Viva Laughlin

Anyone watch this show? I'm not a big network TV show fan, but everyone here is watching this because, well, Laughlin is our town. It is filmed here in part -- good views of the river and casinos along it now and then. As for the show, words fail me right now. Still, casinos always look good on TV and seeing people suddenly break into song like it's some kind of Broadway musical on acid, well ... it's um, it's interesting, isn't it?

I watched it because I will go out of my way to watch anything with Hugh Jackman in it! Unfortunately, I don't think this will be on for long. I think the concept of a weekly musical drama series is kinda cool, but who thought it would be a good idea for the characters to just sing along with the original hits? I wanna hear either Mick's voice or Hugh's (preferably Hugh's), but not both! Is it because some of the actors have rather inferior singing voices? Then get better singers! It's never a bad idea to fill a role with someone who is not Melanie Griffith. And that Ripley Holden character ... what a loser! And what a bad actor! As much as I would love for Hugh Jackman to be a part of my weekly TV viewing, and as much as I love to hear him sing (went all the way to NY to see him on Broadway), I just don't think this show will last more than half a season. Too bad.

Sex, murder, greed.............what more could you ask for? It was a tad intriguing. Hugh is the man. Melanie Griffith and her botoxical facelifts.....oh just gag me with a spoon. The whole thing is just not believable. But yeah, I've bean to Laughlin. Flip thru many a channel on the tube and.......well you know the rest. BOOOORING. Give me the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) anyday. Murder by Bull.

On 2007-10-19 15:52, Jungle Trader wrote:
Give me the PBR

For a second I thought you were talking about Pabst Blue Ribbon and I lost all hope for you, Vic! I was relieved you were really just talking 'bout rodeo! :)

On 2007-10-19 15:26, Thomas wrote:
Still, casinos always look good on TV and seeing people suddenly break into song like it's some kind of Broadway musical on acid, well ... it's um, it's interesting, isn't it?

you mean Laughlin really isn't like that?

Good question. I don't know how anyone is supposed to get an impression of what Laughlin is like when the show bearing its name seems to take place mostly in small, confined, indoor spaces. Heaven forbid they show the waterfront, or the boating scene, or the casinos along the strip. No, best to confine it to unidentifiable indoor set locations and stultifying dialogue. Yeah, that's the ticket to success!

OK, I've got a bit of local pride here. It's not like we're going to have another TV show named after us any time soon. I was thinking, a TV cop show based in Laughlin -- well, there'll be chase scenes with women in bikinis on jetskis racing along with the casinos in the background, and stuff like that. No matter how silly the show is, they'll have lots of opportunities to use that sort of fun in the sun - type imagery. So easy and inexpensive to do. But no.

Trust me, here's some fun: enter "viva laughlin" in Google News and see what you get (time sensitive). Sample headline: "Hugh, what a stinker - it's the lamest show on earth."

Well, that was quick!
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CBS Cancels Jackman's 'Viva Laughlin'
Oct. 23 '07
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The music has stopped for "Viva Laughlin," an offbeat song-and-dance drama that drew such low ratings it was canceled by CBS after two airings...
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doesn't surprise me... anyone remember "Cop Rock"?

Damn! You guys sure know how to kill a show.

Yeah, it's true, our negative comments about the show here in the "Beyond Tiki" section of Tiki Central are indeed capable of sending shockwaves through Hollywood. Once it became known in the corridors of power there that the buzz on Tiki Central regarding "Viva Laughlin" was negative, the handwriting was on the wall. We're like Romans at a gladiator match, and we gave the thumbs down. The rest of the nation took its cue from us, and the show never had a chance.

It's like this in many areas which are sensitive to public opinion. When I let it be known that I frequently post my opinions on Tiki Central, service and entertainment providers of various types tend to become very obsequious and typically offer me VIP treatment, such as offering to shine my pinky rings. I figure, when one has power one shouldn't be shy about using it.