Premiers tonight. Starring James Cann as a casino security chief.

O.K. I'll be the first with my two cents in the hat. I really enjoyed this show. I will have to see how it unfolds for a few weeks to see if I will be a serious "series" fan. Of corse I am so sick to death of so called reality TV I may just be glad to see some good production.

I got kind of the Oceans 11 feel, but a Sapranos type influence too. Anyway I liked it and will watch it again

Next week the Fear Factor is again in LasVegas. Will we catch LVC in the background of any stunts

I had to tape this show and I watched it tonight. I liked it a lot.

The only things that bothered me were all the great looking females with little or no clothes on and the mistakes the camera person made like shooting the reflection of the naked girl's bosom in the window. I HATE when that happens. I had to rewind the tape and watch it in slow-motion to make sure it wasn't an optical illusion!

I have some questions about the new Vegas TV show that I thought was so great the other nite.

Maybe someone can help me by answering the following questions:

1. Who is the "dead guy" you see lying out there in the desert that appeared in the opening and closing sequences? The star of the show calls him on his cell phone at the very end. Can someone explain what that's all about or will it be answered in a future segment?

2. What is the story on "Bunny Shoe Man"? Was he really a bit on the "funny side" or was that merely an act so he could con the casino somehow?
And how did he manage to win all the money at BlackJack anyway? Was he cheating or just plain lucky? He looked pretty squared away when the security guy offered him a ride when he saw him walking down the Strip. Is there more to Bunney Shoe Man than I seem to comprehend?

3. Exactly how did that "cheat" work who was partnered up with the Casino Car Jockey? If he had a camera in his finger, what was he photographing and who told him what to do? I can't figure out how that one worked at all.

4. Are there really that many prostitutes in casino lobbies? Don't the hotels attempt to police their activities just a little bit? Maybe is was a prostitute convention that week.

5. How come that casino security guy never gets caught in the traffic along the Strip?

6.What hotel/casino is getting the most publicity from this great series? Is it being filmed in one, a few, or many of the casinos along the Strip.

Got more questions, but I'll wait for next week.

Oh, yea, I really do like that "speeding camera" technique that was used so well throught the story. I especially enjoyed it when the camera was speeding into town and the airplane landed overhead. Some real thought went into that shot and I hope we see more originality of that sort in future screenings.

Right now I'm developing an original idea based on an old time security guy working in one of the smaller joints down on Fremont Street. It will employ a celler cast of four and filmed in 8 mm to get the budget under $450 a month.

Submission of story ideas would be appreciated and you will be compensated with a line or two at the end of the credits.

Thanks, Will

Will,

1. I think the dead guy is his brother. If you remember when he was talking to his father at the truck. The father asked him to please call his brother.

2. I thought Bunny Show was just a wierdo who got lucky. It appeared at the end of the show that he might be someone the security guy knew.

3. The camera in the end of his finger was able to see the next card in the shoe.

4. I have seen many prostitutes in several casinos before. I'd guess they're not discouraged to be there because of adding to the mystique of Vegas. Also, I'd guess someone's getting a little something from them.

5. Because it's TV!.

6. I haven't been able to pick up a certain casino they're trying to emulate.

Will,
Ditto Jeff of #1 & #2.
#3 I think the camera feed was picked up by the valet. He then gave that info to the player. I remember them saying in the security room that they could detect signals in and out of the casino.
#4 My brother told me that he has been approched several times. I think alot of these "ladies for rent" watch the tables for bankrolls also.
#5 Ditto Jeff again
#6 Is this filmed in a real casino or on a set? Kat

Thanks, Senator and Kat. Interesting responses and clarifies a lot which I will look for in upcoming "chapters".

SO you think the "dead guy" may be his brother? I don't think the show would be as depressing as that but you may be right. Or maybe the brother is just still asleep with a ferocious hangover and the story will explain how he ended up out there.

It would be great to see that the Security guy knows Bunny Shoe Man and is an accomplice with him in casino scams, but that doesn't seen too logical either.

What is TVI?

It is somewaht obvious to me that the casino scenes and the hotel lobby scenes are actually filmed on location.

I hope that this show does not leave us hanging on these questions.

Will,

Guess that wasn't real clear. What you read as TVI was TV!. (television !)

As in, it ain't the real world.

Thanks , Senator. I should mention that I have noticed the Mandalay Bay (interior) in a number of scenes.

Might be a fun thing to list those interior shots we notice each week as it does appear that this show will use a variety of hotel/casinos for their interior shots.

Might be fun to even mention the bars used in the series.

Or any casino/hotel employee we recognize on screen or in the backgrounds.

Billhere verifies in his latest newsletter that it is indeed Mandalay Bay.

Bob

Thanks on the Mandalay Bay verification, Bob.

Here is some info on tonite's show as resported by the TV guide thingamagig on AOL.

"The body of Danny's childhood friend is found in the desert; Ed conceals the identity of an ultraconservative senator; Mary contends with an actor who takes his role as King Arthur too seriously."

So now we know who the dead guy is with the ringing telephone in his pocket. It is not his brother, but a childhood friend.

I guess he will eventually solve that situation.

DOn't fail to watch it tonite... Monday, 29 Sept.

Posted with permission from steve MrVegas98@aol.com
Everything Las Vegas: Issue # 380
September 30th, 2003

I would like to start off the newsletter with a few comments on the new TV show "Las Vegas." Could it be that I am the only person that thinks this show is bad? To me the show is slower than the elevators
at the Imperial Palace! James Caan looks like he has a severe case of gastritis. And there is no substance to the plot.

Last nights episode featured a mentally impaired Sir Lancelot/Knight in shining armor character who saves the outdoor surfing contest by pulling his sword from the jammed up machines that run the wave pool.
WOW! We were led to believe that the malfunction was his fault from the start as he threw the sword in the pool in the first place. Now what is a Knight from the Excalibur doing in the pool at Mandalay Bay? Maybe I ought to apply for a job on the show as a technical advisor?

I wonder if my friends Johnny Avello from Bally's or Jay Kornegy at the I.P. are taking bets on how long this show will last? The only thing positive about the show are the women..all knockouts.

Let me see if I've got this straight?

MrVegas, who writes about a town in the middle of the desert that has erupting volcanos, pirate battles (I know they're over), Egyptian pyramids, a New York skyline, and who knows how many Elvis's, thinks things in this show are too unbelievable?

"I wonder if my friends Johnny Avello from Bally's or Jay Kornegy at the I.P. are taking bets on how long this show will last? The only thing positive about the show are the women..all knockouts." And how long did Bay Watch run?

The show's entertainment! I'm going to enjoy it as I think many other people will.

Like it or not, you gotta love it!

The second installment opened with a shot of a golf ball and the camera followed it someplace.

I like that kind of Special FX.

This time the story wasn't too spectacular and they should have deleted everything to with that "King" character.

But we did find out that the dead body in the desert by the golf course is the guy's (what's his name? - Danny?) best old time friend who owned someone some gambling funds or something like that. (I was changing back and forth to see the ladies on Temptation Islandso you gotta exccuse me if I missed some "punch lines").

Do we have any idea who the "killer" is yet?

And the Caan character (name? Ed?) felt that he had an obligation to protect and serve his old time CIA buddy until about ten minutes before the final commercial. What was it that made him change his mind?

That was pretty up to date with the situation in Toledo(?) in which the Chief of Police killed his wife and then himself. He was also protected by the City Fathers.

And is that political critter going to be able to bring about his downfall?

And who is the black guy in the series? I heard something about the fact that he wanted to "paint his car". (Danny's car, I guess!) What's that all about? I must have missed his introduction into the series.

Reality check - It takes me about five minutes to walk from the casino to the wave pool. These TV critters must be wearing roller skates.

I still like this show a lot, but I really don't believe too many self respecting surfing champions would be too proud riding those "baby waves" in the Mandalay pool.

Jeff,
I haven't watched the show as of yet. But from all the comments here, It seems to me that this is a SOAP, So I most likely won't watch it, and I love Vegas as much as anyone.

Larry,

I wouldn't call this a SOAP. Although I do see why some might.

The second show had a weaker story line than the first IMO. Also had much less skin.

The Las Vegas setting and abundance of T&A will only carry the show so far with most people. Of course, it's enough for a pig like me.

It seems they're starting to build background on the characters as the show goes. They have a good mix that should be able to work and make an interesting show.

Maybe the writers and producers are reading this thread and will contact us for advice!

"Maybe the writers and producers are reading this thread and will contact us for advice!"

I think that would be helpful, Jim, but very unlikely.

I have family members in the TV series production industry and they get so wrapped up produceing that first season's episodes that they have little time to actually do anything but produce the scripts as they are written.

If the show is a success this first season, they just might take the time to take a look at interesting pro and con statements such as are being expressed here.

If I had the opportunity I would have definitely written out the King character, but no others so far.

I'm actually enjoying this show and its Special FX that have been starting each episode off.

I do hope that they eventually develope each of the characters we have met so far.

One of the best jobs in LV (I have been told) is that of a "car jockey" - valet. In fact it is so prestigious money-wise that the valet services are usually offered to family members or the good old boys who have some "in" with Casino Management.

So I am sure that the Guy in Charge of Valet Services will be developed fully in a future episode.

In fact, does anyone have the facts on the financial hierarchy in LV town? Just what positions in town pay the highest salaries?

I bet ya no one makes more that the top three stars in this TV series.

Not including the elephant who works for peanuts.

Hi all,
Well I've seen both episodes so far and I love it.Just the LV scenery alone is great plus they seem to have all the best looking babes around in the backround in most scenes.It's better then looking at pictures of LV.and they move all over town so you can get your LV.fix till your next trip? BTW.that Sen.Kennedy gets around......I thought he just bothered folks here in the east but in that last show I see he visits LV too.<G>
Bob NY.

If you missed the first two shows, they're being rebroadcast, back-to-back, tonight.

I didn't catch all of episode #4, because the phone was constantly ringing with friends advising me to watch episode #4.

But if I understand it right, Cann set up a sting operation to catch the big time Las Vegas cheater who never stepped foot inside a casino and he did this all without telling Danny(?).

And the boss's daughter was a hit at her new job and made some major changes within a couple of hours. (I didn't follow that one too closely.)

But the little I did manage to watch was among the best I have seen of this series.

I really enjoy this show. Next episode the phone gets unplugged.

BTW, I have read a couple of books about attempts to cheat the casinos at the tables. The most elaborate scheme involved some type of computer apparatus in a shoe that allowed the cheat at the table to broadcast the cards to the cheat in the truck outside, but I forget the details and the title of the book is beyond recall.... "Ergonomic Pie" or something like that.

Nowadays, the gangs just jump into the casino cage and make a dash with the money. In the good old days, they would get as far as the parking lot and not a step beyond until they were found in a hole in the desert behind the next casino.

More civilized now, I guess.