There’s so many streaming choices available, it can be difficult on what to decide to watch. Fighting over the remote with your other half, wanting to watch “this”, but they want to watch “that” or someone is not in the mood. I now have your solution.
If you need a palate cleanse with your viewing, look no further than the glorious train-wreck that is Viva Laughlin.
Based off the 2004 U.K. series Blackpool, the 2007 U.S. dramedy from CBS had a decent cast ensemble like Hugh Jackman, Lloyd Owen, Madchen Amick and Melanie Griffith – which is definitely something. Why “something”? Because it lasted two episodes.
Here’s the basis: businessman Ripley Holden (Owen) is happily married to Natalie (Amick). He’s building a casino in Laughlin, Nevada, but has used up all his coin and the casino is nowhere near completion. After struggles with his finances, he turns to his rival – casino businessman Nicky Fontana (Jackman) for financial backing. Fontana is up for it, but wants to own the casino. Holden refuses. Also, someone dies (Griffith) and Holden gets caught up in it – when he’s completely innocent.
Also, they occasionally break out into a song and dance routine, usually singing directly over the top of the original song. Got it?
That’s it. There’s more to the story, but we never got to see it. The music selection itself was great, but the execution was pure expensive cheese. The Pilot episode cost $7 million to make and was not the ratings hit it was meant to be and negative reviews.
Viva Laughlin was pulled from air in the U.S. in October 2007 after the second episode was screened. In Australia, where it was hyped up by Channel Nine like no tomorrow – mainly because the drawcard was Jackman – the Pilot episode screened, then dumped a day or two later, only for the second (and final) episode to screen late at night a week later and forgotten about. Seven episodes were planned, and they have not seen the light of day.
While we may never see those episodes, for some bizarre reason (probably because it was a ‘sweetener’ for a streaming library package or something) the Seven Network’s free streaming service 7Plus have the only two existing episodes available to view. Though you might need to sign up for free to their service access.
So if you need time to kill between lining up for a COVID test or you need time to think what else to watch on your paid subscription service, let Viva Laughlin wipe away the anxiety of selection.
