9 Comments »

1. Anonymous October 2, 2007 at 1:48 am -

   Viva Laughlin

   What it’s about: Based on a BBC series called Blackpool, Viva Laughlin is about an guy who opens a brand new casino in a smaller city in Nevada. Did I mention that this is a musical?!

   What’s good: Oh sweet Lord, how I love this show. If you’d told me that CBS was going to put on an Americanized remake of an interesting but not great Brit-drama and that the characters would spontaneously start singing, I wouldn’ve told you that sounded like certain disaster. To have it turn out to be the best network show of the season (or at least my personal favorite – by a very wide margin – is damn near miraculous.

   It’s important to note for the skeptical (though this might not allay any reservations) that the songs are not original compositions, but pop tunes spanning the last 40 or 50 years. “Viva Las Vegas” and Blondie’s “One Way or Another” are some notable ones. The characters don’t lip synch or merely sing…they sing along with the original track, so you can hear both at once…an interesting and confident stylistic choice.

   Cast is also great. Lloyd Owen, a british actor with a long career behind him plays the lead, and he’s got just the right amount of smarmy confidence and, when the story calls for it, abject fear. And, somehow, they got Hugh Jackman (Wolverine from Oklahoma!) to play the bad guy! Melanie Griffith makes an appearance as well as a sort of washed-up femme fatale.

   Viva Laughlin is totally ridiculous and extremely fun to watch. It reminded me a lot of the early seasons of Nip/Tuck, only without the mean-streak and pretentious aspirations. Oh, and with singing.

   What’s not so good: Hell, I don’t know. I just really, really love this show.

   Will it be a hit? FOR SURE !!!!!!

2. Anonymous September 9, 2007 at 4:31 pm -

   Watch all 6 Previews !!!!!!!!!!

   Viva Laughlin Preview – New Series From CBS

   I know what I like, and I like this Show !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   copy and paste or double click on these links:

   http://youtube.com/watch?v=FDVpwO4fWb0

   http://youtube.com/watch?v=k41ys4hjFT4&mode=related&search

   http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dr1Gw3emoKk&mode=related&search

   http://youtube.com/watch?v=pbg1VHjCOQ4&mode=related&search

   http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/3325824/

   http://www.upn.com/primetime/viva_laughlin/

   VIVA LAUGHLIN, the new mystery drama with music, will have a special preview on Thursday, Oct. 18 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) following CSI before moving to its regular Sunday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) time period on Oct. 21 to take advantage of a two week window in the schedule without football overruns.

   Thursday, Oct. 18
   10:00-11:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN (Special Preview)

   Sunday, Oct. 21
   8:00-9:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN (Time Period Premiere)

3. Anonymous June 22, 2007 at 10:08 pm -

   CBS – Viva Laughlin – Promo
   Scenes from the show “Viva Laughlin”
   premiering in fall 2007

   http://www.splendad.com/ads/show/1161-CBS-Viva-Laughlin-Promo

4. David Knox June 22, 2007 at 12:18 am -

   Just a reminder to use comments as comments and not mini-blogs please. I know there are avid fans but some of this info is really starting to double-up.

   As I can ONLY approve or diapprove comments (ie not edit) if they continue to be too long I’ll have to disallow.

   So much cut and pasting also gets into copyright issues.

   Otherwise perhaps a VL fanblog with a link from comments here is better.

   Thanks.
   DK

5. Anonymous June 22, 2007 at 12:00 am -

   http://mediahunter.typepad.com/media_hunter/2007/06/networks-square.html

   Networks Square Up for Next Ratings Cycle
   Michael Bodey, The Australian, June 21, 2007

   A STRONG ratings tussle looks set to emerge in the second half of the television year with Nine and Seven scheduling program launches for media and advertisers to showcase their wares.

   Nine’s director of programming Michael Healy is particularly confident about legal drama Damages, starring Rose Byrne and Glenn Close, and a musical drama co-produced by Hugh Jackman, Viva Laughlin. Either may be programmed this year.

   http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=622719

   Meet the Cast: CBS’ Viva Laughlin

   June 20, 2007

   The CBS network’s Viva Laughlin is based on the Golden Globe-winning British miniseries, Viva Blackpool. Set in Laughlin, Nevada, the show follows the story of a man named Ripley Holden, whose dream to open a casino is jeopardized by his family, his enemies and his involvement in a murder case.

   The show is a drama, a thriller and a musical all rolled into one, with Australian actor and film star Hugh Jackman playing one of its’ recurring characters. It is slated to premiere this fall on a Sunday at 8PM ET/PT.

   Read on to know more about the cast of Viva Laughlin.

   Leading the cast of Viva Laughlin is Lloyd Owen, who is set to portray Ripley Holden. Owen is a British actor who is most popular for his portrayal of Paul Bowman-McDonald in the BBC series, Monarch of the Glen. He also appeared as Indiana Jones’ father in eight episodes of The Young Indiana Jones. His most recent film role was William Heelis in Chris Noonan’s Miss Potter.

   Madchen Amick, who was born in Sparks, Nevada, has been tasked to play Natalie Holden. Amick first rose to fame when she appeared in David Lynch’s award-winning series, Twin Peaks. Her character was a big hit among the followers of the show, and consequently, Amick reprised the role in the feature film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Her other acting projects include Sleepwalkers, Dreamlover, Gilmore Girls, ER, Joey and Freddie.

   To portray Peter Carlyle is former daytime actor Eric Winter. Winter appeared as Rex Brady on the soap opera Days of Our Lives for three years, after which he appeared in several primetime series, such as CSI, Love Inc., Wildfire and Brothers & Sisters. Prior to his acting career, Carlyle worked as a fashion model.

   37-year-old actor D.B. Woodside will appear on Viva Laughlin as Marcus. Although Woodside’s character on the hit series, 24, has been in a comatose since the show’s sixth season, the actor still has a number of television roles credited to his name. He appeared in 14 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and guest-starred in such popular series as The Practice, Snoops and The Division.

   As for Jackman, he is set to play a recurring character named Nicky Fontana. Jackman has been made most popular by his portrayal of Wolverine in all three X-Men films. Born in New South Wales, Australia, Jackman has worked extensively in both the theater and film industry. Aside from his work on the X-Men trilogy, his notable big screen projects include Swordfish, Kate & Leopold, Van Helsing, The Prestige and The Fountain.

   Other cast members include Carter Jenkins and Ellen Woglom.

   -Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

   Source: CBS

   http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=9f4c3518-e1b1-4a6c-b388-c516aa139297

   http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070607cbs01

   Must watch!!!!!

   http://youtube.com/watch?v=pbg1VHjCOQ4

   [06.07.07 - 02:40 PM] CBS TO USE “THE AMERICAN THEATRE WING’S 61ST ANNUAL TONY AWARDS” TO SHOWCASE MULTIPLE PROMOS FOR “VIVA LAUGHLIN,” A NEW DRAMA PREMIERING IN THE FALL, EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY TONY AWARD AND EMMY AWARD WINNER HUGH JACKMAN Released by CBS CBS TO USE “THE AMERICAN THEATRE WING’S 61st ANNUAL TONY AWARDS” TO SHOWCASE MULTIPLE PROMOS FOR “VIVA LAUGHLIN,” A NEW DRAMA PREMIERING IN THE FALL, EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY TONY AWARD AND EMMY AWARD WINNER HUGH JACKMAN CBS announced that they will use THE AMERICAN THEATRE WING’S 61st ANNUAL TONY AWARDS
   to showcase multiple promos for VIVA LAUGHLIN, a new CBS drama premiering this fall, executive produced by Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Hugh Jackman. Jackman won an Emmy Award for hosting the Tony Awards.
   (LA) 6/20/2007 8:24:06 PM

6. David Knox June 14, 2007 at 1:51 pm -

   Obviously one of our American visitors?

   In Australia we have already seen Viva Blackpool so we know what we’re on for. Just a question of how the Americans adapt it…

7. Anonymous June 14, 2007 at 1:45 pm -

   “Stated by someone”

   ” Okay, it’s not like I wasn’t interested in the Tony Awards, but for me the most interesting part was the ads for Viva Laughlin! because it’s one of my most anticipated shows. ”

   The most interesting aspect of Viva Laughlin! is the tendency to break out into pop songs (which, as I noted earlier, is more Moulin Rouge than the Cop Rock everyone seems compelled to compare it to) but that gets barely mentioned in these ads. Instead, CBS is emphasizing the plot of Viva Laughlin!

   I am really tired of hearing Viva Laughlin! compared to Cop Rock. Cop Rock had original music. Viva Laughlin! will be about lip syncing to pop music in casinos. It’s already ahead of Cop Rock by not having to write new music.

   Yay! Viva Laughlin! clips finally hit YouTube: Looks Great !!!!!!!!!!

   http://youtube.com/watch?v=pbg1VHjCOQ4

   Cop Rock wouldn’t have dared to camp up “Sympathy for the Devil” even though that is a popular song to camp up.

   I didn’t notice it before, but that’s Jane’s preacher boyfriend from Coupling in Viva Laughlin.
   Last time this year, the two shows I was anticipating most were Heroes and Ugly Betty. This year, it’s Pushing Daisies and Viva Laughlin!. I’m hoping to have good luck on that, this year.

   TV Week’s a collection of clips from the upcoming falls series. I’ve seen most of them, but it’s the first time I’ve seen a clip of Viva Laughlin!.

   The clip proves that everyone bringing up Cop Rock is barking up the wrong tree. This series doesn’t resemble Cop Rock in the slightest, watching Hugh Jackman sing a lounged-up version of “Sympathy for the Devil” makes it clear that this show will more like a TV version of Moulin Rouge. This one just landed behind Pushing Dasies as my second most anticipated upcoming debut.

   (Now if only there were a Viva Laughlin! preview in the bunch.)

   “This Show adds a new depth in Entertainment, I believe this show will have Lots to offer us hungry viewers for many years!!” “Stay Tuned”

8. David Knox June 11, 2007 at 4:21 pm -

   Correct.

9. Jack! June 11, 2007 at 3:15 pm -

   So it is the American version of the UK show “Blackpool” … ?
   Jack!

© 2012 TV Tonight - Copyright | About | Contact | Links | Comments Policy

WordPress website development by David McDonald Back to Top