, serving up powerful and proficient perfs of recordings from her latest MCA Records disc, "Starting Over."

Though the closing Vegas-style number might be better-suited for an earlier slot, director Bud Schaetzel mixes crane, tracking and hand-held shots to ably deliver a fluid offering.

Camera, Daryn Okada; editors, Jeff Cronenberg, Andy Kouris, Michael McNamara, Scott Mele, Kathy Russ; production designer, Dean Tschetter; art director, Willie Blanchard; lighting design, Peter Morse; sound, Robert De La Garza, Ricky Moeller, Tom Davis.

With: Reba McEntire, Linda Davis, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood.

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