Las Vegas (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Las Vegas was an American television series broadcast by NBC
from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and restaurant management to casino security
. The series originally aired on Monday nights, though NBC later moved the series to Friday nights first to 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central and then to 10 PM Eastern/9 PM Central. The show is currently in syndication and airs in the United States (on TNT
).
The series originally centered around Ed Deline (James Caan
), a strict ex-CIA officer who went from being Head of Security to becoming President of Operations of the Montecito, whose job is to run the day-to-day operations of the casino. Following his departure from the series in Season 5, former Marine Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel
), Ed's former protégé, became the Montecito's new President of Operations.
The series abruptly ended with a cliffhanger because NBC canceled Las Vegas in the off season following season five.
TNT has been airing reruns of the series since the fall of 2007.
. In the Season 2 episode "Two of a Kind," a case brought Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy
) and Det. Woody Hoyt (Jerry O'Connell
) to Las Vegas. Woody and Sam got very well acquainted and maintained a long-distance relationship. However, as of the Season 4 episode "History of Violins," the relationship seemed to be over. Jordan and Danny also become involved, but both agreed it was only for fun, and no relationship came from it.
Episodes ordered by airdate:
, Knight Rider
, Medium
, Monk
, Passions
, and Stargate Atlantis
(in an "Alternate Universe") — when characters from those shows visited Las Vegas. Of these, only the daytime soap Passions included Las Vegas characters in cameo roles: Nikki Cox
appeared as Mary Connell. The final season of Las Vegas also featured a crossover episode of sorts with one of the highest rated TV shows from the 1980s. During the episode, several cast members of the hit TV show Magnum P.I. including guest stars Roger Mosley and Larry Manetti
appeared on the program with Las Vegas regular Tom Selleck
. Manetti and Mosley essentially played millionaire older versions of their characters from Magnum P.I. in the episode.
The Las Vegas episode "The Story of Owe" mentions a Dunder-Mifflin
convention, obliquely linking to The Office.
and Jon Ingoldsby, while in other countries, such as the USA and Canada, the theme song is A Little Less Conversation
(the Memories – The '68 Comeback Special
version) by Elvis Presley
. For the American DVD, as well as the episodes available for viewing on NBC's website, Clouser's song is used with the exception of the pilot episode on the American DVDs.
with many issues left unresolved and will remain unresolved according to TV Guide Canada. At one point, Michael Ausiello
of TV Guide
said that there are plans, should a proper resolution not be possible, to have the characters of Danny McCoy and Delinda Deline cameo in an episode of Knight Rider
carrying a newborn. Due to Knight Rider
being canceled, a cameo appearance of Danny and Delinda never came to fruition.
and Mandalay Bay
. Because of its similarity to Mandalay Bay, many of the show visuals place the Montecito at the far southern end of The Las Vegas Strip
, albeit usually across the street from Luxor on the airport side of Las Vegas Boulevard
. The exact location and rotation of the building seems to vary a lot within this area, indeed the CGI zoom shots of the building exterior in the season two episode, "Montecito Lancers", shows the building in three slightly differing locations for three different shots. There were also a few interior and exterior shots filmed in Dana Point, CA, at the St. Regis Hotel in Monarch Beach, CA. In Season 5, the Montecito seems to have the consistent location across from Luxor.
Many of Mandalay Bay's interiors and exteriors (including its wave pool) have been used as Montecito exteriors, although (according to the Internet Movie Database
) the actual set of Montecito is located at Culver Studios
, in Culver City, California
, so the interiors are a replica of the Mandalay Bay. The Season 3 set of Las Vegas has been said to be the biggest set for a TV show ever.
During the first season of the show, many of the Montecito's suites overlooked various parts of the middle part of the Strip, placing the hotel near where The Venetian, Flamingo Las Vegas
, or The Mirage
are currently, before the more consistent location at the southern end of the Strip was finalized.
During the first season, except for the pilot episode, the sets were built as needed for filming.
Some episodes were shot using interior and exterior shots of Green Valley Ranch, including a shot of the pool and spa area where in one episode Everlast
holds a concert.
In Season 3, Ed Deline's office appears to be in the middle of the strip, overlooking Harrah's
, Caesars Palace
, The Mirage, and The Venetian, which puts the Montecito near where Treasure Island
is located. This is inconsistent with the flyover shots of the Montecito, which would place Ed's office over two miles away. Closer examination of the window scene shows that The Mirage's marquee over their driveway has been edited to read "Montecito." In Season 4, episode 2 "Died in Plain Sight," there is a scene in Ed Deline's office where again we can see an overview of The Mirage and Caesars Palace. Again it's a confirmation that Ed Deline's office would be where Treasure Island is located.
According to an episode that originally aired in December 2005, the Montecito is located about 1.5 miles from Wynn Las Vegas
. It's possible that this distance is in a straight line ("as the crow flies
") as opposed to a reference to actual driving distance. This distance is inconsistent with long shots that place the Montecito near the airport, Luxor and Mandalay Bay, but is in line with Season 3 visual references noted above.
Other episodes show aerial shots of the Montecito that make it appear to be situated at the corner of Giles St. and Reno Ave., about half a mile from Mandalay Bay and across from Luxor
In the episode "Father of the Bride Redux", it's shown that the Montecito also operates a property in Hawaii called the Montecito Royal Hawaiian Villas, managed by Casey Manning's brother Vic.
tells the tale of what could have occurred between the Season 2 finale and the Season 3 premiere when the casino was destroyed and rebuilt and the characters briefly went their separate ways. A second novel, also by Jeff Mariotte called Sleight of Hand was launched in 2007.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and restaurant management to casino security
Casino security
Casino security refers to the measures that are taken at casinos to protect the establishment's money and property and the patrons. The security protects the casino and its customers from violent crime, theft, and other inappropriate behavior....
. The series originally aired on Monday nights, though NBC later moved the series to Friday nights first to 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central and then to 10 PM Eastern/9 PM Central. The show is currently in syndication and airs in the United States (on TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
).
The series originally centered around Ed Deline (James Caan
James Caan
James Caan is an American actor. He is best known for his starring roles in The Godfather, Thief, Misery, A Bridge Too Far, Brian's Song, Rollerball, Kiss Me Goodbye, Elf, and El Dorado...
), a strict ex-CIA officer who went from being Head of Security to becoming President of Operations of the Montecito, whose job is to run the day-to-day operations of the casino. Following his departure from the series in Season 5, former Marine Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel
Josh Duhamel
Joshua David "Josh" Duhamel is an American actor and former fashion model. He first achieved acting success in 1999 as Leo du Pres on ABC's All My Children and later as the chief of security, Danny McCoy, on NBC's Las Vegas...
), Ed's former protégé, became the Montecito's new President of Operations.
The series abruptly ended with a cliffhanger because NBC canceled Las Vegas in the off season following season five.
TNT has been airing reruns of the series since the fall of 2007.
Main cast and characters
- Danny McCoy, (Seasons 1–5), (Josh DuhamelJosh DuhamelJoshua David "Josh" Duhamel is an American actor and former fashion model. He first achieved acting success in 1999 as Leo du Pres on ABC's All My Children and later as the chief of security, Danny McCoy, on NBC's Las Vegas...
), initially Ed Deline's apprentice, surrogate son, and good friend who was later promoted to Head of Security. The series' pilot episode was told largely through his perspective and also featured Danny doing voice-overVoice-overVoice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
narration, but this convention was quickly dropped, although he remained the show's main character throughout its five-year run. After the resignation of Ed in Season 3, Danny was made President of Operations of the Montecito Resort & Casino for a brief period. However, following Ed's return, Danny was officially made Head of Security in Season 3. He was born and raised in Las Vegas. Towards the end of Season 2, his father Larry McCoy (John TerryJohn Terry (actor)John Terry is an American film, television, and stage actor.-Early life:Terry was born in Florida, where he attended Vero Beach High School. He was also educated at the prestigious Loomis Chaffee prep school in Windsor, Connecticut, and began a career building original custom log homes in North...
) died in an accident and Danny inherited his father's construction company, McCoy Construction, and house. Danny sold his father's house and used the money to pay for a condo. Establishing shots suggest his condo is in the Turnberry Towers. Danny is a former U.S. Marine, with guerrilla training and counter intelligence training. He was recalled into military service in Iraq at the end of Season 1. In season 2, he was awarded the Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
after he called in an air-strike over his unit and himself when they were ambushed and overrun. Only he survived the air strike. He was involved in an on-and-off relationship with his Ed Deline's daughter, Delinda, in Season 1. Danny and Mary have know each other since childhood, and have had a confusing on-and-off relationship. Danny proposed to Mary, but Mary called off the engagement because she felt that Danny had a lot of things to sort out for him self. He is currently living with his girlfriend, Delinda, who is pregnant with their first child. - Ed Deline (Seasons 1–4, starring, Season 5 guest star), (James CaanJames CaanJames Caan is an American actor. He is best known for his starring roles in The Godfather, Thief, Misery, A Bridge Too Far, Brian's Song, Rollerball, Kiss Me Goodbye, Elf, and El Dorado...
), Former President of Operations of the Montecito Resort & Casino, and also a former member of the Board of Directors. He started as head of security and surveillance, but was promoted to president of operations at the end of the eighth episode, when Gavin Brunson (James McDanielJames McDanielJames McDaniel is an American stage, film and television actor. He is best known for playing Lt. Arthur Fancy on the television show NYPD Blue. He also played a police officer in the ill-fated 1990 series Cop Rock, and a close advisor to activist Malcolm X in the 1992 film Malcolm X. He also...
) took over the Montecito. He's portrayed as a loving husband and father, as well as a father figure to his employees, especially Danny. Nevertheless, he is a tough man and doesn't hesitate to use violence to get what he wants. As the former Director of Counter Intelligence for the CIA, his past has come back to haunt him on several occasions, most recently during his daughter's wedding in "Father of the Bride Redux." During Season 3, Ed was briefly in retirement until the Maloofs tried to hire him for their potential casino in Macau. Eventually Ed returned to his position when Casey Manning bought the casino. Ed left the casino since being wanted by the Las Vegas police for killing Mary Connell's father and has since gone into hiding. Ed went back to work for the CIA and is currently in ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He makes the point of not being called Mr. Ed, Edward or Eddie (the only exceptions to this are for his mother, who calls him Edward, and his wife, who calls him Eddie). James Caan's earlier "tough guy" roles are sometimes referenced, for example when Ed is in a Montecito commercial, the director says he needs to be more like Sonny CorleoneSonny CorleoneSantino "Sonny" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and its 1972 film adaptation. He also appears as an infant, as a young boy, and an adult in The Godfather Part II....
in The GodfatherThe GodfatherThe Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
. However, in response, Ed says he "never saw" the movie, and indicates no interest in doing so. - Mike Cannon, (Seasons 1–5), (James LesureJames LesureJames Lesure is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Mike Cannon on the NBC comedy-drama Las Vegas, and as Mel Ellis on the NBC/WB sitcom For Your Love. He also starred as basketball star Alonzo Pope on the ABC series Mr. Sunshine, a 2010-11 midseason replacement with Matthew...
), an engineer, with both undergraduate and graduate degrees from MIT in Mechanical Engineering, who worked as head valet for the first season, but was officially recruited by Ed Deline to the security department to help during Danny's military absence. He stayed on as security personnel despite being paid less than his job as a valetValetValet and varlet are terms for male servants who serve as personal attendants to their employer.- Word origins :In the Middle Ages, the valet de chambre to a ruler was a prestigious appointment for young men...
and cured his claustrophobia at the end of Season 1. Originally in the pilot episode, Mike had a wife and daughter; this plot line was seemingly abandoned. Mike and Nessa became close in Season 2, until Nessa left to be with her dad and sister without saying goodbye. In Season 5, when Danny accepts the job as the President of Operations for the Casino, Mike is promoted to Head of Security and Surveillance. Mike and Piper were married in the series cliffhanger. Whenever approaching a beautiful girl, he first uses breath sprayBreath sprayBreath spray is a product sprayed into the mouth for the purpose of eliminating or covering up halitosis. It is occasionally advertised as being for smokers or those who dip tobacco, and occasionally to cover up the smell of cigar smoking...
. He is Danny's best friend. - Samantha Jane "Sam" Marquez, (Seasons 1–5), (Vanessa MarcilVanessa MarcilVanessa Marcil is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Brenda Barrett Corinthos on General Hospital, Gina Kincaid on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Sam Marquez on Las Vegas....
), the self-proclaimed best Casino HostCasino HostThe job of a Casino Host is to deliver services to players at their casino who will become loyal patrons to the establishment.-Nature of the work:...
in the world, lives in a Montecito suite. She is portrayed as a ruthless business person whose sole interest is to get high rollers to play at the Montecito. However, in the Season 4 episode, "The Burning Bedouin", she reveals that she is only "cold and jaded because everyone expects it of her", and "underneath it all, she is weak and pathetic like everyone else." She was married to billionaire Casey Manning, whom she was estranged from for seven years prior to a divorce. She was also involved in an on-and-off relationship with Det. Woody Hoyt from Crossing JordanCrossing JordanCrossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office...
, which ended officially based on the events from Season 4 episode, "History of Violins." From "The Burning Bedouin." it is seen that she is currently in love with and waiting for Jeremy, who went into a 20-year coma after falling off a stool at a slot machine, the man who first brought her to Las Vegas from Austin, Texas. Following the death of her ex-husband Casey in a freak fishing accident (later revealed he was poisoned), is left control of the casino. She is the latest former owner of the Montecito Resort & Casino after failing to pay the back taxes owed on the property. Her ownership of the Montecito lasted for a week, when A.J. Cooper bought the Montecito by paying off the back taxes. A.J. fired Sam when she was rude to the son of his ranch manager. After Delinda intervened, Sam and Cooper worked things out over a milk shake, bowling, beers, and cigars. Cooper agreed to rehire Sam. Sam is originally from Texas and enjoys playing bingo. In the Season 5 finale, Casey Manning's younger brother Vic Manning visits the Montecito to take over the ownership of the casino. At the end of the show, it is announced that Sam and Vic plan to get married. When asked why Sam wants to marry Vic, even though she always stated she didn't have feelings for him even though he loved her, she says it is because Vic understands her and won't try to change her, plus he reminds her of Casey. - Delinda Deline, (Seasons 1–5), (Molly SimsMolly SimsMolly Sims is an American model and actress. Sims is known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and her role as Delinda Deline in the NBC drama Las Vegas. She is also an ambassador for Operation Smile...
), Ed and Jillian's daughter and the entertainment manager/manager of all the food and beverage outlets in the Montecito: the Mystique Club, the former Wolfgang Puck's restaurant, Opus Bar, and the Bella Petto Pool Bar. Delinda is also shown to have a genius level IQ, and once majored in Psychology, but decided that the human race's biggest problem is that they are boring. Delinda has also been shown to be fluent in French, in the season 4 episode, "The Burning Beduoin." Delinda leaves the Montecito in the beginning of Season 3, until Monica forces Ed to hire her back. She is Danny's girlfriend after a long and complicated romantic history with him. They were "involved" briefly for the first episodes of Season 1 before calling it off. During Season 3, an old college flame returns and asks Delinda to marry him. She accepts, but before the ceremony, Ed is shot. In the fray of Ed's medical crisis, Delinda calls off her wedding to Derek. At the end of the Season 5 finale, Delinda becomes overwhelmed with pain after just learning that A.J. Cooper is alive, after he was supposedly killed in a plane crash. Jillian is with her, and she begins bleeding. - Mary Connell (Seasons 1–4), (Nikki CoxNikki CoxNicole Avery "Nikki" Cox is an American actress known mostly for her roles on the television series Unhappily Ever After, Las Vegas, and Nikki.-Early life:...
), the Special Events Director at the casino. Originally she was supposed to play the casino's personal hooker, but at the last minute during the pilot filming, Gary Scott Thompson changed it to Special Events Director. A Las Vegas native, her father sexually abused her when she was a child, and Danny always came to her rescue. In Season 3, Mary was rehired and promoted to Hotel Manager. In Season 4 she helps her stepmother and half-sisters testify against her father – a case which was lost because of his connections. In the episode "Bare Chested in the Park", she was shown purchasing a revolver to shoot her father in the Season 4 finale. She was involved in a relationship with Danny, who proposed to her in Season 2 – a proposal which she accepted, then later called off. Mary is currently hiding from the law for her part in the murder of her father, but is apparently safe, as she sends Danny a photo with a house and white picket fence (her dream house). - Nessa Holt, (Seasons 1–2), (Marsha ThomasonMarsha ThomasonMarsha Lisa Thomason is an English actress, who is known in the United States for playing Nessa Holt in the first two seasons of the NBC series Las Vegas, for her recurring role on ABC's Lost as Naomi Dorrit, and for playing FBI agent Diana Berrigan on USA Network's White Collar.-Early...
), "The Ice Queen." Former head pit boss of the Montecito. Described as 'the best pit boss in Las Vegas'. She was born in Manchester, England, and has a shady past due to her father's connections with Ed Deline. She was raised by Ed and Jillian for some years, and referred to as a sister to Delinda. At the opening of Season 3, it was explained that Nessa had left Las Vegas and been given a new identity to be able to live with her father and long-lost sister. Nessa failed to say goodbye to Mike, as they were getting closer to a relationship. Her father was a well-known gambler, cheater and con artist. He was forcefully recruited and faked his death. - A.J. Cooper, (Season 5), (Tom SelleckTom SelleckThomas William "Tom" Selleck is an American actor, and film producer. He is best known for his starring role as Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum on the 1980s television show Magnum, P.I.. He also plays Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on the Robert B....
), the new owner of the Montecito as of 2007. He is a former Marine and cattle rancher from Wyoming who stirs things up at the casino. It is said his net worth is about $2 billion. On his first day, he allowed an oncologist to avoid jail for cheating by making him lose his winnings back and promising not to return to Las Vegas again. In "Run Cooper Run", it is revealed that Cooper was a Black Ops Marine in the Vietnam War and awarded the Bronze Star for his work. In "Sex, Lies and Lamaze", Cooper admits that he was best friends with Piper's father, a fellow Marine. Before Piper's father died, Cooper promised he would watch over Piper. Cooper also owns condominiums in Florida, the largest paper mill in WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, the largest cattle ranch in WyomingWyomingWyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, and a high-tech company in California. In the Season 5 finale, Cooper tells the Montecito workers he must go to New York and take care of some lawsuits filed against him by Vic Manning. Later, Mitch alerts Danny that the Montecito's jet has crashed in Colorado. The news reports say only one of the pilots survived. In lieu of the planned triple wedding, Danny and Mike set up a memorial service for Cooper's presumed death. At the last moments of the show, he arrives at the service and appears to be fine.
Recurring cast and characters
- Piper Nielsen, (Season 5), (Camille GuatyCamille GuatyCamille Guaty is an American film and television actress. She is known for her role as Daisy on Gotta Kick It Up!.-Early life:Guaty was born in California of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent...
), the newest conciergeConciergeA concierge is an employee who either works in shifts within, or lives on the premises of an apartment building or a hotel and serves guests with duties similar to those of a butler. The position can also be maintained by a security officer over the 'graveyard' shift. A similar position, known as...
of the Montecito introduced in Season 5. She frequently socializes with both Sam and Delinda. In the episode "The Glass is Always Cleaner", she was arrested at a rave party with Sam and had to be bailed out by Mike. In her first episode, she states she is just 22 years old, but later slips and says she is 25. She was fired for letting a minor gamble, but Cooper paid a $1,000,000 fine to hire her back. Piper never knew who her father was, but it was recently revealed that her father was a Marine who was Cooper's best friend during the Vietnam War. He died sometime after Vietnam. Before he died, Cooper promised him that he would keep an eye on Piper. Mike and Piper were married in the Season 5 finale. With the help of Cooper and Delinda, she won a magazine award as Las Vegas' best conciergeConciergeA concierge is an employee who either works in shifts within, or lives on the premises of an apartment building or a hotel and serves guests with duties similar to those of a butler. The position can also be maintained by a security officer over the 'graveyard' shift. A similar position, known as...
. - Mitch, (Seasons 1-5), (Mitch LongleyMitch LongleyMitch Longley is an American actor. He is known for his role of Dr. Matthew "Matt" Harmon on the soap opera Port Charles from 1997-2000.-Early life:...
), a regular member of the Surveillance team. Mitch, like the actor, Mitch Longley, who plays him is paraplegicParaplegiaParaplegia is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. The word comes from Ionic Greek: παραπληγίη "half-striking". It is usually the result of spinal cord injury or a congenital condition such as spina bifida that affects the neural elements of the spinal canal...
and uses a wheelchair. Mitch has a recurring role from Season 1 through Season 5. - Polly, (Seasons 3-5), (Suzanne WhangSuzanne WhangSuzanne Whang is an American actress and comedienne. She is best known as the former host of the HGTV series House Hunters as well as her recurring role as manicurist Polly Nguyen on Las Vegas.-Personal life:...
), a Korean manicurist in the Montecito's spa, who has recently formed a friendship with A.J. Cooper. Polly is always open about discussing her sexual experience, such as claiming she was one of Wilt ChamberlainWilt ChamberlainWilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
's 20,000 partners in "2 on 2." Sam once gave Ed a full body massage from Polly for Christmas, in which Polly attempted to give Ed a 'happy ending'. - Luis Perez, (Seasons 1-2), (Guy EckerGuy EckerGuy Frederick Ecker is an American actor better known for his work in telenovelas. Ecker became a household name in Latin America for his portrayal of Sebastián Vallejo in the Colombian telenovela Cafe Con Aroma de Mujer. A second Colombian production, Guajira also proved successful...
), a Las Vegas Police detective, childhood friend of Danny and Mary, and friend of Ed Deline and his team. He was also a former marine whose unit was recalled for service in Iraq. In the episode "One Nation, Under Surveillance", he comes to Danny and asks for his experience in the war and what to expect. He dies the first week back in the war, and in the episode "Letter, Lawyers and Loose Women" a funeral is held in his honor with Ed and everyone attending. - Kathy Berson, (Seasons 3-5), (Rikki KliemanRikki KliemanRikki Klieman is an American criminal defense lawyer and TV personality for TruTV. A native of Chicago, she worked in criminal defense in Boston and taught at Columbia Law School before moving to the entertainment field...
), The Montecito's main legal adviser and lawyer. If there are any legal issues, Kathy is the first person that everyone asks. Kathy helps Ed, Cooper, and Danny with many of their problems over the course of the show. - Jillian Deline, (Seasons 1-5), (Cheryl LaddCheryl LaddCheryl Ladd is an American actress, singer and author. Ladd is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the television series Charlie's Angels, hired amid a swirl of publicity prior to its second season in 1977 to replace the departing Farrah Fawcett-Majors...
), Ed's wife and Delinda's mother. Jillian had been expressing growing resentment of Ed's time on the job, and admitted this to her daughter, Delinda, at the end of Season 4. In the Season 4 finale, it was revealed that Jillian would leave Ed if he decided on purchasing the Montecito. In the opening of Season 5, it was revealed that she would support Ed's decision for better or for worse after learning of her future grandchild. She leaves Ed after they move away under sketchy circumstances. She is currently awaiting her first grandchild, via Delinda and her fiance Danny McCoy. - Monica Mancuso, (Season 3), (Lara Flynn BoyleLara Flynn BoyleLara Flynn Boyle is an American film and television actress best known for her performances as Laura Palmer's best friend Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks and Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in The Practice...
), Former owner of the Montecito, was portrayed as self-centered and bull-headed. In the first episode of Season 3, it was revealed that at age 25, she married an 83-year-old billionaire and upon his death at age 93, she inherited his fortune, using it to purchase the Montecito and upgrade it to its current facility. She was a waitress in the morning and a stripper at night before she married the billionaire in Ohio. She later used the casino as collateral to try to purchase other casinos in Las Vegas. Dedicated to prove that she was more than just a woman who inherited money, she was determined to make the Montecito a success. In the Season 3 episode "Mothwoman", she dies in a freak accident: a gust of wind blows her off the roof of the Montecito, and down the strip into a shoe store at the Wynn. Because her character was generally disliked by the other characters in the series, and typically was portrayed as a buffoon, her death was constructed mostly for humor. Ed, Sam, Delinda, and Mary , along with Monica's former co-worker, Norma, disposed of her ashes ceremoniously by flushing them down the toilet (as per her wishes) in her suite at the Montecito. - Casey Manning, (Seasons 2-4), (Dean CainDean CainDean Cain is an American actor. He is most widely known for his role as Clark Kent/Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.-Early life:...
), A shrewd and cunning businessman, Sam Marquez's ex-husband and former owner of the Montecito Resort & Casino. In Season 3, Casey bought the Montecito from the Foundation for the Blind, after it was left to them following Monica's death. In the Season 4 episode "Bare Chested in the Park", his character was killed off in a fishing accident: a giant squid enveloped him off the coast of New Zealand. The autopsy revealed that he was poisoned before the accident. After his death, he leaves the Montecito to Sam, who faces tax problems left by Casey. In the series finale, Sam plans to marry Casey's brother Vic even though she doesn't love him because Vic reminds Sam of Casey. - Sarasvati Kumar, (Seasons 2-3), (Lakshmi ManchuLakshmi ManchuLakshmi Prasanna Manchu is an Indian film actress, producer and a television host. She is the only daughter of actor Mohan Babu and his first wife late Vidya Devi. She graduated with a Bachelors in Theater Oklahoma City University. She has acted in the American Television series Las Vegas and...
), She is an accountant for the Casino and one time love interest of Frank (Sylvester StalloneSylvester StalloneMichael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
), and later Mike. Her relationship with Mike ended officially after she went home with Delinda's bachelorette party strippers. - Gunther, (Seasons 2-3), (Harry GroenerHarry GroenerHarry Groener is a German-born American actor and dancer, perhaps best known for playing Mayor Wilkins in Buffy the Vampire Slayer .-Early life:...
), The temperamental executive chef at the Montecito's original restaurant. Habitually had issues that required Delinda's attention. Developed a rivalry with Wolfgang PuckWolfgang PuckWolfgang Johannes Puck is an Austrian-American celebrity chef, restaurateur, businessman and occasional actor. Wolfgang Puck restaurants, catering services, cookbooks and licensed products are run by Wolfgang Puck Companies, with three divisions...
when the more famous chef opened a restaurant at the casino. Eventually quits after losing a cook-off to Puck. He sells his restaurant to CharoCharoMaría del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Gutiérrez de los Perales Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Hinojosa Rasten , better known as Charo, is a Spanish-American actress, comedienne, and flamenco guitarist, best known for her flamboyant stage presence, her provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase...
. Believed to be a parody of Wolfgang Puck, his disposal by means of a cook-off was arranged when the show was able to sign on the real Wolfgang Puck, who plays himself in the series. - Erika, (Seasons 3-4), (Anna Pheil), A hard-as-nails barmaid Danny hired on a lark when he saw her dealing with customers where she tended bar at a strip club.
- Shannon (Seasons 3-4), (Malaya Rivera Drew), A member of the Montecito's security. She plays a small role in six episodes. She briefly shows interest in Mike Cannon.
Notable guest stars
- Alec BaldwinAlec BaldwinAlexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
as Jack Keller, episodes 12 and 32 - Erin CardilloErin CardilloErin Cardillo is an American actress. She best known for her role as Emma Tutweiller on The Suite Life on Deck and for her role as Esme Vanderheusen in Passions.-Biography:...
as Kelly Crever, episode 92 - Terry BradshawTerry BradshawTerry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
as Peter "Pete" Skinner, episode 104 - Richard BurgiRichard BurgiRichard William Burgi is an American film and television actor. He's best known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives.-Personal life:...
as Vince Peterson, episode 86 and 87 - JC Chasez as William, Piper's Ex-Boyfriend, episode 98
- Rachael Leigh CookRachael Leigh CookRachael Leigh Cook is an American actress, known for her role in the romantic comedy She's All That and her This is Your Brain on Drugs public service announcement.-Early life:...
as Penny Posin, episodes 50–53 - Elliott GouldElliott GouldElliott Gould is an American actor. He began acting in Hollywood films during the 1960s, and has remained prolific ever since. Some of his most notable films include M*A*S*H and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, for which he received an Oscar nomination...
as The Professor, episode 4 - Ben FeldmanBen Feldman (actor)Ben Feldman is an American television and film actor. He has done stage acting, including the Broadway play The Graduate along with Alicia Silverstone and Kathleen Turner. He also played a leading character in The Perfect Man and portrayed Fran Drescher's son on the television series Living with...
as Herbert, episode 102 - Dave FoleyDave FoleyDavid Scott "Dave" Foley is a Canadian comedian, writer, director, and producer best known for his work in The Kids in the Hall, NewsRadio, A Bug's Life, and Celebrity Poker Showdown...
as Mertens, Season 2, episode 22 - Tamyra GrayTamyra GrayTamyra Monica Gray is an American actress, singer and songwriter, who finished fourth place on the first season of the musical reality competition American Idol in 2002. Record and television executive Simon Cowell — who judged the show for nine seasons — was disappointed when she was voted off...
as Patty, episode 65 - Brian Austin GreenBrian Austin GreenBrian Austin Green is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of David Silver on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role he played from 1990 to 2000. Green also starred in the sitcom Freddie and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Since 2009, he has appeared in a recurring...
, as Connor Mills, episode 14 - Jill HennessyJill HennessyJillian Noel "Jill" Hennessy is a Canadian actress and musician known for her television roles on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan.-Early life:...
, as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh of Crossing JordanCrossing JordanCrossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office...
in several crossover episodes - Paris HiltonParis HiltonParis Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
, as Madison, Connor Mills' fiancee, episode 14 - James HongJames HongJames Hong is an American actor and former president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists . A prolific acting veteran, Hong's career spans over 50 years and includes more than 350 roles in film, television, and video games.-Early life:Hong was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His...
as Soli Tendar Monk, episode 76 - Dennis HopperDennis HopperDennis Lee Hopper was an American actor, filmmaker and artist. As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors' Studio. He made his first television appearance in 1954 and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant...
, as Jon Castille, episode 16 - Kathryn JoostenKathryn JoostenKathryn Joosten is an American television actress best known for her regular role as Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives and for her recurring role in The West Wing as Dolores Landingham.-Early life:...
as Roberta "Robbie", episode 104 - Jon LovitzJon LovitzJonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
, as Fred Puterbaugh, episodes 14, 25 and 46 - Christian KaneChristian KaneChristian Kane is an American actor and singer/songwriter of Native American descent. He currently stars as Eliot Spencer on the TNT series Leverage. He is best known for his roles in the television shows Angel and Into the West, and the movies Just Married and Secondhand Lions.He is the lead...
, as Bob, episode 20 - Dominic KeatingDominic KeatingDominic Keating is a British television, film and theatre actor, known for his portrayal as Lt. Malcolm Reed on Star Trek: Enterprise.- Biography :...
, as Anthony Demby, episode 12 - Jerry O'ConnellJerry O'ConnellJeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...
, as Detective Woody Hoyt of Crossing JordanCrossing JordanCrossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office...
in several crossover episodes. - Sylvester StalloneSylvester StalloneMichael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
, as Frank, episodes 35 and 41 - Robert WagnerRobert WagnerRobert John Wagner is an American actor of stage, screen, and television.A veteran of many films in the 1950s and 1960s, Wagner gained prominence in three American television series that spanned three decades: It Takes a Thief , Switch , and Hart to Hart...
as Alex Avery, episode 66 - Sean AstinSean AstinSean Astin is an American film actor, director, voice artist, and producer better known for his film roles as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, the title character of Rudy, and Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In television, he appeared as Lynn McGill in the fifth season of 24...
as Lloyd, episode 17 - Sarah ClarkeSarah ClarkeSarah Clarke is an American actress, best known for her role as Nina Myers on 24, and also for her roles as Renée Dwyer, Bella Swan's mother, in the 2008 film Twilight as well as Erin McGuire on the short-lived TV show, Trust Me.-Early life:Clarke was born in St...
as Olivia Duchey, episodes 56 and 57 - Jay MohrJay MohrJay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
as Martin Levson, episode 38 - Dean CainDean CainDean Cain is an American actor. He is most widely known for his role as Clark Kent/Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.-Early life:...
as Casey Manning, episode 40 - Raul MaciasRaul MaciasRaúl Macías Guevara was a former Mexican boxer, actor, and boxing trainer. Born in the same Mexico City barrio as Rubén Olivares, Macías had always expressed pride at being Mexican...
as bar patron, episode 12 - Eric DaneEric DaneEric Dane is an American actor. After appearing in television roles throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he became known for playing Dr...
as Leo Border, episode 24 and 25
Notable cameos
Crossing Jordan crossover
Las Vegas is set in the same universe as fellow NBC series Crossing JordanCrossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office...
. In the Season 2 episode "Two of a Kind," a case brought Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy
Jill Hennessy
Jillian Noel "Jill" Hennessy is a Canadian actress and musician known for her television roles on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan.-Early life:...
) and Det. Woody Hoyt (Jerry O'Connell
Jerry O'Connell
Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...
) to Las Vegas. Woody and Sam got very well acquainted and maintained a long-distance relationship. However, as of the Season 4 episode "History of Violins," the relationship seemed to be over. Jordan and Danny also become involved, but both agreed it was only for fun, and no relationship came from it.
Episodes ordered by airdate:
- Crossing Jordan: "What Happens in Vegas Dies in Boston" (November 7, 2004) with Duhamel, Marcil and Caan
- Las Vegas: "Two of a Kind" (November 8, 2004) with O'Connell & Hennessy
- Crossing Jordan: "Luck Be a Lady" (October 2, 2005) with Duhamel & Marcil
- Las Vegas: "Double Down, Triple Threat" (October 3, 2005) with O'Connell & Hennessy
- Las Vegas: "Fidelity, Security, Delivery" (May 5, 2006) with O'Connell
- Las Vegas: "Father of the Bride" (May 12, 2006) with O'Connell
- Las Vegas: "History of Violins" (November 17, 2006) with O'Connell & Hennessy
- Crossing Jordan: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (February 11, 2007) with Duhamel & Molly Sims
Other crossovers
The Montecito Hotel and Casino has appeared in multiple shows — HeroesHeroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
, Knight Rider
Knight Rider (2008 TV series)
Knight Rider was a 2008 series that follows the 1982 TV series of the same title and the 2008 television movie. The series stars Justin Bruening as Mike Traceur, the estranged son of Michael Knight. The series also stars Deanna Russo as Sarah Graiman, Traceur's former girlfriend and love interest....
, Medium
Medium (TV series)
Medium is an American television drama series that premiered on NBC on January 3, 2005, and ended on CBS on January 21, 2011. Themed on supernatural gifts, its lead character, Allison DuBois , is a medium employed as a consultant for the Phoenix, Arizona district attorney's office...
, Monk
Monk (TV series)
Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
, Passions
Passions
Passions is an American television soap opera which aired on NBC from July 5, 1999 to September 7, 2007 and on The 101 Network from September 17, 2007 to August 7, 2008....
, and Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
(in an "Alternate Universe") — when characters from those shows visited Las Vegas. Of these, only the daytime soap Passions included Las Vegas characters in cameo roles: Nikki Cox
Nikki Cox
Nicole Avery "Nikki" Cox is an American actress known mostly for her roles on the television series Unhappily Ever After, Las Vegas, and Nikki.-Early life:...
appeared as Mary Connell. The final season of Las Vegas also featured a crossover episode of sorts with one of the highest rated TV shows from the 1980s. During the episode, several cast members of the hit TV show Magnum P.I. including guest stars Roger Mosley and Larry Manetti
Larry Manetti
Larry Manetti is an American actor best known for his starring role as Orville "Rick" Wright on the long-running CBS television series Magnum P.I. which starred Tom Selleck as the title character. He also starred as Maj. Pappy Boyington's pilot partner, Lt. Bobby Boyle, in Baa Baa Black Sheep...
appeared on the program with Las Vegas regular Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck
Thomas William "Tom" Selleck is an American actor, and film producer. He is best known for his starring role as Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum on the 1980s television show Magnum, P.I.. He also plays Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on the Robert B....
. Manetti and Mosley essentially played millionaire older versions of their characters from Magnum P.I. in the episode.
The Las Vegas episode "The Story of Owe" mentions a Dunder-Mifflin
Dunder-Mifflin
Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Inc. is a fictional paper sales company featured in the United States television series The Office. Until very late 2009, it supposedly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DMI,; in early 2010 it was absorbed by the Tallahassee, Florida-based...
convention, obliquely linking to The Office.
Opening sequence
Different theme songs have been used, depending on where, how or when the show is aired. In France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, UK, The Netherlands and other countries the theme song is Let It Ride by Charlie ClouserCharlie Clouser
Charles Alexander "Charlie" Clouser is an American musician whose activities include playing keyboard, synth, theremin, and drums. He is known for his abilities in music programming, engineering, mixing, and remixing. He was a member of the band Nine Inch Nails 1994–2000. Before he was in Nine...
and Jon Ingoldsby, while in other countries, such as the USA and Canada, the theme song is A Little Less Conversation
A Little Less Conversation
"A Little Less Conversation" is a song written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange that was originally performed and written for American rock and roll icon Elvis Presley for the 1968 film Live a Little, Love a Little. When the song was released as a single with "Almost in Love" as the b-side, it became...
(the Memories – The '68 Comeback Special
Memories The '68 Comeback Special
Memories: The '68 Comeback Special was a 1998 double album that was a repackaging, by RCA Records, of material from the 1968 Elvis Presley television special Elvis Memories: The '68 Comeback Special was a 1998 double album that was a repackaging, by RCA Records, of material from the 1968 Elvis...
version) by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. For the American DVD, as well as the episodes available for viewing on NBC's website, Clouser's song is used with the exception of the pilot episode on the American DVDs.
DVD releases
| Name | Ep # | Region DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... 1 |
Region 2 | Region 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season One | 23 | January 4, 2005 | March 14, 2005 |
November 28, 2005 |
| Season Two | 24 | September 13, 2005 | December 5, 2005 |
November 28, 2005 |
| Season Three | 23 | September 12, 2006 | November 30, 2006 | November 15, 2006 |
| Season Four | 17 | September 11, 2007 | October 29, 2007 | April 1, 2009 |
| Season Five | 19 | July 22, 2008 | October 13, 2008 | December 2, 2009 |
Season information
The show has five complete seasons, all of them are available on DVD. The show was renewed for the fifth season on February 27, 2007. On March 2, 2007, it was announced that James Caan and Nikki Cox would be leaving the series. Caan's departure is because he wants to return to acting in feature films, while Cox's departure seems to stem from budget cuts. Tom Selleck replaced James Caan as head boss in Season 5. In the final season, only 19 episodes of the originally planned 22 episode season were filmed at the time the show was cancelled. The final episode was a cliffhangerCliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
with many issues left unresolved and will remain unresolved according to TV Guide Canada. At one point, Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello is an American television industry journalist and actor. He was a Senior Writer at TV Guide and its companion website, TVGuide.com. On May 28, 2008, Ausiello left TV Guide for Entertainment Weekly and posted his first blog for Entertainment Weekly on July 2, 2008...
of TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
said that there are plans, should a proper resolution not be possible, to have the characters of Danny McCoy and Delinda Deline cameo in an episode of Knight Rider
Knight Rider (2008 TV series)
Knight Rider was a 2008 series that follows the 1982 TV series of the same title and the 2008 television movie. The series stars Justin Bruening as Mike Traceur, the estranged son of Michael Knight. The series also stars Deanna Russo as Sarah Graiman, Traceur's former girlfriend and love interest....
carrying a newborn. Due to Knight Rider
Knight Rider (2008 TV series)
Knight Rider was a 2008 series that follows the 1982 TV series of the same title and the 2008 television movie. The series stars Justin Bruening as Mike Traceur, the estranged son of Michael Knight. The series also stars Deanna Russo as Sarah Graiman, Traceur's former girlfriend and love interest....
being canceled, a cameo appearance of Danny and Delinda never came to fruition.
Nielsen Ratings
| Season | Timeslot (EDT) | Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday 9 PM | September 22, 2003 | May 17, 2004 | 2003–2004 | #27 | 11.83 |
| 2 | Monday 9 PM | September 13, 2004 | May 23, 2005 | 2004–2005 | #33 | 11.42 |
| 3 | Monday 9 PM (September 19, 2005 – December 5, 2005) Friday 9 PM (January 2, 2006 – May 12, 2006) |
September 19, 2005 | May 12, 2006 | 2005–2006 | #46 | 10.51 |
| 4 | Friday 9 PM | October 27, 2006 | March 9, 2007 | 2006–2007 | #54 | 9.0 |
| 5 | Friday 10 PM | September 28, 2007 | February 15, 2008 | 2007–2008 | #65 | 8.55 |
Location
The location of the fictional Montecito has changed from season to season. Some of the first episodes were shot at the Monte CarloMonte Carlo Resort and Casino
The Monte Carlo Resort and Casino is a megaresort hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA. The hotel is 32 stories, featuring a casino floor with over 2,200 slot and video poker machines and 95 table games. It is operated by MGM Resorts International...
and Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is a 44-story luxury hotel casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by MGM Resorts International. Five floors of the main hotel building are occupied by the five-star and AAA Five-Diamond Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas...
. Because of its similarity to Mandalay Bay, many of the show visuals place the Montecito at the far southern end of The Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, albeit usually across the street from Luxor on the airport side of Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas Boulevard
State Route 604 is the route number designation for parts of Las Vegas Boulevard, a major north–south road in the Las Vegas metropolitan area of Nevada in the United States best known for the Las Vegas Strip and its casinos. Formerly carrying U.S...
. The exact location and rotation of the building seems to vary a lot within this area, indeed the CGI zoom shots of the building exterior in the season two episode, "Montecito Lancers", shows the building in three slightly differing locations for three different shots. There were also a few interior and exterior shots filmed in Dana Point, CA, at the St. Regis Hotel in Monarch Beach, CA. In Season 5, the Montecito seems to have the consistent location across from Luxor.
Many of Mandalay Bay's interiors and exteriors (including its wave pool) have been used as Montecito exteriors, although (according to the Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
) the actual set of Montecito is located at Culver Studios
Culver Studios
The Culver Studios is a historic Colonial-styled movie studio located at 9336 W. Washington Blvd., in Culver City, California. It was the site of filming for Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane and other classics from Hollywood’s Golden Age...
, in Culver City, California
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
, so the interiors are a replica of the Mandalay Bay. The Season 3 set of Las Vegas has been said to be the biggest set for a TV show ever.
During the first season of the show, many of the Montecito's suites overlooked various parts of the middle part of the Strip, placing the hotel near where The Venetian, Flamingo Las Vegas
Flamingo Las Vegas
The Flamingo Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp.. The property offers a casino along with 3,626 hotel rooms...
, or The Mirage
The Mirage
The Mirage is a 3,044 room hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.The Mirage is connected by a free tram to Treasure Island. The marquee in front of the Mirage is the largest free standing marquee in the world.-History:The Mirage was built by...
are currently, before the more consistent location at the southern end of the Strip was finalized.
During the first season, except for the pilot episode, the sets were built as needed for filming.
Some episodes were shot using interior and exterior shots of Green Valley Ranch, including a shot of the pool and spa area where in one episode Everlast
Everlast (musician)
Erik Francis Schrody , better known by his stage name Everlast, is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper and songwriter, known for his solo hit "What It's Like" and as the front-man for rap group House of Pain. He is also part of the hip-hop supergroup La Coka Nostra, which consists of members of...
holds a concert.
In Season 3, Ed Deline's office appears to be in the middle of the strip, overlooking Harrah's
Harrah's Las Vegas
Harrah's Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The property is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp.. Harrah's has over 1,200 slot machines....
, Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp....
, The Mirage, and The Venetian, which puts the Montecito near where Treasure Island
Treasure Island Hotel and Casino
Treasure Island Hotel & Casino is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA with 2,664 rooms and 220 suites, and is connected by tram to The Mirage as well as pedestrian bridge to the Fashion Show Mall shopping center...
is located. This is inconsistent with the flyover shots of the Montecito, which would place Ed's office over two miles away. Closer examination of the window scene shows that The Mirage's marquee over their driveway has been edited to read "Montecito." In Season 4, episode 2 "Died in Plain Sight," there is a scene in Ed Deline's office where again we can see an overview of The Mirage and Caesars Palace. Again it's a confirmation that Ed Deline's office would be where Treasure Island is located.
According to an episode that originally aired in December 2005, the Montecito is located about 1.5 miles from Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas is a resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The US $2.7 billion resort is named after casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts Limited. The resort covers . It is located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sands Avenue Wynn Las...
. It's possible that this distance is in a straight line ("as the crow flies
As the crow flies
"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S...
") as opposed to a reference to actual driving distance. This distance is inconsistent with long shots that place the Montecito near the airport, Luxor and Mandalay Bay, but is in line with Season 3 visual references noted above.
Other episodes show aerial shots of the Montecito that make it appear to be situated at the corner of Giles St. and Reno Ave., about half a mile from Mandalay Bay and across from Luxor
In the episode "Father of the Bride Redux", it's shown that the Montecito also operates a property in Hawaii called the Montecito Royal Hawaiian Villas, managed by Casey Manning's brother Vic.
Spin-off fiction
The Las Vegas tie-in novel High Stakes Game, by Jeff MariotteJeff Mariotte
Jeff Mariotte is an author who currently lives in Arizona with his wife, author Maryelizabeth Hart, and family. As well as his own original work, he is best known for writing novels and comic books based on licensed properties.-Biography:...
tells the tale of what could have occurred between the Season 2 finale and the Season 3 premiere when the casino was destroyed and rebuilt and the characters briefly went their separate ways. A second novel, also by Jeff Mariotte called Sleight of Hand was launched in 2007.