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Viva Laughlin

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Viva Laughlin
Intertitle
Genre
Created by
Starring
Theme music composerTrevor Morris
Composers
  • Patrick Miligan
  • John E. Nordstrom
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No.of seasons1
No.of episodes2 (5 unaired)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerDon Kurt
CinematographyPaul M. Sommers
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time42 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseOctober 18(2007-10-18)–
October 21, 2007(2007-10-21)

Viva Laughlinis an Americanmusicalcomedy dramatelevision series adapted by Bob Lowry and Peter Bowker (creator of the original series) from the popularBBCserialBlackpool,and taking its name from the latter program's sequelViva Blackpool.Lowry and Bowker also served as executive producers alongsideHugh Jackman,John Palermo, Paul Telegdy, andGabriele Muccino.The latter also directed thepilot.[1]It was filmed on location in part at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa inCabazon, Californiafor most of the inside casino shots.

Produced byBBC Worldwide,CBS Paramount Network Television,Sony Pictures Television,and Seed Productions, the series was greenlit and given a thirteen-episode order on May 14, 2007.[2]Excerpts from the series were aired in subsequent previews throughout the CBS telecast of the61st Annual Tony Awardson June 10, 2007.[3]CBSaired a preview of the pilot on October 18, 2007 following an episode ofCSI: Crime Scene Investigationbefore broadcasting its official season premiere on October 21, 2007 in its regular timeslot on Sunday nights at 8:00/7:00c, following60 Minutes.[4][5]

CBS cancelledViva Laughlinon October 22, 2007 after airing two episodes, with theNine Network(in Jackman's home country of Australia) following suit the next day bycanceling the show after airing only one episode.[6][7]Both CBS and Nine filled the show's time slot with repeat episodes ofCSI,withThe Amazing Racethen takingViva Laughlin's place on CBS on November 4. There are still no plans to air theremaining episodesas of October 2020.[8]

Plot

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Viva Laughlinis a mystery drama musical about businessman Ripley Holden, whose ambition is to run a casino inLaughlin, Nevada.It occasionally has the actors break into contemporary song. Ripley has invested all his money into opening a casino that is nowhere near completion, when his financing suddenly falls through. Needing an investor, Ripley approaches his rival, wealthy casino owner Nicky Fontana; but Fontana wants to own the casino himself, and Ripley turns down the deal. Ripley becomes embroiled in a murder investigation after the body of his ex-business partner is found at his casino.[1]

Cast

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Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pilot"Gabriele MuccinoBob LowryOctober 18, 2007(2007-10-18)
2"What a Whale Wants"John ShowalterMichael Gans & Richard RegisterOctober 21, 2007(2007-10-21)
3"Takin' Care of Business"[9]Matt Earl BeesleySteven S. DeKnightnot aired (---)
4"Magic Carpet Ride"[1]not available (n/a)not available (n/a)---
5"Bad Moon Rising"[10]n/an/a---
6"Need You Tonight"[11][12]n/an/a---
7"Fighter"[12][13]n/an/a---
TBA"Would I Lie to You"[12]n/an/a---

Critical reception

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Critical reaction to the show was mostly negative. The musical numbers themselves were not criticized as much as the plot, the dialogue and the acting.

The opening line ofThe New York Timesreview said, "Viva LaughlinonCBSmay well be the worst new show of the season, but is it the worst show in the history of television? "[14]

Newsday's review started with, "The stud is a dud. And that's only the first of a dozen problems withCBS' admirably ambitious but jaw-droppingly wrongheaded new musical/murder mystery/family dramaViva Laughlin.Let us count the ways it bombs... "[15]

International broadcasters

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The following broadcasters purchased the series:

Country TV network(s) Series premiere Weekly schedule
AustraliaAustralia Nine Network 22 October 2007 Cancelled after the first episode[6][7]
CanadaCanada E! October 2007 Cancelled after the second episode; was seen Sundays at 7PM ET
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Virgin 1
Living		 Virgin 1: 2007
Living: 2008		 Virgin 1: Unknown
Living: Unknown
United StatesUnited States CBS October 18, 2007 Cancelled after the second episode

See also

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References

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  1. ^abc"Viva Laughlin at The Futon Critic".Retrieved2006-06-26.
  2. ^Sullivan, Brian Ford (2007-05-14)."CBS picks upBang,Power,plus four dramas ".Retrieved2007-06-26.
  3. ^"CBS to useThe American Theatre Wing's 61st Annual Tony Awards "to showcase multiple promos forViva Laughlin,a new drama premiering in the fall, executive produced by Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Hugh Jackman ".The Futon Critic. 2007-06-07.
  4. ^Andreeva, Nellie (2007-07-18)."CBS announces premiere week lineup".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-08-20.Retrieved2007-07-19.
  5. ^"CBS announces 2007-2008 primetime schedule".The Futon Critic. 2007-05-16.Retrieved2007-06-26.
  6. ^ab"Hugh Jackman's show Viva Laughlin dumped by Channel Nine".The Daily Telegraph.2007-10-23. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-25.Retrieved2007-10-29.
  7. ^ab"Back from the dud".The Sydney Morning Herald.2007-10-25.Retrieved2007-10-29.
  8. ^Schneider, Michael (2007-10-22)."CBS cancelsViva Laughlin".Variety.Retrieved2007-10-22.
  9. ^"Takin' Care of Business".The Futon Critic.RetrievedMarch 12,2016.
  10. ^"Viva Laughlin 1x05: Bad Moon Rising"(in German). Serien Junkies.RetrievedMarch 12,2016.
  11. ^"Viva Laughlin – Episode 1.06 – Need You Tonight".SpoilerTV.RetrievedMarch 12,2016.
  12. ^abc"Viva Laughlin".TV Series Finale. 11 November 2007.RetrievedMarch 12,2016.
  13. ^"Viva Laughlin 1x07: Fighter"(in German). Serien Junkies.RetrievedMarch 12,2016.
  14. ^Alessandro Stanley (2007-10-18)."Singing in the Casino? That's a Gamble".New York Times.Retrieved2007-10-24.
  15. ^Diane Werts (2007-10-18)."Review: CBS'Viva Laughlina train wreck ".Newsday.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-20.Retrieved2007-10-30.
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