Viva Laughlin (partially found CBS musical TV series; 2007): Difference between revisions

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''Viva Laughlin''  was an American musical comedy-drama series adapted by Bob Lowry and Peter Bowker (creator of the original series) from the popular BBC British serial, Blackpool, and taking its name from the latter program's sequel, Viva Blackpool. Lowry and Bowker also served as executive producers alongside Hugh Jackman, John Palermo, Paul Telegdy, and Gabriele Muccino. The latter also directed the pilot.[1] It was filmed on location in part at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California for most of the inside casino shots
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Viva Laughlin</center>
|image=Vivalaughlin.jpg
|imagecaption=Poster for the series.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
'''''Viva Laughlin'''''  was a short-lived musical series that aired briefly on CBS in October 2007. The series was intended as a comedy-drama/mystery, and was an American adaptation of the British serial ''Blackpool''. Despite 13 episodes being ordered by the network, only 2 were ever aired before the series was abruptly cancelled.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_Laughlin ''Viva Laughlin's'' Wikipedia page] Retrieved 24 Feb '17</ref> Due to the series' obscurity and negative reception, only one full episode has resurfaced, with the rest being lost to time.


Produced by BBC Worldwide, CBS Paramount Network Television, Sony Pictures Television, and Seed Productions, the series was greenlit and given a thirteen-episode order on May 14, 2007.[2] Excerpts from the series were aired in subsequent previews throughout the CBS telecast of the 61st Annual Tony Awards on June 10, 2007.[3] CBS aired a preview of the pilot on October 18, 2007 following an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before broadcasting its official season premiere on October 21, 2007 in its regular timeslot on Sunday nights at 8:00/7:00c, following 60 Minutes
==Content==
The show takes place in Laughlin, Nevada, and focuses on an entrepreneur named Ripley Holden (played by Lloyd Owen). Ripley attempts to open a casino but runs into financial problems, and is unable to receive assistance from his rival, Nicky Fontana (played by Hugh Jackman). Ripley soon ends up becoming one of many suspects in the murder of his former business partner, whose body was found at his casino.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch.aspx?id=viva_laughlin Futon Critic description of the show] Retrieved 24 Feb '17</ref>


CBS cancelled Viva Laughlin on October 22, 2007 after airing two episodes, with the Nine Network (in Jackman's home country of Australia) following suit the next day by canceling the show after airing only one episode.[6][7] Both CBS and Nine filled the show's time slot with episodes of CSI, with The Amazing Race then taking Viva Laughlin's place on CBS on November 4. There are still no plans to air the remaining episodes
The show's scenes were punctuated by contemporary musical numbers from the characters, featuring songs such as Blondie's "One Way or Another" and the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil". Notable people who worked on the show include co-creator Peter Bowker, who created the original ''Blackpool'' series, and Hugh Jackman, who both played Nicky Fontana and acted as one of the executive producers.


==Reception and Status==
Immediately after ''Viva Laughlin'''s premiere, it was universally panned by critics and viewers, with the New York Times claiming it was close to being "the worst show in the history of television".<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/arts/television/18stan.html New York Times review of the first episode] Retrieved 24 Feb '17</ref> The show was heavily criticized for its poor writing and lackluster musical performances and is considered highly inferior to the UK series on which it was based. Reception was so poor that CBS cancelled the show after airing only two episodes, with some foreign networks cancelling it after just one.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071020034800/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny-ettell5415699oct18,0,5351094.story Newsday review of the series] Retrieved 24 Feb '17</ref><ref>[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-10-23/news/0710220485_1_viva-first-cancellation-laughlin Chicago Tribune article on the show's cancellation] Retrieved 24 Feb '17</ref>


== Plot ==
At least 6 unaired episodes are known to have been made, but none of them have been leaked. Among the two episodes that did air, only the second episode currently exists on the internet, and even then, the only copy is of mediocre quality and contains many encoding glitches. Given that CBS has scrubbed all references to the show from their website and have not mentioned it since its cancellation, it is highly unlikely that the rest of the series will see any sort of release.


Plot[edit]
==Videos==
Viva Laughlin is a mystery drama musical about businessman Ripley Holden, whose ambition is to run a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. It occasionally has the actors break into contemporary song. Ripley has invested all his money into opening a casino that is nowhere near completion, when his financing suddenly falls through. Needing an investor, Ripley approaches his rival, wealthy casino owner Nicky Fontana; but Fontana wants to own the casino himself, and Ripley turns down the deal. Ripley becomes embroiled in a murder investigation after the body of his ex-business partner is found at his casino
{{Video|perrow  =2
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =EgADW0vpMi0
  |description1 =Second episode of the series.
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =9vtonEFBeZk
  |description2 =Musical number from the first episode.
}}
==References==
{{reflist}}


 
[[Category:Lost TV]]
== Status ==
[[Category:Partially found media]]
 
The series was cancelled due to extremely negative reviews and poor ratings and due to how obscure the show has become it is unlikely of there ever being a home media realease of the show of the 13 episodes that were produced only 2 were aired on tv but of the 2 episodes that were aired only small clips of those episodes can be found online and as of July 2015 no full episodes of the show can be found online oddly enough the show isn't even mentioned on the CBS website Cbs has also never commented on whether or not they will air the remaining episodes to the public as of now it appears the chances of us ever getting to see the full series are slim

Revision as of 12:35, 12 April 2018

Vivalaughlin.jpg

Poster for the series.

Status: Partially Found

Viva Laughlin was a short-lived musical series that aired briefly on CBS in October 2007. The series was intended as a comedy-drama/mystery, and was an American adaptation of the British serial Blackpool. Despite 13 episodes being ordered by the network, only 2 were ever aired before the series was abruptly cancelled.[1] Due to the series' obscurity and negative reception, only one full episode has resurfaced, with the rest being lost to time.

Content

The show takes place in Laughlin, Nevada, and focuses on an entrepreneur named Ripley Holden (played by Lloyd Owen). Ripley attempts to open a casino but runs into financial problems, and is unable to receive assistance from his rival, Nicky Fontana (played by Hugh Jackman). Ripley soon ends up becoming one of many suspects in the murder of his former business partner, whose body was found at his casino.[2]

The show's scenes were punctuated by contemporary musical numbers from the characters, featuring songs such as Blondie's "One Way or Another" and the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil". Notable people who worked on the show include co-creator Peter Bowker, who created the original Blackpool series, and Hugh Jackman, who both played Nicky Fontana and acted as one of the executive producers.

Reception and Status

Immediately after Viva Laughlin's premiere, it was universally panned by critics and viewers, with the New York Times claiming it was close to being "the worst show in the history of television".[3] The show was heavily criticized for its poor writing and lackluster musical performances and is considered highly inferior to the UK series on which it was based. Reception was so poor that CBS cancelled the show after airing only two episodes, with some foreign networks cancelling it after just one.[4][5]

At least 6 unaired episodes are known to have been made, but none of them have been leaked. Among the two episodes that did air, only the second episode currently exists on the internet, and even then, the only copy is of mediocre quality and contains many encoding glitches. Given that CBS has scrubbed all references to the show from their website and have not mentioned it since its cancellation, it is highly unlikely that the rest of the series will see any sort of release.

Videos

Second episode of the series.

Musical number from the first episode.

References