It's been a long time since Las Vegas had a good, old fashioned fistfight. I enjoy it when the show starts off with some fisticuffs, not as much as I enjoy it when Danny brings strippers home to his pregnant wife, but I enjoy it. Tonight got even better though when we found out that the stripper is a girl that Danny used to date who now has a child named Danny. The stripper claimed that her father's name is Danny too, but I don't know that I buy that as an excuse. Nor do I buy Danny's denials that he had sex with the stripper. In fact, I'm sure there are a bunch of little Dannys running around Las Vegas.

Somehow though, the small stripper in the house problem lead to an even bigger problem, it led to this week's version of Delinda's insanity. Yup, the insanity was back, big time. But, I'm going to give her a free pass this week, because the way in which the show unfolded was so over the top and funny that I have no choice. She wanted all the strippers in Vegas to unionize, and she actually had them go on strike. There were scab strippers, people. Scab strippers. It was ridiculous, it was insane, it was totally and completely why I like Las Vegas. The strippers even had a chant on the picket line, "hell no, we won't show."

I'm also giving Delinda a pass this week because she acted in a realistic fashion with little Danny. The stripper thing was way over the top and ridiculous, but she was good with the child, and so she gets a pass this week. Next week is totally up in the air though.

I do wonder about how the strippers were portrayed tonight. Two strippers actually crossed the picket the line. Well, sort of anyway, they were giving a lap dance to two guys in the back of a pickup truck, rather than walking the picket line. Why not go to a different parking lot rather than giving a lap dance 10 feet from the protesters?

On the other end of the class spectrum is the new Montecito owner, Cooper. Cooper defended Danny and Danny's actions to the other resort owners. He stood behind his employee to the public, and then he talked to Danny about the strike privately. That was the exact right way to approach the situation. Cooper didn't come down against Danny either (it would have been okay if he had done so in private, but he didn't). He did make sure though that Danny had fully thought out what he was doing, that Danny knew the reasons, and the ramifications of his actions. He even got Danny a bodyguard. Plus, (SPOILER ALERT) he saw a way to use Danny's strike to expand his business enterprise and possibly gain political clout. Cooper used our boy and that I really like. Go Cooper.

I liked the character of Cooper the first time we met him, and I think that almost without exception ever time he appears I like him more (even if he has been, on occasion, painted a little too much like Ed). I think a lot of that may be Mr. Selleck, he brings a certain gravitas to the show and role. Almost unquestionably I'll like him less when he starts manhandling people and doing black ops things, but for now, he may be my favorite character on Las Vegas.

A few asides that don't fit in the above discussion but that I wanted to throw out there anyway:

• I don't get that Piper girl… still. She wanted Sam to pinky swear to not tell anyone about her sex tape. First off, how dumb was she thinking that Sam might possibly keep that promise, and second, pinky swear? Really? Then, somehow, she decided that she was going to strip for Mike's friends rather than taking Sam's whale out. I don't think it would have been difficult for Piper to make sure that the date didn't go past dinner, drinks, and possible a couple of dances, but she'd rather strip.
• At the outset of the show, Cooper pointed out to Sam that she was off on her take this quarter. Sam's response was that she had a huge whale coming in that could make up the difference. How is it that every time Sam Marquez is behind on what she should be bringing in to the Montecito she has some huge whale coming in? I feel like that's a recurring plot point that never goes anywhere. I have no inkling that it recurs because it is ever meant to go anywhere, just that it gets stuck in episodes from time to time for no reason. It bother me.
• I like that Danny wasn't very good on Hardball. Even though he ended up making some good points on the show, it was awkward and wretched. It was like watching a train wreck. It's not that I like to see Danny fail, I just think that the stage fright angle suits him.
• As you may or may not know the Writers Guild of America announced earlier today that they will be going on strike come this Monday. I think it's great that the writers of Las Vegas did the strike storyline, and that NBC aired it. I'm sure they all knew well in advance exactly when it was going to air. They didn't know there would be a strike, but they did know it was going to be a close call either way. I applaud everyone involved for getting this show out there tonight.

I promise to you now though, that no matter what happens with the strike, I'll be there for you. By "there" I of course mean The TV and Film Guy's Reviews.

Comments

Excellent review.Loved the bar scene.Only on Las Vegas can a stripper strike seem so legitimate.That's part of the reason why I love this show.I agree with you about Cooper.What a great character.He gets more interesting with every show.Selleck has a certain presence about him.He seems to just walk into a room and take control without overpowering the scene.

brent | Nov 3, 2007 7:22:38 PM | #

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I disagree, I am done with
'Vegas'. I miss James Caan.
Tom Selleck just doesn't measure
up with that same pouty facial
expression. And don't get me
started about Piper. The show
has become too over-the-top and
it just makes no sense anymore.
It's more of a parody of itself
than anything else.

fd98 | Nov 4, 2007 8:27:06 AM | #

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I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't get Piper's purpose. I can understand that they don't want us to think of her as the Mary-replacement, but why hasn't anyone realized they hired an idiot (character) yet.

The pinky shake struck me as funny Didn't Sam and Woody Hoyt "pinky shake" in one of the first episodes he was in?

Josie | Nov 4, 2007 10:04:29 AM | #

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Las Vegas can never be too over-the-top. It is Vegas after all.I miss Caan-but Selleck adds a bit of credibility to the show. Who ever really bought into the whole thing of a 67 year old 5ft 4in Ed kicking butt? It sure was fun to watch, but not realistic IMO. And I agree-Piper is a useless character.

CJ | Nov 4, 2007 10:19:08 AM | #

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I agree with you.I am liking Cooper also.He's cool.Cooper is not supposed to be "Ed-like".Cooper did not take Ed's old job-Danny did. Cooper is the owner. I also really think Josh does a great job on the show.I think and is underrated.

sammyj | Nov 4, 2007 11:58:27 AM | #

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I argee. Tom Selleck playing Cooper is great!

Ben | Nov 5, 2007 5:41:51 AM | #

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Seriously, is Delinda really saying that if she wasn't pregnant it's OK for Danny to bring a strange woman home and she'd happily participate in a threesome?? No wonder Danny still hangs around with all her crazy!!

Sirius | Nov 6, 2007 6:19:21 PM | #

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Sam & Cooper have great chemisty. I hope the writers (when not striking) bring their relationship to fruition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mary | Nov 9, 2007 7:39:19 PM | #

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