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"Once all the numerous character back-stories have been dealt with, this show has all the makings of a sure-fire hit."

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Las Vegas

A Review by Techtite

If I could bestow an award in 2003, for The Best Opening Minutes Of a Series Premiere, it would have to be given to Las Vegas. After an ingenious camera-trick warp through the streets of Vegas, we enter a suite, during an intimate moment. A group of men in suits enter the suite, guns drawn, ready for trouble. The half-naked woman in bed casually looks up at the leader of the armed men in suits and says, "Oh, hi daddy!" Talk about a show stopping way to open a series premiere. If this series has anything, it sure has my attention.

Such is the finest piece of a good pilot episode; explaining the back story of the three main characters, in as little as the first 5 minutes. We soon learn that "Daddy" happens to be Ed Deline (James Caan), an ex member of the CIA who is now the best security chief in all of Vegas' casinos. His daughter is Delinda (Molly Sims); a spoiled ex-college-girl looking for a good time. The man who is both fortunate and unfortunate in this scenario is Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel), Ed's newest security employee, who is now persona non grata thanks to his sleeping with the boss' daughter. D'oh!

Not that this is the only story going on here, in what is one of the most promising new nighttime soaps this season. There is Mary Connell (Nikki Cox), an old childhood friend of Danny's, who is now sort of a G-rated escort for the higher rollers in this hotel (being a network TV series, it is implied she is no hooker, even though the script does little to sway you from this conclusion). The new hotel hostess is Samantha (Vanessa Marcil); a former freelance hostess, recently recruited by Danny, if just because the hotel is stronger with her than against her. Topping off the list of opening credits members is Nessa (Marsha Thomason), who is Ed's head of security on the floors of the casino, making sure she sees whatever the cameras do not.

Such is a small taste of the concept of this series; a close look at what happens behind the scenes of Vegas, heralding the sort of people whose stories are rarely told. Obviously, it takes a lot of time and effort to make everything in Vegas happen as seamlessly as it appears to be. This show is about such people who keep the dice rolling: hotel hosts, entertainment coordinators, and heads of security. Nice idea.

So far, the stories have been very good as well. In the premiere, Ed's security team uncovers the latest plot of a casino scam artist, to make as much as 7 million if he succeeded. He did so by hiding a small camera in his finger (yes, some people will go that far, for 7 million), which he placed on the table, just underneath where the dealer was pulling cards. A friend elsewhere would look at the camera feed and tell him the cards through an earpiece. With everything so tech-savvy these days, I would presume scam artists are this tech-savvy as well. This makes security all the more difficult...and a series like this, so much more interesting. 

If this is a lot to take in at once, you're beginning to see one of the singular flaws with this series so far; indeed, it is a lot to take in at once. However, the same thing can be said of any successful nighttime soap in its premiere season. Consider how many characters' stories were covered, in any one season of Dallas, Dynasty, or even Melrose Place. As of the pilot episode of Melrose, for example, the apartment complex housed no less than 7 characters, each with their own story, in every 60 minute episode. They "solved" this problem by adding Heather Locklear; i.e., an eighth character. The decision must have worked; the show lasted seven seasons. Go figure. My point is; all these characters may be a lot to take in all at once, but once all the "back story" is taken care of, there's a lot of great dramatic potential here.

I know this is belittling an initial flaw of the show, which other TV critics have heralded as a major one. However, let's consider the positives; a well chosen cast in particular. All of the main cast is very likeable, even when their actions are questionable; the mark of any good drama series. Whether Mary the "entertainment coordinator" is a high priced call girl on the side, or whether Danny breaks up with Delinda (or vice versa), is all immaterial. The point is, they're likeable characters, and I for one love seeing what happens to them each week. These characters are well played, well cast, and well written. There's no better compliment for a new drama than that.

Would I say that this show will topple CSI, as my favorite Vegas-based drama? I wouldn't go that far, though I would definitely say what I've seen so far has made me interested in what will happen next each week. From seedy senators who don't want their secret night life exposed, to the death of one of Danny's best family friends, the stories have been very intriguing so far. If the script writers keep it up, this could be another seven-season nighttime drama, if not even longer. If they can't, well...that's a whole different story.

---Techtite

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