Well, it sure sounds like CBS has made their choice. 

Sheriff Ralph Lamb gets KO'd in favor of the younger Golden Boy.

It was announced earlier today that CBS is sticking with Golden Boy on Tuesday nights.  Originally, the idea was for Golden Boy to have a two week run on Tuesday nights following CBS' big guns, NCIS and NCIS: LA, and then move to Friday nights at 9:00 beginning tomorrow night, March 8th.

Those plans changed. As we talked about yesterday, the ratings for Golden Boy on Tuesday night were as good as Vegas but chances are, the 18-49 demographic numbers were probably higher for Golden Boy.

That gave CBS the reason to shake up the schedule and keep Golden Boy on Tuesday nights in the 10:00 slot and move Vegas to Friday night where an older demographic has kept both CSI: NY and the Tom Selleck starrer, Blue Bloods, alive for the last couple of years.

Vegas may be a better fit with Blue Bloods but it no longer has the powerhouse NCIS franchise as a lead-in.  Instead, it has Undercover Boss (which does decent numbers).  The pressure is now on Vegas' showrunner, Greg Walker and the writers room, to bring audience numbers as good as CSI: NY and not lose viewers for Blue Bloods.

Can they accomplish that with the current storyline? They may need to step up their game big time. Vegas, at this point, can't afford to lose any viewers.

Not helping that scenario, March Madness and the NCAA playoffs begin soon and Vegas will be off the air until Friday, April 5th.  An original episode of Golden Boy airs tomorrow night (March 8th)  in the 9:00 timeslot and then returns on Tuesday night (March 12) at 10:00 for the rest of the season.

Being off the air for at least four weeks and returning in a new time slot usually spells doom for shows.

It will be worth watching to see if Vegas can break that curse.

We, of course, will be watching, keeping you updated and will remind you when Vegas returns to the airwaves.

Stay tuned!

Well, the overnight ratings are in and there is good news and bad news for fans of Vegas.

First the bad news for Vegas:

Unlike shows like Do No Harm and Zero Hour, Golden Boy didn't tank in its first foray two weeks ago.  When Vegas premiered back in September, it debuted with a healthy 2.5 rating/14.85 million viewers watching. Unfortunately, its numbers started to dip shortly after the premiere. By the fourth episode, the ratings had fallen to a 1.6 rating/11 million viewers.

It has stayed in that range ever since, occasionally going up or down a point.  CBS cut back the number of episodes for a season from 22 to 20.

Golden Boy premiered in Vegas's time slot last week and matched the weekly audience numbers of 11 million viewers.  The second episode last night maintained that audience. The show moves to Friday night this week.

CBS needs a show at 9:00 on Friday nights to provide a lead-in to to the Tom Selleck starrer, Blue Bloods, now that CSI: NY has finished its season. Will Golden Boy provide that lead-in? Remains to be seen. Friday night is still considered a bit of a waste land and CBS seems to have some faith in Golden Boy.

Vegas only has five more episodes to air, so there is either a number of reruns in our future or CBS has a spring show it is going to put in this time slot when Vegas completes its run. If they do, they've been very quiet about what that show is. Which is very untypical of CBS.

The good news:

There are five more episodes of Vegas. The show is definitely on the bubble and needs to maintain, if not increase (not likely), their viewership. 

If Golden Boy tanks on Friday nights that may strengthen Vegas' odds of being renewed. May being the operative word.

A not-so-good possibility for fans of Vegas:

But if Golden Boy maintains the same number of viewers (or increases their viewership), CBS may eye this show as replacement for Vegas.

We'll be back tomorrow with the ratings.

Will the cop drama Golden Boy best Vegas in the ratings? If so, does that spell trouble for our favorite retro cop show?

In the meantime, if you are a fan of Golden Boy, it moves to Friday nights at 9:00 pm this week with another episode. It does have some interesting hooks, especially Chi McBride and the supporting cast which shine much more than the main story line but it's definitely worth hanging with for a few shows to see if the hooks take.

We'll have more analysis tomorrow when we see the numbers!

Am I the only one who wonders if Bill Boyd ever regrets destroying the Stardust?  Granted, it wasn't a must-stop destination hotel any more but it had a devoted clientele and was one of the few remaining hotels that booked classic Las Vegas performers.

But in 2007 the Stardust came to an end, its signage removed to the Neon Museum and its splashy history (at one time the longest neon sign, an entire neon galaxy exploding across the front of the hotel) but a memory when Boyd Gaming demolished the Stardust to make room for the Echelon. (Don't even get us started on how you go from a cool name like the Stardust to something that sounds like a low-end automobile).

Boyd Gaming started constructing the framework for a modern hotel complex that would rival the current masters of the universe, Strip wise, and keep their most prolific property in the eye of the consumer.

But the Great Recession had other plans and when the bottom fell out of the money market it took the hopes and dreams of Boyd Gaming's Strip property with it.

For five years the property has stood rusting in the hot desert sun.  As you drive by past it, memories of the Stardust can come flooding back.

But now, the rusting hulk that has come to symbolize the Echelon has been bought by the Genting Group, a Malaysian gambling company, for $350 million.

And they have BIG plans. 

Well first they will change the name from Echelon to Resort World Las Vegas (because you really want to stay some place that conjures up images of an RV park, especially when you are being charged premium prices).

Which begs the question, why not just rebrand it the Stardust and go for the whole retro, hipster vibe that the young folks seem to gravitate to these days.  I can't imagine many of them choosing Resort World Las Vegas when they could stay at Aria, the Cosmopolitian, hell, even the Wynn.

The former Stardust site is 87 acres.  The happiest guy on the Strip right now has to be Steve Wynn, whose signature property sits across the street from the rusting framework of the Echelon.  Now that the rusting framework will probably be torn down Steve Wynn must be smiling knowing that the eyesore that was the partially built Echelon will no longer be an eyesore.

Stay tuned but always remember, the Stardust sign was one in a million and would probably do more to bring in customers than anything Resort World can come up with.

But, we will see.

In the meantime remember these images:

We are thrilled to announce that one of our favorite places, the classic El Cortez Hotel and Casino, on Fremont Street has been added to the National Register of Historic Places!!!!!

If you know us, you know we love the El Cortez and we love the fact it has kept its original facade all these years!  Designed by Wayne McAllister, once owned by Bugsy Siegel and pals and owned in its prime by Las Vegas legend, Jackie Gaughan, the El Cortez has sat on the corner of Fremont Street and 6th Street for over seventy years.  At one time, our Sears and Roebuck was located across the street. Bet you never bought your back to school clothes at a store across the street from a casino but those of us who grew up in Las Vegas back in the day, WE DID!!!!

When Jackie Gaughan sold the Cortez a few years ago, everyone held their breath. What would happen? Would he sell to developers who would raze the hotel? Would he sell to someone who didn't understand its history or appreciate its neon? Crisis was averted because Jackie kept the casino (and surrounding properties) in the family.

Mike Nolan and his team went to work on restoring the interior of the El Cortez which by then, was known more for its smoky interior and its geriatric clientele.

Today, you can walk through the El Cortez and not feel like your lungs are on fire. Today, the El Cortez appeals to all ages, hipsters, locals and everyone looking for a bargain in a city better known for high priced table service than bargains.

The El Cortez and those who run the hotel have been on the forefront of anchoring the East Fremont Entertainment District and doing all they can to encourage locals and visitors to look beyond the neon canopy of upper Fremont Street and join the fun.

In a city known more for demolitioning it's historic buildings in a party atmosphere, the El Cortez stands as a reminder that classic Las Vegas is worth preserving!

Congratulations to the El Cortez for joining the National Register and all those involved in making this happen!!!!

El Cortez Hotel and Casino, located at 600 Fremont Street in Las
Vegas, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on February 13, 2013.
The National Register is the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.
When it opened in 1941, Fremont Street’s El Cortez became the premiere hotel/casino in
downtown Las Vegas. The popularity of El Cortez helped bolster the city’s economic
development while its various owners helped define the city as it emerged as an international
entertainment capital. Following the 1959 installation of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las
Vegas" sign (NRHP listed 2009), new resorts established the Las Vegas Strip and later
eclipsed the popularity of downtown. El Cortez, however, would remain a constant presence
in downtown Las Vegas.

Constructed in 1941, El Cortez is primarily Spanish Colonial Revival style but reflects the
1952 remodel when the façade was ‘modernized’ and the marquee and prominent rooftop
signage were added. El Cortez remains one of the oldest establishments on Fremont Street
and is the only establishment to continue operation under its original name. Today, El Cortez
Hotel and Casino continues to convey the feeling of 1952 Las Vegas.

“We are pleased that such a beloved and well-tended icon has been given this national
recognition. We encourage visitors looking for an authentic vintage Las Vegas vacation to
seek out this cherished resource,” said Rebecca Palmer, acting state historic preservation
officer.


 

History of the El Cortez: http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/downtown-history/2007/5/3/a-brief-history-of-fremont-street-cont-1.html

Other stories:

http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/classic-las-vegas-blog/2012/9/8/el-cortez-is-going-for-historic-designation.html

http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/classic-las-vegas-blog/2009/5/10/el-cortez-opens-its-new-cabana-suites.html