TVSquad

That's the TV show, not the city.

Two writers are accusing Dreamworks of stealing ideas, plots, and scenes for the NBC show. The two writers, one a graduate of NYU and the other a writer in Hollywood, are saying that Dreamworks actually read their screenplay Fringe Players seven years ago. The screenplay was optioned by Fox after being read by Dreamworks.

A while back we told you about news that Las Vegas producers had approached former Magnum, P.I. star Tom Selleck about joining the series, and now NBC has announced that it's a done deal. Selleck will join the show this fall and be the new billionaire owner of the Montecito with a mysterious past (of course).

But James Caan fans take note: he will appear in the first episode of the new season to wrap up his storyline, and resolve those cliffhangers from the final episode this season. Along with Caan, Nikki Cox is also leaving the show.

Hmmm...mysterious billionaire? They should give Selleck's character the name Robin Masters. That would be funny.

[via TV Tattle]

Thomas Magnum has a new job: he's going to be the new boss of the Montecito Resort and Casino.

Tom Selleck is joining the cast of the NBC drama Las Vegas this fall. He'll play the new owner of the casino, taking over from James Cann, who has left the show along with Nikki Cox. The only way the show was going to be renewed was to cut the budget, so they're gone (though I wonder how much Selleck will cost?)

This is good news for Selleck fans. It will be great to see him in a regular television gig again. Yeah, I kinda wish they'd bring Magnum, P.I. back for at least a reunion TV movie (as the years go by it looks less and less like that's going to happen), but this is a good replacement for now. Hopefully Rick and T.C. can make guest appearances.

Talk about a poisoned cake! The same day NBC announces Las Vegas is renewed for a fifth season, series regulars James Caan and Nikki Cox announce they will not be part of the 2007-08 season.

TV Guide reports that Caan wants to focus on his movie career claiming that, even though he had a good time on the show, being part of Las Vegas made him miss a few good movie opportunities. Nikki Cox has yet to comment on her departure from the show.

The show can survive Cox leaving, even though it will crush the Danny/Mary shippers. But can it survive Caan's departure? His character is a pivotal one in the show and brings a unique flavor.

The season 4 finale, which will more than likely be Caan's and Cox's last episode unless the show convinces them to guest star, will air on March 9 at 9 p.m. EST on NBC.

Las Vegas is one of those shows that I've always thought was in the same category as Wings and Just Shoot Me!, one of those nice little shows that never generates any buzz, but does just well enough in its timeslot to keep getting renewed. If you're around on a Friday night and there's nothing to watch, it's always good to stumble across the show; the beautiful triumvirate of Cox, Marcil, and Sims is always nice to look at, and they make good use of celebrity guest shots. Most of all, the show stars James Caan; 35 years after The Godfather, the man is still compelling to watch, even if he only seems half-interested in being on the show most of the time.

Anyway, the crew at the Montecito is going to get another year to distract us from our lonely Fridays, as NBC has decided to pick Las Vegas up for a fifth season, according to TV Week. "The cast and producers have consistently given us what we want from Las Vegas - pure entertainment," said NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reillym "and we're looking forward to another fun ride next season with the show." Ah the beauty of low expectations: the show is averaging a 2.8 rating for the season.

Las Vegas siren Nikki Cox is engaged to Jay Mohr, the host of Last Comic Standing. Previously, Cox had been engaged to comic Bobcat Goldthwait.

Jay and Nikki met on the set of Las Vegas when Jay was a guest star. His episode just aired on January 24th, 2005, so I'm not exactly sure how long these two have known each other. Place your bets, people! Get it? 'Cuz they met on the set of Las Vegas. And there's really nothing else to say about it.

I am a total sucker for the Olympics, but I really hate all the cheesy, promotional crap that goes with it. This time around, NBC and Chevrolet are teaming up to feature some camera-friendly Olympians in their very own mini-movie. Oh, joy. It airs during Las Vegas on NBC in February and it'll also be included with advertisements before the trailers start at AMC, Cinemark, Regal, UA and Edwards movie theaters. Now, I clearly remember the little mini-movie that Chevrolet did during the last summer Olympics where a bunch of athletes call each other and drive their own Chevrolets to Athens (way to carpool, guys). I wanted to throw something at the movie screen everytime I saw it. Why? As a general rule, athletes can't act. You hear that, advertising geniuses? Athletes. Cannot. Act. This time around, the lucky Olympians are halfpipe snowboarders Kelly Clark and Ross Powers, alpine skiers Eric Schlopy, Ted Ligety, and Julia Mancuso, freestyle skier Toby Dawson and snowboarder Seth Wescott. They're all somehow paired up with the cast of Las Vegas and then whisked off to Torino, Italy for the competition. There will also be a behind-the-scenes mini-mini-movie of the mini-movie on NBC's website.