WHY DID I NEVER WATCH ‘LAS VEGAS’?

• Monica Mancuso, (2005), (Lara Flynn Boyle), Former owner of the Montecito, was portrayed as self-centered and bull-headed. In the first episode of season three, it was revealed that at age 25, she married an 83-year-old billionaire and upon his death at 93, she inherited his fortune, using it to purchase the Montecito and upgrade it to its current facility. She was a waitress in the morning and a stripper at night before she married the billionaire in Ohio. She later used the casino as collateral to try to purchase other casinos in Las Vegas. Dedicated to prove that she was more than just a woman who inherited money, she was determined to make the Montecito a success. In the season three episode “Mothwoman”, she dies in a freak accident: a gust of wind blows her off the roof of the Montecito, and down the strip into a shoe store at the Wynn. Because her character was generally disliked by the other characters in the series, and typically was portrayed as a buffoon, her death was constructed mostly for humor. Casino employees disposed of her ashes by flushing them down the toilet (as per her wishes) in her suite at the Montecito.

• Casey Manning, (2004-2007), (Dean Cain), A shrewd and cunning businessman, Sam’s ex-husband and former owner of the Montecito Resort & Casino. In Season 3, Casey bought the Montecito from the Foundation for the Blind, after it was left to them following Monica’s death. In the Season four episode “Bare Chested in the Park”, his character was killed off in a fishing accident: a giant squid enveloped him off the coast of New Zealand. The autopsy revealed that he was poisoned before the accident. After his death, he leaves the Montecito to Sam, who faces tax problems. In the series finale, Sam plans to marry Casey’s brother Vic even though she doesn’t love him because Vic reminds Sam of Casey.