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« Ausiello Report
Exclusive: Vegas Boss Declares, "We All Feel Bad"
Las Vegas by Mitchell Haaseth/NBC
You think you're upset that Las Vegas is ending its five-year run on a frakkin' cliff-hanger? Imagine how the show's creator, Gary Scott Thompson, feels. Actually, there's no need to imagine since I just hung up with him! Not surprisingly, he had lots to say about Vegas' unceremonious axing, the cast's reaction, and the possibility of a two-hour movie to tie up all the loose ends.
How are you doing?
Gary Scott Thompson: I've had better weeks.
When did NBC inform you that the show was toast?
Thompson: I got the official word last Wednesday.
What do you think happened?
Thompson: We were probably the first victim of the strike. The strike did us in. We had three more episodes to shoot for the season, which we didn't get done. And the "To be continued… " was actually supposed to be the first part of a two-parter. But that's as far as we got. We had four or five scripts in different stages that we didn't complete.
So you fully expected to return after the strike to complete those three episodes?
Thompson: I think most people did. I just had a bad feeling, having weathered the 1988 strike. For me, I just looked at the numbers and I looked at where we were in the season and I know how much it would've cost to start us back up. I told my writers ahead of time, "If there's a strike, it's going to be shows like ours that get hurt the most." And there will be others. We're just one of the first ones because [our sets] are sitting on huge, massive stages. It's going to take us six to eight weeks to strike that casino.
When does that process start?
Thompson: It's already happening. The body wasn't even cold.
Was the idea of a two-hour wrap-up movie brought up?
Thompson: We had talked about that earlier. At the end of the day, that's NBC's decision. It's a monetary decision. You know, I sold my soul to get a Season 5, so I didn't have a soul left to sell. We fought an uphill battle from day one. We were the little big show that could.
What about doing a direct-to-DVD ending, like Bill Lawrence was prepared to do with Scrubs?
Thompson: I thought about that, but Bill is lucky in that he has a different studio [ABC Studios] producing his show. I'm in the same place: It's NBC Studios and NBC Networks. It's all the same money. That's the difference. I've been making as many phone calls as I can make; I don't know who else to call.
Are fans wasting their time organizing campaigns to bring the show back?
Thompson: I have no idea. I have no control over that at all. That's NBC's decision. I know that [fans] have a valid point, since the last episode said, "To be continued.... " Just from our perspective, we all feel bad because we didn't get to end it. Josh and Molly feel very bad, because it's their characters' baby. And I had an ending all worked out.
What was going to happen?
Thompson: My plan was to wrap it up and make it satisfying for all the fans, and, in some ways, give ourselves an incredible curtain call with all the major characters who have been on Vegas.
Do you hold out any hope that you'll be able to deliver that ending in some form?
Thompson: This is Las Vegas; there's always hope.
In other words, pick up some baby booties on your way home from work tonight! Or, at the very least, show your support in the comments section below. It's now or never!
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Feb 25, 2008 6:01 PM
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I love this show and would really like a proper ending.
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Feb 25, 2008 6:14 PM
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That's a real bummer. That BETTER not happen with Scrubs.
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Feb 25, 2008 6:29 PM
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I really wish the show could stay but atleast end it properly. You are really messing up Friday night NBC!
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Feb 25, 2008 6:40 PM
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I really liked this season, probably my favorite. I enjoyed the new direction the show went with Cooper and really liked his character over Ed. I hope NBC is at least willing to help the show wrap things up for us.
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Feb 25, 2008 6:42 PM
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Las Vegas hasn't been the same since the original cast was seperated. I always missed James Caan and Nikki Cox. It was time to let it go.
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Feb 25, 2008 6:43 PM
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Las Vegas needs to have an opportunity to bring closure to the storylines!
We have watched all the seasons and NBC can't just leave us hanging!
A two hour movie ending is ok with me but I really liked how the season was going with Tom Selleck as the new owner.
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Feb 25, 2008 6:45 PM
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I am very saddened by the news that NBC has cancelled any future episodes of Las Vegas. Fans of the show should not be left with a cliff-hanger ending. NBC has done an injustice to a great cast and a devoted audience. My hope is that they will finish what they started.
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Feb 25, 2008 6:50 PM
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I just read AND I'm saddened to hear that they will not bring the show LAS VEGAS back next season! I realize that the Writers Strike is a factor in this situation! BUT to leave everyone
"hanging" at the end of the very last episode!!! That's UNFAIR!!! WERE the RATINGS a problem concerning the show? IF NOT, then what's the Network's problem? Seriously? I really DO-NOT think a MOVIE is an answer to all this!! IS there any specific area(in the Network)or person(s)that I can write to about this? Would you give me names and addresses(ALL THE FANS SHOULD DO THIS,BY THE WAY)!!! I did truly enjoy the Show!!,,,I actually like the real Las Vegas,,because I vacation out there alot,,because my Sons live near that area. Thank you for your help and Have a nice day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ed from Eastern L.I.
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Feb 25, 2008 6:51 PM
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As easy as it would be to shoot two or three episodes to give the series a proper ending, it seems really stupid not to tie up the loose ends.
TONS of people watch TV shows in reruns and on DVD, and probably streaming in the future. Personally, if I know a show doesn't have a proper ending, I'm unlikely to watch it regardless of how good it was reputed to be.
Don't networks realize how much they're screwing themselves on potential DVD sales and rentals with boneheaded moves like this?
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Feb 25, 2008 6:54 PM
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At least we should witness the birth of the baby!!!
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Feb 25, 2008 6:55 PM
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Sorry, but it was that so-called baby storyline that nailed this coffin shut. They should never have gone down that road. The ratings would have dipped a little with the departure of James Caan, but people would have tuned in to see the rest of the cast having fun in Sin City. Instead they tied down the male lead with the least popular actress on the show and let Nikki Cox go. It was a stupid move and they deserve to be cut.
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Feb 25, 2008 6:59 PM
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Very poor decisions continue on NBC...
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Feb 25, 2008 6:59 PM
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I love this show. Have always been a faithful viewer. Why must the networks insult the viewers? We invest our time and emotion in shows and then get kicked in the head! I am sick of the networks taking a "successful show" and just carbon copying it (ie: Law & Order, CSI) They are good shows but are there no original ideas or is it that the executives are too afraid to try new stuff. I am sick to death of most of the reality crap. NO MORE GAME SHOWS OR COMPETIONS. All of these finding love shows are a joke. I also don't get the appeal of Deal or No Deal. Which is a copy of a stupid show from the 70's or 80's where they used boxes instead of briefcases! I do not think I am alone when I say that I like to escape when I watch TV. I want to get to know the characters and care about them and their lives so that I can forget my own for a little while. Las Vegas was perfect for this - funny, likable characters, flashy setting and good stories. Not great literature just good fun. At least give us some closure.
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Feb 25, 2008 7:10 PM
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NBC really needs to give fans that two hour wrap up! After five years we deserve it! Come on NBC!
Participate in the Save Vegas Campaign: http://lasvegas-theseries.com
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Feb 25, 2008 7:10 PM
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