We've got Hugh Jackman, Melanie Griffith & WMOA Mädchen Amick in front of the camera and behind it, we've got, Jackman again (as producer) and, as co-creator and writer of the pilot...Bob Lowry.
Lowry is the creator of "Huff" and writer of its best episodes, so you can imagine how deep is my sigh before admitting just how laughable (unintentionally as far as I can tell) his new series is.
Where did they go wrong? Well, let's start with the musical performances. Yes, "Viva Laughlin" is sorta kinda a musical. I call it "sorta kinda" because it doesn't use music like a real musical, like "Singin' in the Rain." But it doesn't use it like a modern TV drama either.
In one the performers sing songs, in the other songs are used in the background. In this show, the songs-well-known hit recordings by the likes of the Rolling Stones-play in the background...and the performers sing along. Yes.
At no time do we fully lose the voices of Debbie Harry or Elvis Presley...but we can't fully enjoy them either, because Griffith or alleged lead actor Lloyd Owen is sucking them up.
And oh yes, about Owen...picture Mark Singer plus David Boreanaz minus any charisma whatsoever.
I don't remember when I've been more repulsed by a performance and character (the name doesn't help: "Ripley Holden" is an unspeakably awful name for a character).
Owen is that bad, but Lowry shares the blame, he can come up with quality material...but hasn't here. For any of them.
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