CBS Cancels 'Viva Laughlin' After 2 Episodes

Variety reports CBS has officially canceled "Viva Laughlin" after just two episodes. Emmy winner "The Amazing Race" will take its place in the Sunday 8PM slot beginning November 4.

In the pilot episode which aired Thursday October 18 at 10PM (ET/PT), movie star and Tony Award-winner Hugh Jackman (The Boy From Oz) played Nicky, a casino owner, and performed The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil."  Also, Melanie Griffith (Chicago) sang Blondie's "One Way or Another."

The cast of "Viva Laughlin" included Lloyd Owen, Mädchen Amick, Ellen Woglom, Carter Jenkins, Eric Winter, DB Woodside and P.J. Byrne.

As described by the CBS website, "Viva Laughlin" was a mystery drama with music about eternal optimist and freewheeling businessman Ripley Holden (Lloyd Owen), whose sole ambition is to run a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. Occasionally using upbeat contemporary songs to accentuate the drama and humor and to advance the story, the series is based on the hit BBC show "Viva Blackpool."