Fall TV Preview: There's a Badass New Sheriff in Vegas

Dennis Quaid comes to TV with CBS' Sin City drama set in the '60s

By Christina Dowling Sep 04, 2012 7:00 PMTags
VEGASLorey Sebastian/CBS

There's a new sheriff town. And he's 20 types of cool.

CBS gets into the '60s game with this ambitious drama. Cowboy turned Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, played by Dennis Quaid, will be battling Vincent Savino (Michael Chiklis), a Chicago mobster, for the soul of Sin City. No biggie.

Vegas (CBS)
Premieres: 
Tuesday, Sept. 25, 10 p.m.
Time-Slot Competition: Private Practice (ABC), Parenthood (NBC)
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis, Carrie-Ann Moss, Jason O'Mara, Taylor Handley
Status: We've seen the pilot episode

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We love cowboys, especially brooding ones. And from the start Ralph Lamb is man on a mission. At first it's just to save his herd of cattle from the disruptive planes, but soon he becomes the new law of the Las Vegas Strip. It's quickly apparent that while quiet, Lamb is no shrinking violet. In fact, he can throw a mean punch. Watch out, bad guys!

Lamb faces off against fictional mobster, Vincent Savino, and an adversarial relationship is born. But Vegas is more than just the mob, although it's pretty clear that the politics and crime could be intricately tied together. Joined by his brother and son, the sheriff will take the reins of the law enforcement in Las Vegas. Solving murders and being awesome, no doubt. 

Between Quaid, Chiklis, Jason O'Mara, it's an enviable cast. Quaid seems right at home on TV and perfectly embodies the reluctant hero. If you are a fan of The Shield you know that Chiklis is capable of playing the likeable bad guy to perfection. And we aren't ashamed to say we've been following Jason O'Mara from show to show for a few years now. (We think this'll be the winner.)

CBS taking on a period piece is ambitious. And they are very successful at it. The costumes, the cars, the set pieces, it's beautifully done, but don't think we are distracted by bright lights and shining chrome.

In the pilot, Vegas perfectly weaves that classic CBS cop show with the larger arc of the ongoing mob story. All while introducing us to the key players in town. There are a million places to mine for story, that were only hinted at in the opener, so we are excited to see where they go next. Politics, crime, and the high-stakes world of 1960 Las Vegas, seems like the possibilities are endless. 

Our Review in GIF Form:

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Verdict: Watch. We want to be just as cool as Sheriff Ralph Lamb when we grow up. Come on, he rides his horse down the Strip while wielding a shotgun.

Poll

2012 Fall TV Preview: Vegas

Vegas?
Watch
54.9%
DVR
27.4%
Pass
17.7%