Premise
Based on the British series Viva Blackpool, Viva Laughlin follows the adventures of Ripley Holden (Lloyd Own), a man putting everything on the line in hopes of opening his own casino. The series, a personal project for movie actor Hugh Jackman (who will have a recurring role) will be noted for how the characters will occasionally break into song

Familiar Faces
British actor Lloyd Owen,
Madchen Amick (Twin Peaks),
Hugh Jackman (The X-Men Movies),
D.B. Woodside (24/Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Our Take
Much like Holden's casino, Viva Laughlin is somewhat of a gamble for CBS. While it does have the advantage of being sandwiched between two established CBS shows, the high concept could either be endearing or annoying to prospective viewers

Did You Know?
While this show has been compared to Cop Rock, the only real similarity is the singing and even that is different. In Cop Rock, the performers sang songs specifically composed for the series while here they are singing existing songs

Premise
With 7th Heaven off the air, CW returns with an all new family drama. Life is Wild follows the adventures of the Clarke family as they try to adjust to their new lives after relocating from New York City to South Africa

Note: Post-pilot, the show replaced the actors playing the parents with D.W. Moffett and Stephanie Niznik

Familiar Faces
D.W. Moffett (Hidden Palms),
Stephanie Niznik (Everwood)

Our Take
While the pilot played as a nice family drama, it is unclear what the impact of the recasting might be. Additionally, if an established show like 7th Heaven did not find success in this slot, what chance does Life is Wild have? Of course, CW may have lower expectations

Did You Know?
Life is Wild is reportedly adapted from the British drama Wild at Heart, a series about a Bristol-based vet and his family relocating to South Africa