letterten 2003-04 fall preview

debuts Monday, Sep 29, 9:00pm

premise from	From the writer of "The Fast and the Furious," this drama follows the elite surveillance team charged with maintaining the security of one of Las Vegas' largest casinos. James Caan stars as Big Ed Deline, the head to the surveillance team. Along with his protege, Danny McCoy, an ex-Marine and Vegas native, they deal with card counters, costly streaks of random luck and rival casinos stealing away the high rollers. Ed has also recently discovered Danny in bed with his only daughter. The cast of characters is fleshed out with a high-priced whore, an all-knowing valet, a pit boss and an elusive former competitor. [NBC link]
stars	James Caan, Josh Duhamel ("All My Children"), Molly Sims ("House of Style"), Nikki Cox ("Unhappily Ever After"), James Lesure, Marsha Thomason, Vanessa Marcil ("Beverly Hills, 90210," "General Hospital")
producers	Gary Scott Thompson, Gardner Stern, Scott Steindorff, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank
studio	NBC Studios and DreamWorks Television

opinions
	I love the idea. It's one I thought of years ago when I spent time looking into the casino in Atlantic City -- long before I was allowed inside. The cast looks pretty and is pretty good, but does it become a soap opera?
	James Caan as a Vegas tough guy named Big Ed? We're intrigued. Molly Simms, Nikki Cox, Vanessa Marcil and Marsha Thomason slinking their way through Sin City? We're so there. The problem is that all of those fun and attractive people are second fiddles to Josh Duhamel, ostensibly the series star. He's a bit of a cipher in the midst of a promising assortment of gadgets, corruption and sex. Perhaps it's not too late to find a new centerpiece for an otherwise promising entry.

my thoughts on "Las Vegas"
	Good shot for full season. Out of all the hours on all the nets, I find myself liking NBC's three the best. This has got a decent slot, even against "...Raymond" and "Monday Night Football." It probably will beat "Skin," especially with a month head start. I think it's going to follow a similar success pattern as "Third Watch."