December 24, 2007
Check out all our lists for BuddyTV's Top 7 of '07 to relive the best and the worst of the year in television.
Being original for the sake of being original is worthless. Oftentimes, people will confuse uniqueness with quality. I can only assume this is how Viva Laughlin made it to prime time. The drama/musical/murder mystery/all-around crapfest involved an up and coming casino owner who became entangled with a murder mystery. Fine, there's potential there
October 23, 2007
BuddyTV writer and editor John Kubicek is a featured commentator on Baltimore's WBAL morning radio program hosted by David Durian every Tuesday at 8:40am EST.
The big story this week in television is the new show Death Watch. This past week, two new shows were officially cancelled, both after airing just two episodes. What's the reason behind such quick decisions by the networks, and what will they do to fill that space? Read on to find out and to listen to an mp3 recording of the radio segment.
October 22, 2007
Viva Laughlin, universally regarded as the worst new series of the Fall TV season, has been canceled by CBS after only two episodes. The Viva Laughlin pilot aired on Thursday, with CBS showing the second episode on Sunday (which was supposed to be its permanent time slot). The ratings were abysmal on both nights, almost historically so, prompting CBS to enact the quickest series cancellation of the 2007 season. The Amazing Race, originally slated to return in January, will be moved up a few months and premiere on November 4 in the Sunday 8pm slot. Next Sunday, a repeat of CSI: will fill the 8pm slot while The Amazing Race prepares to take the air.
October 18, 2007
Viva Laughlin is s a new musical/drama/comedy/soap opera from CBS which will premiere tonight on CBS at 10pm, following CSI. CBS is calling this a preview of the Viva Laughlin pilot. It will re-air this Sunday in its permanent time slot at 8pm. The show is based off the English series Viva Blackpool, originally created by Peter Bowker. Viva Laughlin was adapted by Bowker and Bob Lowry, and are joined as executive producers by John Palermo, Paul Talegdy, Gabriele Muccino (who directed the pilot) and Hugh Jackman. Jackman is also the sometimes-star of the series who will appear in some, but not all, episodes of Viva Laughlin. The series follows an optimistic gambler/family man named Ripley Holden as he attempts to open his very own casino in Laughlin, Nevada.
October 4, 2007
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In attempt to bring forth a groundbreaking and provocative pilot, CBS has decided to launch a new series that fuses murder, comedy and chockfull of great music. Viva Laughlin, which CBS admits to being a huge gamble, will try to capture the hearts of spectators despite some hints that U.S. audiences are not yet ready for a singing TV protagonist.
But looking at the trend nowadays, many shows and movies have already earned acclaimed reviews and a solid fan following with its musical-themed programs.
September 26, 2007
Much has been said about the unconventional format for CBS' new series Viva Laughlin. The non-traditional song and dance drama has never been tested for weekly television programming. Even CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler acknowledges the risk they're taking with such a far-fetched idea as that employed by Viva Laughlin.
"I totally see [Laughlin] as a risk,” Tassler confessed. “That's why we went for it. We see it as something groundbreaking and provocative."
September 23, 2007
The murder mystery format is one of the more fascinating and riveting genres on television. Arguably, so are musicals, or at least, the presence of appropriately placed songs or scoring in a show. Debuting series, Viva Laughlin, attempts to marry music and mystery in a bona fide musical drama.
Imagine big screen heavyweights Hugh Jackman of X-Men and Van Helsing fame and Melanie Griffith of Bonfire of the Vanities and Shining Through, singing along to Blondie and The Rolling Stones. That's exactly what you'll get on the maiden season of CBS' Viva Laughlin, which begins October 18.
September 11, 2007
In conjunction with our 2007 Fall TV Guide, BuddyTV will be publishing exclusive interviews with the creators and showrunners of some of the hottest new shows this fall throughout the week. Check back all this week for interviews with: Cane Creator Cynthia Cidre, Chuck and Gossip Girl Creator Josh Schwartz, Journeyman Creator Kevin Falls and Director Alex Graves and Reaper Creators Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas.
Tyler Bensinger and Stephen DeKnight are the showrunners and executive producers of CBS' new genre-bending series, Viva Laughlin. Half murder mystery, half drama and half musical, it's based on the British series Viva Blackpool and stars Lloyd Owen as Ripley Holden, a wannabe casino owner in Nevada. Produced by film and stage star Hugh Jackman, Viva Laughlin gets a special premiere Thursday, October 18 at 10pm after CSI before moving to its regular time slot, Sundays at 8pm.
The duo spoke to BuddyTV about how the new show stacks up against the British original, working with Hugh Jackman, and their fondness for The Singing Detective. Below you will find a transcript as well as the mp3 audio file of the interview.