Viva Laughlin

Start date: Country of Origin: Genre: drama, musical Director: Producer: Writer: Cast: Quirky Quote:

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Based on the UK television hit Blackpool, Viva Laughlin is a drama-musical mystery set in Laughlin, Nevada, USA (the state’s third most-visited casino town, after Las Vegas and Reno). The show focuses on businessman Ripley Holden, whose goal is to build and run a successful casino in Laughlin. His casino is struggling to reach completion and when financial backing for the venture falls through, Ripley enlists a new business partner in rival Nicky Fontana, a thriving, charismatic casino owner. As the body of his former business partner is found, Ripley gets mixed up in the ensuing murder investigation. With a positive will to succeed and a stroke of luck, however, Ripley juggles business with family, as his wife, Natalie (Madchen Amick), demands more attention, his daughter Cheyenne (Ellen Woglom) fights for his approval and son Jack (Carter Jenkins) strives for involvement in his work.

From Italian director Gabriele Muccino, Viva Laughlin features Monarch of the Glen and Miss Potter star Lloyd Owen, Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Happy Feet, Australia) and Working Girl/Stuart Little 2’s Melanie Griffith. Described as “a mystery drama with music”, the show’s creators are keen for Viva Laughlin not to be seen as a conventional musical under any circumstances, rather the music acting as a vehicle to, perhaps more subtly, advance the storylines. The New York Times was unmoved by Viva Laughlin however, reviewing it as possibly "the worst new show of the season”, and more worryingly asking, “Is it the worst show in the history of television?".