Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner – Place Your Bets on CBS’ Vegas

Vegas has gotten mixed reviews, though I have thoroughly enjoyed each episode and look forward to more.

Inspired by a true story, the new CBS show stars Dennis Quaid as Ralph Lamb, a rancher by trade who’s recruited by the mayor to be the new sheriff of Las Vegas in the 1960s.

As a former military police officer in World War II, Lamb is well suited for the job and drags along his brother Jack (Jason O’Mara) and son Dixon (Taylor Handley) as deputies.

Lamb quickly finds himself at odds with Vincent Savino (Michael Chiklis), a Chicago mobster who’s been tasked with running the Savoy. He has his sights on becoming a mob boss and taking over the town.

Quaid is in his element as Lamb. This role reminds me greatly of his turn as Detective Remy McSwain in The Big Easy over 15 years ago. (Oddly, his co-star in that film, Ellen Barkin, is currently on The New Normal and this is the first time both stars have forayed into the world of series regulars).

While you can tell that the character of Jack is sweet on Vegas’ new Assistant District Attorney and longtime neighbor of the Lambs, Katherine O’Connell (Carrie-Ann Moss), rumor has it Jack will possibly engage in a torrid affair with Mia Rizzo (Sarah Jones) — Savino’s new accountant and daughter of a Chicago mob boss.

Filmed in Santa Clarita, California, the show seems to have some continuity issues with the time period (late model 1960s cars when the film takes place in the early ’60s), but one can forgive that because of the great cast.

If you’re suffering from Mad Men withdrawal, play a game of chance with Vegas. The show airs Tues. at 10/9c on CBS.

COOL TRIVIA: The real-life Sheriff Ralph Lamb, now 85, who served in that office from 1961 to 1979, is a consultant on the series.