"The Casino" reality TV show from producer Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice) began on Fox last night.

This show was a letdown. It featured nothing but a bunch of losers - from those idiot Frat Boys to the Scumbucket "Professional Gambler." The only compelling thing was the lounge singer and his fight to keep his act from being cheesy. But even he caved in after being told off by the idiot Entertainment Manager. I would think Mark Burnett would be able to come up with something better than this.

If I had never been to Las Vegas before and saw this show, it would totally turn me off from ever going. If the producers were planning on having this act as a promotional piece for the city, they're heading in the opposite direction.

Did anyone see this? Comments?

(I haven't seen the similar show on the Discovery Channel which takes place at the Green Valley Ranch yet but it's got to be better than this one.)

I switched chanels in the middle of the program

I saw it and agree with both Mike and Larry above. (Maybe there are too many of us on this board that are too familar with Las Vegas to be taken in by stuff like this.)

Green Valley is done much better and with class. IMHO

"Profession Gambler" guy was a complete obnoxious fool. He was such a pest that I honestly believe the producers of this piece of junk must have developed his character in an attempt to get something "going" in this episode.

I've never seen such an obnoxious person in a casino without being asked to leave, and if he did stay he'd be on the floor looking up at every stop he made.

It appears that most of this show is scripted.

I bet it stays running for less than half of its intended season.

Yea, I do like the GV show a lot and Las Vegas is my favorite TV show of all time.

It started out OK, but as I watched I kinda felt like a lot of it was staged.

Then I noticed one thing made me believe it was for sure.

The same pacific or asian looking girl in the low cut tan top was in the casino breifly with the high roller AND at the frat party.

Also what about the fake makeout (fakeout?) scene when he was giving the tour of his suite.

To me, it all looked cheesy, even for Vegas.

I had videotaped the Green Valley Ranch show last Friday and finally watched it last night. I agree that it's INFINITELY better than the Golden Nugget show. GVR was much more real and interesting and less "staged."

Wow - thumbs down on this show. I just watched the second episode from Monday night. Unlike the Green Valley Ranch show, everything in this is staged.

Did anyone see this?

The relatively young real estate guy and his entourage ("The Mills Gang?"). Did you see the black chips this guy was betting? Where does a guy this young get all that money? And how did his girlfriend lose her purse with all those cameras around? Didn't they all come across like a bunch of spoiled brats?

And the "swingers?" What a bunch of losers.

This show really makes the Golden Nugget look bad - IMHO - I'd never consider staying there as a result.

Lee - aren't you a fan of Zax? I thought it was a restaurant. It looks more like a nightclub.

Mike, it's a multi purpose place.
It's a resturant by day and while it wasn't a "night club" the last visit, it is used as an entertainment venue. I beleive, it was originally going to be used as a lounge with soft jazz.
Don't let that keep you away from eating in the place, the food is GOOD!

I wondered about those big stacks of black chips, too. If you are betting that much, isn't there a higher denomination chip? Maybe some people just like to handle lots of chips? I wouldn't know from personal experience.

This show is more fake than Vegas - and I don't mean that in a good way.

If those "real estate mogels" are real, then there are people in the world with way too much money and too little sense. Well that's probably true anyway!

Wish I could see the other show - but we do not get cable.

Kes

I watched the latest show, what a bunch of dribble. The only thing I can say positive about this show is, the time slot. It's a lot easier to watch then the better show on Friday nights, heck that's date nite!

Is anyone still watching this show? I still am but I can't say it's gotten much better. I will say, however, they seem to have "staged" less things and are showing more day-to-day operations like the Green Valley Ranch show does. But I still think the show makes the Golden Nugget look bad.

And I got this from an online Vegas newsletter:

Rumors continue to fly that Mark Burnett's unscripted drama "The Casino," a ratings disappointment, might be in trouble. Dan Shumny, vice president of marketing at the Golden Nugget, said Fox has paid for all 13 episodes and has no
plans to pre-empt any shows during the Olympics next month. They recently came up with a new schedule culminating on Aug. 29 the final day of the Athens Olympics, he said. Word has it that Nugget co-owners Tim Poster and Tom Breitling
were concerned that the early episodes relied too heavily on the sexy subplots. Longtime staffers let it be known, I hear, that they didn't like the way the Grand Dame of downtown properties was being portrayed. Remaining episodes
will focus more on the casino operatraion, a la "American Casino," and Tom-Tim
angles. Most of the negative feedback I hear has to do with the staged feel of
the show.

I still watch the show (But I would watch Dan Tana if he was still showing). I seem to enjoy the trials and tribulations of the young,on probation, casino host "Tom" I somehow or another want him to make the grade and I enjoy this show more so than that idiotic one where the guy always has a drink glass on his head or is being an ass jumping into a fountain! I don't think that I will ever visit Green Valley Ranch again just because of that show??.......

I watch it. Some of these people who work in the casino are "classic". The guests......well that another topic.

I beleive the show has changed slightly, but not enough to warrent going out of my way to watch it. I must admit I enjoyed watching them get scamed by the bowler promoters! LOL
I'm sure those young things where just there for the prize money.
Still cheesy....

I'll have to tune in again, just to see how it has changed a bit.

I agree I will watch almost anything to get a Vegas TV fix. But I realized I wasn't paying attention to when this show was on, so missed a few episodes. Guess that says what I feel about it!

The scenes with the comedian trying to break into the business was painfull, though.

Kes