Created by Rich Wilkes
Vegas Dick was a UPN pilot, scheduled to air during the 2003-04 season, centering on DICKY BARRETT, a former con artist attempting to go straight, but who ends up scamming his way into a gig as the house detective at a swanky Las Vegas casino and hotel, after saving the life of the Madeline (played by Katherine Heigl), the daughter of the owner.
Unfortunately, Dicky (besides of course having the misfortune of being called “Dicky”) had several grifter cronies from his past life who aren’t convinced he’s gone straight, and he’s forced to juggle his new life with his former con ways. So, instead, he makes good use of his old mates, including Barnes, a twenty-something babe; Miguel Cruz, a teenage electronics whiz; and his uncle, Clay (played by Elliot Gould), an elderly scam artist who may just be losing it, in Dicky’s new career as one of the good guys.
I dunno. It sounded promising to me. And having Gould onboard seemed like a good thing.
Plus, Las Vegas seemed to be really hot as a TV show location in 2003. CBS kicked it off with CSI, Fox continued it with the quirky comedy/drama, Lucky, and several other networks jumped on the bandwagon that year, including CBS with Las Vegas and Lifetime with Wild Card.
But a hot location apparently wasn’t enough. The pilot crapped out, and apparently never made it to air.
TELEVISION
- VEGAS DICK
(2003, UPN)
Created by Rich Wilkes
Writers: Rich Wilkes
Co-executive producer: Rich Wilkes
Executive producers: Neil Moritz, Marty Adelstein and Dawn Parouse
Starring Vincent Ventresca as DICKY BARRETT
Also starring Katherine Heigl as Madeline
Elliott Gould as Clay
and Jullian Dulce Vida as Miguel
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
- Viva Las Vegas!
Feeling lucky? A list of Las Vegas eyes. - Take Me to the Pilot
Development Hell Department (2005-06)
Preliminary report respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith, following a lead from Chris Gumprich.
