What's it about?
Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis star in VEGAS, a drama inspired by the true story of former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, a fourth-generation rancher tasked with bringing order to Las Vegas in the 1960s, a gambling and entertainment mecca emerging from the tumbleweeds. Ralph Lamb wants to be left in peace to run his ranch, but Las Vegas is now swelling with outsiders and corruption which are intruding on his simple life. Recalling Lamb's command as a military police officer during World War II, the Mayor appeals to his sense of duty to look into a murder of a casino worker - and os begins Lamb's clash with Vincent Savino, a ruthless Chicago gangster who plans to make Vegas his own. Assisting Lamb in keeping law and order are his two deputies: his diplomatic, even-keeled brother, Jack, and his charming but impulsive son, Dixon. Ambitious Assistant District Attorney Katherine O'Connell, who grew up on the ranch next to the Lambs, also lends a hand in preserving justice. In VEGAS, two powerful men - Lamb and Savino - are engaged in a fierce battle for control of the budding oasis, and for both of them, folding is not an option.
(from CBS.com)
You should watch if...
• ...you enjoy period dramas about gangsters.
• ...you enjoy procedural crime shows.
• ...you're a fan of big movie stars headlining your TV shows.
So, how was it?
I'll admit I didn't know much about this show going in other than it was about Las Vegas in the 1960s and it starred Dennis Quaid as a sheriff and Michael Chiklis as a gangster. Given the period setting, the gambling theme, and the presence of corrupt law enforcement and Chicago gangsters, I was expecting something along the lines of a network version of BOARDWALK EMPIRE. Imagine my disappointment then, when I watched the pilot and found out that VEGAS shares more DNA with LAW & ORDER than it does with that terrific HBO drama.
Turns out that VEGAS is a pretty standard procedural crime drama disguised in the glitz of a period Vegas setting. It's as though CBS execs were like, "We need a new idea for a tired format. I know! Let's set in Las Vegas...IN 1960!" Actually, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what happened. Subtlety is not VEGAS' strong suit. Just look at that poster up there. There's Dennis Quaid in a white hat against a white background carrying a gun. Next to him is Michael Chiklis in a black hat against a black background holding a wad of cash. Gee... I wonder which is the good cop and which is the bad gangster? The introduction of the characters on the actual show isn't much better. Dennis Quaid's Ralph Lamb is introduced as he's herding cattle and getting into an argument with a sleazy guy responsible for scattering Lamb's herd. Clearly he's down-to-earth, noble and strong. Then Michael Chiklis' Vincent Savino disembarks from a big fancy airplane complete with black hat, squinty leer, and ominous music playing in the background. Clearly he's rich and menacing. The show quickly jumped into a not-very-interesting murder mystery and I groaned aloud in disappointment.
Now. I've gotten all the bad stuff out of the way first. I'm sure it sounds like I hated the show. I didn't, really. It actually has a lot going for it. Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis are both terrific: Quaid's Lamb is definitely the good guy, but has enough grit and hidden anger to keep him from being entirely uninteresting. And while Chiklis' Savino is definitely a take on the kind of gangster role that Bobby Cannavale is currently portraying on BOARDWALK EMPIRE (the unpredictably dangerous one), Chiklis is such a watchable actor that he managed to remain engaging. There's also an absolutely terrific cast of supporting players: Carrie-Anne Moss (THE MATRIX) is a surprisingly strong presence as Katherine, a strong-willed ADA with a childhood connection to Lamb. Jason O'Mara (TERRA NOVA) is much better suited to his role as Jack, Lamb's stalwart right-hand-man who also happens to be his brother, than he was in last year's epic dinosaur flop. And Michael O'Neill (from every TV show ever) is great as Ted, the town's capable mayor who shares a past with Lamb.
Secondly, the period setting is extremely well-done: it creates a fantastic atmosphere and the exteriors of the old-time Vegas strip are beautiful. While it may just be a trick to disguise the procedural nature of the show, it works surprisingly well -- the pilot doesn't feel half as bad as it might have if it were set in modern-day Vegas. And the hint of an overarching plot between Lamb and Savino has me hopeful that the series can grow into something more than a rote procedural. After all, one of my favorite shows on network television right now - FRINGE - started as a procedural that many considered an X-FILES ripoff, but evolved into one of the most compelling, smartly-written, mythology-based sci-fi series of all time (imho). I hope that VEGAS ends up having less in common with CBS' procedurals (CSI, NCIS) and having more in common with THE GOOD WIFE (another CBS drama that is basically a legal procedural and yet is also so much more than that). I don't know that I will keep tuning in week after week for CSI: VINTAGE LAS VEGAS.
And the verdict is:
Okay. I may give it another episode or two to see if it gets better.
Like FRINGE and VEGAS' fellow CBS drama THE GOOD WIFE, I'm willing to give VEGAS a little time to develop into an interesting show before completely writing it off. I was disappointed that the pilot was as procedural as it was, but there were enough good things about it (acting, production quality), and enough hints of an underlying storyline between Lamb and Savino that the series could eventually take off in a less tired, more exciting direction. Here's hoping!
What did you think, Fellow Addicts? Were you drawn in by the glitz and glamor of VEGAS? Or were you similarly disappointed by its procedural nature? Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!
Your synopsis for why someone should watch Vegas is correct; especially the procedural part. I was surprised to find out that this was another crime scene investigation show, considering it was advertised much differently. Luckily though, Vegas is well done, and I’ll continue to watch. My DISH coworker says it’s getting decent ratings too, which I figure should guarantee even more success and money to keep it a class act show. I found out about it when my Hopper PrimeTime Anytime feature I enabled, automatically recorded it. I like the fact that I find lots of new shows to watch, since every major network show records each day.
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