Written by on Aug 1, 2012. Posted in On Location

Star power and LA crew base bring Vegas TV show to California

A combination of star power and a world-class crew base are responsible for bringing new 60s-set TV show Vegas to Los Angeles. Crews have built a 200-foot set at Santa Clarita Studios in LA County, recreating period Las Vegas.

As the real Las Vegas has changed so much since the 60s, the show’s pilot actually filmed in New Mexico, drawn by the state tax credit, but stars Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis wanted to film in Los Angeles once the show was commissioned to series. Ironically the show doesn’t actually qualify for the California TV filming incentive, but it benefits from LA’s strong crew base.

This was the only physical space that we could find that had a stage that could connect with 200 feet of street.

Greg Walker, Writer/Executive Producer

Santa Clarita Studios was the only suitable space in LA County. Greg Walker is a Writer and Executive Producer on Vegas and spoke to the LA Times: “This was the only physical space that we could find that had a stage that could connect with 200 feet of street. Another reason we liked being out here was the proximity to all the ranch land.”

Vegas costs up to USD3.5 million per episode to produce and the period set took nearly two months to build. California is still the number one choice for comedy TV productions – most of which involve studio shoots – but faces a continuing exodus of drama projects to other parts of the US.