That a TV-series concerning gambling and corruption is exciting should come as no surprise. Throw in a crack surveillance team under the leadership of a former CIA agent assigned to spy on Las Vegas’ most prestigious casino and audiences are sure to tune in. But Gary Scott Thompson’s (The Fast and the Furious) series surpasses all expectations: the show is bright, ultra-cool, fast-paced and – classy. It also offers an insider’s view of the trade secrets in this sinful tourist mecca. The elite surveillance team is led by veteran actor Golden-Globe/Academy-Awards nominee James Caan (The Godfather, Rollerball), who along with his protégés – a former US Marine and three babes – deal with card-counting cheats; the mob; big spenders; luck, good and bad; inter-casino rivalries, and their own rollercoaster love lives. All of which provides a surfeit of thrills, romance and humor. Each episode begins with a marvelous hook: a one-take-only prologue, neatly wrapped in dazzling visuals. That alone is enough to engage audiences for the duration, but special guest stars (Black Eyed Peas, Sylvester Stallone, Pussycat Dolls…) ensure a long and, in this case, rewarding addiction to vice.
NBC

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
June 2006 issue