Las Vegas: Season 2

There are few cities in the world that have the reputation that Las Vegas maintains. This is a city where fortunes are won and lost nightly, millions of watts of lights blaze through the night and almost every imaginable desire can be met. The second season of the hit NBC adventure series, Las Vegas, is now released on DVD and like the first season it is ‘uncut’ and ‘uncensored’. There have been several changes in this season but the fast pace entertainment remains. As the season opens Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel) has just returned to the Montecito Resort & Casino from a tour in the war in Iraq. He was on a special mission for the marines and has come back somewhat sullen and distanced from his friends. His friends gather round in support and this thread soon is absorbed in the more typical problems that face the staff. Danny does come to the realization that life is too short and renews his romantic feelings for his life long friend Mary Connell (Nikki Cox). That also fizzles out and returns to a good friendship. It seems that the network was not willing to have two hot stars tied down, ratings are much better if each is free to date good looking guest stars. Ed Deline (James Caan) has been promoted from the head of security to the president of the casino turning most of the security detail to Danny and former head valet now security operative Mike (James Lesure). Rounding out the inner circle of Montecito employees is Delinda (Molly Sims), daughter of Ed and manager of the five star restaurant Mystique, Sam (Vanessa Marcil) in guest relations, and Nessa (Marsha Thomason), the head pit boss in charge of the gambling floor.

Each episode combines some security problem or another such as some high tech gurus trying to cheat at the games or taking care of top entertainers such as guest stars Snoopy Dog or the Black Eye Peas. The addition of these popular acts is more than just a gimmick for ratings, a casino like the one depicted here would attract top acts and they seem to enjoy the chance to act on a television series. Often a performance is included such as one by the legendary Gladys Knight singing Midnight Train to Georgia. One such musical act has a very strange appearance. Jon Lovitz reprises his role of Fred Puterbaugh from the first season. Now, a billionaire he his dating the singer Ashanti, playing herself, although actually he is still after Nessa.

There is a little more character development here than in the first season. The stories in this season delve into some of the background of the main characters such as the fact that Nessa’s father used to work with Ed in the CIA and he basically raised her after her father vanished. It turns out that Vanessa is still legally married to a billionaire interested in buying the casino. These stories give the actors more to work with in presenting their characters, after all a good back story usually does add interest. About midway through the season there was a cross over with another popular NBC series, Crossing Jordan. This episode has the crew of the Montecito helping Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh (Jill Hennessy) and Detective Woody Hoyt (Jerry O'Connell) solve a murder that spilled over from Boston. The high energy from the first season is ramped up even more here; there is never a dull moment as each episode moves rapidly along. This is without a doubt one of the fastest paced shows on television today.

The actors cast here are perfect matches for their characters. James Caan personifies Ed Deline, a man with a long history of action and detail. If 'Sonny' Corleone had joined the CIA instead of his father’s business he would have become a man like Ed. In many scenes his is threatening just by being there. Cann has an incredible presence whether on the large screen or small. He plays Ed as a man who in some ways dislikes his promotion, he would much rather be in the midst of the action than in the board room. Josh Duhamel has the extremely difficult job of acting opposite some of the most beautiful actresses on the scene today. He gives a little more depth to Danny this season than he did in the first. While the war thread dissipated rather quickly Duhamel does use it throughout the season to make Danny moodier and a bit darker. Nikki Cox has the rare ability to combine her ready for Vegas body with the face of a farm girl. This juxtaposition of innocence and the ability to cope with the life in Vegas makes Mary one of the more interesting characters in the series. In the first season Vanessa Marcil played Sam as a cut throat hostess willing to do almost anything to land the whales, high stakes gamblers. In this second season the writers have given Marcil more to work with in showing Sam’s softer side. Marsha Thomason also unfreezes her Ice Queen character a bit more as the four women become closer as friends. All the characters where allowed to change over this season making for a somewhat more realistic character arc than most shows of this genre.

Typically the episodes of this season move along at a great pace. The way they naturally combine the music with comedy and action places this far above the current pabulum that the current trend of so called reality shows can offer. Although the DVD is listed as uncut and uncensored if is not as adult as most premium able shows, there is a little bit more skin shown but you should buy this box set for the entertainment not any puerile motives you may have.

Universal follows the standards set in the first season’s box set. The video is 1.78:1 anamorphic and has a bright, vibrant color palette. There is no sign of artifact even in the fastest scenes. The audio is a full Dolby 5.1 mix that booms out of the speakers. The rear speakers are not just used for ambience as is typical for other television series; here all the speakers contribute to the music that helps drives the series. For extras there is a blooper reel that shows mistakes made in both the first and second seasons. There is also a featurette that shows just how a high roller is treated in Vegas. It is amazing at the perks that these people get in these top end establishments. This is a fun series that the adults will enjoy. It is witty and action packed, not deep but every bit is entertaining.

Posted 9/15/05