Casinos are the ideal backdrop for drama, romance, comedy and any other genre you can imagine, so it’s no surprise that they have appeared in many TV shows over the years.
If you are a fan of glamorous gambling dens and want to experience entertaining stories set within their walls without having to leave the comfort of your couch, here are just a few of the best box sets to get stuck into this year.
Las Vegas
For a show with as much action as possible set inside the casinos of fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, look no further. The all-star cast, which kicked off with James Caan in the lead role as a former intelligence officer who took over security duties at a fictional Sin City casino and also included appearances from Tom Selleck, Josh Duhamel and Molly Sims, elevates it above your average comedy-drama.
The other selling point of the show is that it focuses on all of the behind-the-scenes elements of running a casino that members of the public do not typically get to see, especially at a time when online live casinos like Casumo are becoming the norm. It gives you an impressive insiders’ glimpse into the industry, and with 106 episodes made over five seasons, there is a lot to catch up on.
Friends
It may have come to an end over a decade and a half ago, but Friends remains one of the most widely syndicated and universally beloved sitcoms of all time. And while it was predominantly set in New York City, there were occasional stints when the show transplanted its kooky cast to a new location.
Perhaps the most noteworthy and prolonged change of scene took place in season 5, when aspiring actor Joey took a trip to Las Vegas to shoot a movie, but wound up working in Caesars Palace because the project failed before the cameras had even started rolling.
The rest of the gang’s decision to go out and support their pal, culminating in the drunken shotgun wedding of Ross and Rachel, creates a particularly memorable climax, and is responsible for furthering the reputation that Las Vegas casinos have for debauchery and bad decisions.
Vegas
Named similarly to the aforementioned James Caan vehicle, but sporting a different cast of stars and a suitably intriguing premise, Vegas only survived for a single season. This is a shame since it won solid reviews from fans and benefited from great performances from Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis in the lead roles.
Quaid plays a righteous sheriff tasked with facing off against the organized criminal gangs responsible for running some of the casinos in Las Vegas, while Chiklis is on the other side of the law as Vincent Savino, a mob figure with his fingers in a lot of pies.
The period 1960s setting and the strong scripts help this show to remain relevant and scintillating, even if it did not manage to stretch beyond its first season.
Dr. Vegas
Sticking to the theme of casino-focused TV shows that only survived for one season yet are well worth revisiting if you have never seen them before, Dr. Vegas is an unusual yet engaging experiment starring Rob Lowe and Joe Pantoliano.
Lowe is the titular physician, taking up residence at a casino to provide care and support to customers and staff alike, while wrangling the various working relationships with other employees.
Supporting turns from Amy Adams and a host of other names that are now well and truly in the A list makes this a good show to check out if you have a few evenings to spare.
#Peace.Love.Casino
