Skip to main content

PILOT REVIEW: Vegas

VEGAS










Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis, Carrie-Anne Moss, Taylor Handley, and Jason O'Mara

Created by Nicholas Peleggi and Greg Walker
Written by Nicholas Peleggi and Greg Walker, Directed by James Mangold

Vegas is a new period drama from CBS set in 1960 Las Vegas when casinos were going up and replacing the once rugged frontier. The show is very loosely based on a real life figure, rancher Ralph Lamb (Dennis Quaid) who became Sheriff. He contends with mob boss and casino owner Vincent Savino (Michael Chiklis) who has underhanded methods of getting his way. Rounding out the main cast is Assistant DA Katherine O'Connell (Carrie-Anne Moss), Ralph's brother, Deputy Jack Lamb (Jason O'Mara), and Ralph's son Dixon (Taylor Handley).

THE GOOD: I really liked a lot about Vegas. I loved period pieces and this one really sets the tone of 1960s Las Vegas and the contrast between the rising casinos and crime associated with them and an old western town. I'm not someone who notices every little thing, but it seemed like the sets and costumes were very time period specific which helps keep a viewer in the era. The centerpiece to the show and its strongest point is the two leads (Quaid and Chiklis) and the dynamics between the two. It is great to have Dennis Quaid on TV and his steely and understated portrayal of Ralph Lamb seems like a very appropriate interpretation. He had some real slick moves all the while staying cool as a cucumber. This is common for protagonists in procedurals but Quaid does it with an element of charisma that isn't always seen. Chiklis is also great as the dirty mob boss. They didn't have many scenes together in the pilot but I can see this being a great rivalry between the two as they each try to stay one step ahead of the other. The show also blended a "case of the week" with some of the larger story which can be hard to do in a pilot.

THE BAD: It seemed like the biggest complaint about this show going in and since its Tuesday premiere is that it drags. There is certainly an element of truth to that. The show lost me a few times as I found myself drifting away from caring. It managed to pull me back a couple times which is good but if it wants to win over a casual fan, that can't be happening. The show can't get bogged down too much. The cast was really solid but I couldn't really get a grip on Jason O'Mara. Either they didn't pay much attention to his character from a writer's standpoint or he wasn't sure what to do with the role. There's time and he's not the main character but it's something I hope the writers were develop more.

BOTTOM LINE: Ratings results showed that Vegas skewed really old but I really liked it despite the fact that it's not for my demographic. I think this is a case where an all-star cast elevates the material. The show has more promise than last year's quickly departed (but not terrible) The Playboy Club and the glitzy but boring Pan Am. With the procedural aspect to the show, audiences might be able to pick up on Vegas without being lost. It would be nice for the 60s show to find a few more fans who aren't in their 60s.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

EPISODE GUIDES: Rhoda Season Five

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Five (the final season) of  Rhoda ! RHODA: SEASON FIVE 1978 13 episodes Rhoda' s final season was a truncated one as the show was cancelled in December 1978 after only 13 episodes had been produced (and only nine had aired). This feels like a continuation from season four in many ways except with the ill-advised split between Ida and Martin (more on that below). While  Rhoda  has an occasional good moment and even a couple decent episodes, it is a show that seems so wildly different from season one and not in a good way.  Rhoda  could never figure out what it fully wanted to be and only made it four and a half seasons as a result. Starring Valerie Harper as Rhoda Morgenstern  (13 episodes) Julie Kavner as Brenda Morgenstern  (13 episodes) Ray Buktenica as Benny Goodwin  (11 episodes) Kenneth McMillan as Jack Doyle  (9 episodes) Nancy Wa...
Post a Comment
Read more

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1995-1996 Thursdays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Thursdays in the 1995-96 season! ABC 8:00 8:30 9:00 10:00 Sep Charlie Grace The Monroes Various Programs Oct Murder One Nov Various Programs Dec Various Programs Thursday Night Movie Jan Feb World’s Funniest Videos Before They Were Stars! Mar Apr May NBC was the powerhouse on Thursday nights but ABC still gave it the old college try in the Fall of 1995 with a trio of new dramas that they hoped would help them cut into the Peacock's dominance. Headlining their night was Murder One , a high profile new show from Steven Bochco that received much of the network's attention before the season started. The series focused on one murder case for an entire season, whi...
Post a Comment
Read more

DECADE IN REVIEW: The Best Comedies of the 2010s

During the month of December, I will be looking back at the decade that was the 2010s on TV. I will be sharing my favorite sitcoms, dramas, the best episodes, the best performances and the worst shows of the decade. To be eligible for this list, a show had to air the majority of its episodes in the 2010s. However, for the rankings and determination, all episodes were taken into account, including ones that may have aired before 2010. I will also preface that there are comedies that have aired this decade that I haven't watched yet so this is the best of what I have watched. To be fair, that preface is more true for dramas. There's not a ton of unwatched comedies sitting in my Netflix or Amazon watchlist. So here are my Top 10 comedies of the 2010s! Close Calls:  Master of None (Netflix) - An inconsistent but occasionally fascinating commentary on many life issues done so with innovative storytelling. The Good Place (NBC) - A show that aims high with a fascinating premis...
Post a Comment
Read more