TiVo Alert: Hugh Jackman in 'Viva Laughlin' CBS 10/18

Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffith will guest-star in "Viva Laughlin" the new CBS musical drama, which debuts Thursday October 18 at 10PM (ET/PT) with a new episode scheduled for Sunday October 21 at 8PM (ET/PT – it's regularly scheduled time). 

In the episode, movie star and Tony Award-winner Hugh Jackman (The Boy From Oz) will play Nicky, a casino owner, who will perform The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil."  Also, Melanie Griffith (Chicago) will sing Blondie's "One Way or Another."

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

As described by the CBS website, "Viva Laughlin" is 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."

"Ripley is the ultimate gambler with an infectious personality who is on the brink of making a killing... just as soon as he opens his casino that's nowhere near completion. When his financing suddenly falls through, the fearless and tenacious Ripley approaches his enemy – dashing, sarcastic, wealthy casino owner Nicky Fontana (Hugh Jackman), and his lieutenant Marcus (DB Woodside), for help. Though the odds are stacked against him, Ripley doesn't miss a beat, even when he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation headed by Detective Carlyle (Eric Winter) after the body of his ex-business partner is found at his club…At home, Ripley uses his dry wit to adjust to the demands of his family: his gorgeous wife Natalie (Mädchen Amick) wants more attention; his teenage daughter Cheyenne (Ellen Woglom) wants his approval; and his son Jack (Carter Jenkins) wants to help him at work. All of this adversity would defeat a lesser man, but for the outgoing and passionate Ripley there's no such thing as bad news; only deals to be struck and wagers to be won in the intoxicating neon glow of Laughlin, where the cards are on the table, romance is in the air and music is on the stage.

Photo by CBS: Hugh Jackman and Lloyd Owen