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Las Vegas (TV series)

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Las Vegas
File:Vegas Title Card.jpgLas Vegas title sequence
GenreCrime, Dramedy
Created byGary Scott Thompson
StarringJosh Duhamel
Vanessa Marcil
James Lesure
Molly Sims
Tom Selleck
James Caan*
Nikki Cox*
Marsha Thomason*
* = No Longer on Show
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes103 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersGary Scott Thompson, Matt Pyken, Kim Newton, Justin Falvey & Darryl Frank
ProducersUniversal Media Studios
and DreamWorks Television
Running time41-45 min (per episode)
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 222003 –
present

Las Vegas is a dramatic comedy television series about a team of people working in the fictional Montecito Resort and Casino in Las Vegas—dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and restaurant management to casino security. The show debuted on September 22 2003 on NBC, immediately following the popular Fear Factor series. The show currently airs at 10pm on Fridays, a time slot that in the 90's became known for being the death slot for shows. Las Vegas is only the second show since Miami Vice to survive in the time slot. The show airs in over 70 countries.

Background

The series originally centered around Ed Deline (James Caan in his first television series role), a strict ex-CIA officer who went from Head of Security to becoming President of Operations of the Montecito, whose job is to run the day-to-day operations of the casino. Following his departure from the series in Season 5, former Marine Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel), Ed's former protege, has become the Montecito's new President of Operations. Other characters that work with McCoy include current Head of Security and Surveillance, and former Head Valet, Mike Cannon (James Lesure) who plays an integral role in investigations due to his engineering degree from MIT. Danny's childhood friend and ex-fiancée, Mary Connell (Nikki Cox), worked at the Montecito first as Event Director then got promoted to Hotel Manager in the third season until finally leaving in the fifth season. Sam Marquez (Vanessa Marcil), a manipulative businesswoman and self-proclaimed "best casino host in the world," has only one interest: to get high rollers to play at the casino. Ed's daughter Delinda Deline (Molly Sims) serves as the Entertainment Manager, and runs all the food and beverages in the casino. She is currently living with Danny after previously having a romantic connection with him early in the first season. The ownership of the casino has changed quite a bit, currently AJ Cooper is the sixth owner.

Opening sequence

Different theme songs have been used, depending on where, how or when the show is aired. In Australia, Portugal, UK, Netherlands and other countries the theme song is Let It Ride by Charlie Clouser and Jon Ingoldsby while in other countries, such as the USA and Canada, the theme song is A Little Less Conversation (the Junkie XL mix) by Elvis Presley. For the American DVD, as well as, the episodes available for viewing on NBC's website, Clouser's song is used with the exception of the pilot episode on the American DVDs.

Cast and characters

Main cast and characters

  • A.J. Cooper, (Tom Selleck), the new owner of the Montecito as of 2007. He is a former Marine and cattle farmer from Wyoming who stirs things up at the casino. It is said his net worth is about $2 billion. On his first day, he allowed a doctor to avoid jail for cheating by making him lose his winnings back and promising not to return to Las Vegas again. In "Run Cooper Run," it is revealed that Cooper was a Black Ops Marine in the Vietnam war and awarded a Bronze Star for his work. In "Sex, Lies and Lamaze," Cooper admits that he was best friends with Piper's father, a fellow Marine. Before Piper's father died, Cooper promised he would watch over Piper. Cooper also owns condominiums in Florida, Wisconsin's largest paper mill, the largest cattle farm in Wyoming, and a high-tech company in California. He is in the process of attempting to build a casino in Macau, China.
  • Danny McCoy, (Josh Duhamel), He was initially Ed's apprentice, surrogate son, and best friend who was later promoted to Head of Security. After the resignation of Ed in 2005, Danny was made President of Operations of the Montecito Resort & Casino for a brief period. However, following Ed's return, Danny was officially made Head of Security in Season 3. He was born and raised in Las Vegas. Towards the end of Season two, his father Larry McCoy (John Terry) died in an accident and he inherited his construction company, McCoy Construction, and house. Danny sold his father's house and used it to pay for his condo. Establishing shots suggest his condo is in the Turnberry Towers. He is a former US Marine, with guerrilla training and counter intelligence training. He was recalled into military service at the end of Season one. In Season two, he was awarded the Silver Star after he called in an air-strike over his unit and himself when they were ambushed and overrun. It is implied that only he survived the air strike. He is currently living with his girlfriend, Delinda, who is pregnant with their child. He was involved in an on-and-off relationship with his childhood friend, Mary. At one point, the two were even (technically) engaged. The show was narrated by this character for the first few episodes. In Season 5, Danny finally gets Ed's job and is now President of Operations for the casino. Throughout the show history Danny runs into a fellow marine he knows or served with.
  • Mike Cannon, (James Lesure), an engineer (with a both undergraduate and graduate degrees from MIT in Mechanical Engineering) who worked as head valet for the first Season, but was officially recruited by Ed Deline to the security department to help during Danny's military absence, (before he just helped security when they needed him). He stayed on as security personnel despite being paid less than his job as a valet and cured his claustrophobia at the end of season one. Mike and Nessa became close in Season 2, until Nessa left to be with her dad and sister without saying goodbye. Mike and Danny are best friends. In Season 5, when Danny accepts the job as the President of Operations for the Casino, Mike is promoted to Head of Security and Surveillance. Mike and Piper were recently married but it the marriage may have been annulled. Together they saw a judge who presented them with annulment papers but they didn't sign. In 2 on 2 it was revealed they didn't go through with the annulment.
  • Samantha Jane "Sam" Marquez, (Vanessa Marcil), the self-proclaimed best Casino Host in the world, lives in a Montecito suite. She is portrayed as a ruthless business person whose sole interest is to get high rollers to play at the Montecito. However, in the Season four episode, The Burning Bedouin, she reveals that she is only cold and jaded because everyone expects of her, and that underneath it all, she is weak and pathetic like everyone else. She was married to billionaire Casey Manning, whom she was estranged from for seven years prior to a divorce. (When she married Casey, he was just a millionaire then). She was also involved in an on-and-off relationship with Detective Woody Hoyt from Crossing Jordan, which ended officially based on the events from Season four episode, "History of Violins". From "The Burning Bedouin", it is seen that she is currently in love with and waiting for Jeremy, the man who first brought her to Las Vegas from Austin, Texas. Following the death of her ex-husband Casey in a freak fishing accident (later revealed he was poisoned), she is the latest former owner of the Montecito Resort & Casino. She owned the Montecito for a week, until A.J. Cooper bought the Montecito by paying off the back taxes. A.J. fired Sam when she was rude to the son of his ranch manager. After Delinda intervened, Sam and Cooper worked things out over a milk shake, bowling, beers, and cigars. Cooper agreed to rehire Sam.
  • Delinda Deline, (Molly Sims), Ed's daughter and the entertainment manager/manager of all the food and beverage outlets in the Montecito: Mystique club, the former Wolfgang restaurant, Opus bar, and the Bella Petto Pool Bar. Delinda leaves the Montecito in the beginning of Season 3, until Monica forces Ed to hire her back. She is Danny's girlfriend after a long and complicated romantic history with him. They were "involved" briefly for the first episodes of Season 1 before calling it off. During Season 3, an old college flame returns and asks Delinda to marry him. She accepts but before the ceremony Ed is shot. In the fray of Ed's medical crisis, Delinda calls off her wedding to Derick. After leaving Derick, she again becomes involved with Danny and they are now living together and she is pregnant with their child.

Recurring cast and characters

  • Mitch (Mitch Longley), a regular member of the Surveillance team, Mitch, like the actor who plays him, is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair. This does not stop him from being a valuable member of the security team. He is second in command of security.
  • Piper Nielsen (Camille Guaty), the newest concierge of the Montecito introduced in season 5. She frequently socializes with both Sam and Delinda. In the episode "The Glass is Always Cleaner," she was arrested at a rave party with Sam and had to be bailed out by Mike. In her first episode, she states she is just 22 years old but later slips and says she is 25. She was fired for letting a minor gamble, but Cooper paid a $1,000,000 fine to hire her back. Piper never knew who her father was, but it was recently revealed that her father was a marine who was Cooper's best friend during the Vietnam war. He died sometime after Vietnam. Before he died, Cooper promised him that he would keep an eye on Piper. Mike and Piper were recently married but the marriage may have been annulled. Together they saw a judge who presented them with annulment papers. They attended an "annulment party" thrown by Delinda, but there is speculation among the other casino workers as to whether they went through with it. Delinda was right. In 2 on 2 it was revealed they didn't go through with the annulment.
  • Polly (Suzanne Whang), a manicurist in at the Montecito's spa, who has recently formed a friendship with A.J. Cooper. Polly is always open about discussing her sexual experience, such as claiming she was one of Wilt Chamberlain's 20,000 partners in 2 on 2. Sam once gave Ed a full body massage from Polly for Christmas, in which Polly attempted to give Ed a happy ending.
  • Kathy Berson (Rikki Klieman) The Montecito's main legal adviser and lawyer. If there are any legal issues, Kathy is the first person that everyone asks. Kathy helps Ed and Danny with many of their problems over the course of the show.

Former characters

  • Ed Deline (2003-2007), (James Caan), Former President of Operations and Head of Security of the Montecito Resort & Casino, and also a former member of the Board of Directors. Deline was, at one point, the main character of the series, portrayed as a loving husband and father, as well as a father figure to his employees, especially Danny. Nevertheless, he is a tough man and doesn't hesitate to use violence to get what he wants. As the former Director of Counter Intelligence for the CIA, his past has come back to haunt him in several occasions, most recently during his daughter's wedding in "Father of the Bride Redux." During season 3, Ed was briefly in retirement until the Maloofs tried to hire him for their potential casino in Mancu, eventually Ed returned to his position when Casey Manning bought the casino. Currently Ed is wanted by the Las Vegas police for killing Mary Connell's father. He has gone into hiding. In Season 3's "For Sail By Owner," Ed reveals that he is a cigar aficionado, explaining to Casey Manning how Cuban cigars that Mike confiscated are made and its delicacy in smoking it.
  • Mary Connell (2003-2007), (Nikki Cox), the Special Events Director at the casino. Originally she was suppose to play the casino's personal hooker, but as the last minute during the pilot filming Gary Scott Thompson changed it back to events director. A Las Vegas native, her father abused her when she was a teenager (Danny first term in the Marines). In season three, she was rehired and promoted to Hotel Manager. In the fourth season, she helps her stepmother and half-sisters testify against him - a case which was lost. In the episode "Bare Chested in the Park," she was shown purchasing a revolver to shoot her father in the following episode. She was involved in an on-and-off relationship with Danny, who later proposed to her in Season two - a proposal which she rejected. Mary is currently hiding from the law for her part in the murder of her father, but is safe as she sent Danny a photo with a house and white fence (her dream house).
  • Jillian Deline, (2003-2007) (Cheryl Ladd), Ed's wife and Delinda's mother. Jillian had been expressing growing resentment of Ed's time on the job, and appeared to become extremely frustrated near the end of season 4, straining their relationship. In Season 3, it was revealed Jillian used to be a model when she was younger and that she was the only one who liked Monica.
  • Nessa Holt (2003-2005), (Marsha Thomason), "The Ice Queen." Former head pit boss of the Montecito, thought to be the best in Las Vegas. She was born in Manchester, England, but has a shady past due to her father's connections with Ed Deline. She was raised by Ed and Jillian for some years. When the third season started, she had left Las Vegas and been given a new identity to be able to live with her father and long-lost sister. Nessa failed to say goodbye to Mike, as they were getting closer to a relationship. Her father was a well known gamblier, cheater and con-artist. He was forcefully recruited and faked his death.
  • Monica Mancuso (2005), (Lara Flynn Boyle), Former owner of the Montecito. She was portrayed as a self-centered and bull-headed. In the first episode of season three, it was revealed that at age 25, she married an 83-year-old billionaire and upon his death at 93, she inherited his fortune, using it to purchase the Montecito and upgrade it to its current facility. She later used the casino as collateral to try to purchase other casinos in Las Vegas. Determined to prove that she was more than just a woman who inherited money, she was determined to make the Montecito a success. In the season three episode "Mothwoman," she dies in a freak accident: a gust of wind blows her off the roof of the Montecito, and down the strip into a shoe store at the Wynn. Because this character was generally disliked by the other characters in the series, and typically was portrayed as a buffoon, her death was constructed mostly for humor. Casino employees disposed of her ashes by flushing them down the toilet (as per her wishes) in her suite at the Montecito. She was a waitress in the morning and a stripper at night before she married the billionaire in Ohio.
  • Casey Manning (2004-2006), (Dean Cain), A shrewd and cunning businessman, Sam's ex-husband and former owner of the Montecito Resort & Casino. In the Season four episode "Bare Chested in the Park", his character was killed off in a fishing accident: a giant squid enveloped him off the coast of New Zealand. The autopsy revealed that he was probably poisoned before the accident. After his death, he leaves the Montecito to Sam, who faces tax problems.
  • Sarasvati Kumar (Lakshmi Manchu), She is an accountant for the Casino and one time love interest of Frank (Sylvester Stallone), and later Mike (2004-2006). Her relationship with Mike ended officially after she went home with Delinda's bachelorette party strippers.

Notable guest stars

Notable cameos

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Crossing Jordan crossover

Las Vegas is set in the same universe as fellow NBC series Crossing Jordan. In the season 2 episode "Double Down, Triple Threat", a case brought Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy) and Det. Woody Hoyt (Jerry O'Connell) to Las Vegas. Woody and Sam got very well acquainted and maintained a long-distance relationship. However, based on events that happened in Season 4 episode "History of Violins", the relationship seems to be off. As of the end of Season 4, O'Connell has appeared in a total of five episodes of Las Vegas. Vanessa Marcil has also appeared as Sam in two Crossing Jordan episodes. Jordon and Danny also become involved, but both agreed it was only for fun. No relationship came from it. The crossover is in part due to the fact that Las Vegas was on during Crossing Jordan's usual time during the fall since the producers of Crossing Jordan decided not to shoot any episodes while their star Jill Hennessy was pregnant.

Episodes

Main article: List of Las Vegas episodes

DVD releases

Name Ep # Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
Season One 23 January 4 2005 March 14 2005
 November 28 2005
Season Two 24 September 13 2005 December 5 2005
 November 28 2005
Season Three 23 September 12 2006 November 30 2006 November 15 2006
Season Four 17 September 112007 October 29 2007 March 5 2008

Program information

Scheduling

The show had aired at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Mondays since September 22, 2003, but was moved to Friday nights at 9:00 p.m. following Deal or No Deal in March 2006. This move has been attributed to reports that the NFL won't allow NBC to air ads for the show during NBC's broadcast of Sunday Night Football. This caused some doubts about the future of the show, as Friday nights are known for its low ratings. The 5th Season Premiere had a 5.8/11 rating for the first half and a 6.1/11 during the second.

Season information

The show has four complete seasons, all of them are available on DVD. The show was renewed for a fifth season on February 27 2007. On March 2 2007, it was announced that James Caan and Nikki Cox would be leaving the series. Caan's departure is because he wants to return to acting in feature films, while Cox's departure seems to stem from budget cuts. Tom Selleck replaced James Caan as head boss in season 5. Currently 19 episodes of the originally planned 22 episode season has been filmed.

Location

The location of the fictional Montecito has changed from season to season. Some of the first episodes were taped at the Mandalay Bay which is located south of the intersection of Tropicana and the Las Vegas Strip (next to Luxor). Because of its similarity to Mandalay Bay, many of the show visuals place the Montecito at the far southern end of The Strip, albeit usually across the street from Mandalay Bay on the airport side of Las Vegas Boulevard. The exact location and rotation of the building seems to vary a lot within this area, indeed the CGI zoom shots of the building exterior in the season two episode, "Montecito Lancers", shows the building in three slightly differing locations for three different shots. In Season 5, the Montecito seems to have the consistent location across from Mandalay Bay.

Many of Mandalay Bay's interiors and exteriors (including its wave pool) have been used as Montecito exteriors, although (according to the Internet Movie Database) the actual set of Montecito is located at Culver Studios, in Culver City, California, so the interiors are a replica of the Mandalay Bay. These studios are where Gone with the Wind was filmed. The Season 3 set of 'Las Vegas' has been said to be the biggest set for a TV show ever.

During the first season of the show, many of the Montecito's suites overlooked various parts of the middle part of the Strip, placing the hotel near where the Venetian, Flamingo, or Mirage are currently, before the more consistent location at the southern end of the Strip was finalized.

During the first season except for the pilot episode, the rest of season one sets were being built as they filmed.

In Season 3, Ed Deline's office appears to be in the middle of the strip, overlooking Harrah's, Caesars Palace, The Mirage, and The Venetian, which puts the Montecito near where Treasure Island is located. This is inconsistent with the flyover shots of the Montecito, which would place Ed's office over 2 miles away. Closer examination of the window scene shows that The Mirage's marquee over their driveway has been edited to read "Montecito". In season 4, episode 2 there is a scene in Ed Deline's office where again we can see an overview of The Mirage and Caesar's Palace. Again it's a confirmation that Ed Deline's office would be where Treasure Island is located.

According to an episode that originally aired in December 2005, the Montecito is located about 1.5 miles from the Wynn Las Vegas. It's possible that this distance is in a straight line ("as the crow flies") as opposed to a reference to actual driving distance. This distance is inconsistent with long shots that place the Montecito near the airport and Mandalay Bay, but is in line with Season 3 visual references noted above.

Other episodes show aerial shots of the Montecito that make it appear to be situated at the corner of Giles St. and Reno Ave., about half a mile from Mandalay Bay.

Popular culture

  • In the novel "High Stakes Game," based on the NBC series, author Jeff Mariotte tells the tale what could have occurred between the season two finale and the season three premiere when the casino was destroyed and rebuilt and the characters briefly went their separate ways. Jeff Mariotte is a fiction author who often bases his works on television shows.

References

  1. "NBC bets on renewing 'LAS VEGAS' for a fifth high-rolling season 2007-08". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
  2. Caan and Cox leave Las Vegas
  3. Jeff Mariotte online book information

External links

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