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2 • December 31, 2017 - January 6, 2018 • Brainerd Dispatch By Kat Mulligan TV Media C hina's Great Wall, Rome's Coli- seum, London's Big Ben and In- dia's Taj Mahal — beautiful loca- tions, but so far away, hence the appeal of some of North America's nearby attractions. If you like your fun and thrills presented with a side of glamour and a dash of luck, there's only one place to go: Las Vegas. Though, as anyone who's traveled there can tell you, the fun begins the moment you board the plane. A new comedy is set to take viewers on this trek, with flights from "L.A. to Vegas" set to com- mence Tuesday, Jan. 2, on Fox. The crew of Flight 1610 trans- ports excited — often intoxicated — individuals from LAX to Vegas for 48 hours of entertainment, gam- bling and memories. Fictional pas- senger and comedic actor Ed Weeks ("The Mindy Project") summed up the plot nicely while visiting Break- fast Television Toronto with fellow castmate Kim Matula ("The Bold and the Beautiful"). According to Weeks, the series depicts a diverse group of passengers, "stuck on a plane every weekend, L.A. to Vegas and then Vegas back to L.A.," who start off full of "hopes and dreams going into the weekend," only to re- turn with "shattered hopes and dreams, rings under the eyes [and] alcohol poisoning." The plane is helmed by Captain Dave, played by Dylan McDermott ("The Practice"), an overconfident, brash pilot with a soft spot for his passengers' well-being. His co-pi- lot, Alan (Amir Talai, "The Pursuit of Happyness," 2006), does his best to appease Dave's ego. Other notable crew members include flight attendant Bernard (Nathan Lee Graham, "Zoolander," 2001) and head flight attendant Ronnie (Matula), both of whom juggle the needs and demands of passengers all while trying to navigate the destination of their own lives. With the series format being centered around a weekly flight, be prepared to see a combination of fresh narratives and ongoing story arcs, with many passengers be- coming regulars. Actors Peter Stor- mare ("Fargo," 1996) and Weeks both appear to be potential repeat riders. In fact, Stormare's character, Artem, an avid gambler, seems convinced that he'll only win at the tables if he sits in a particular seat during the flight. Meanwhile, Weeks's character, Colin, develops quite an attraction to Ronnie, though it's currently unclear whether this is just a one-time — or skybound — relationship. The hype for "L.A. to Vegas" stems not only from the stellar casting of the series, but from the comedic powerhouse that's pro- ducing it. Gary Sanchez Produc- tions has joined forces with 20th Century Fox Television to develop this mashup of "The Love Boat" meets "Anchorman" (2004) on a plane. Gary Sanchez Productions is run by Will Ferrell ("Daddy's Home," 2015) and producer Adam McKay ("Step Brothers," 2008). The pair works with the company's head, the fictional Gary Sanchez, a Paraguayan investor whose gifts to the globe most notably include co- medic video website "Funny or Die." While this isn't the first foray into television for the production company, known also for "Drunk History" and "Commander Chet," the partnership with Fox will pro- vide "L.A. to Vegas" with perhaps the company's broadest small- screen reach ever, letting the laughs land in millions of living rooms across North America. As for the on-screen talent, Mc- Dermott is a seasoned profession- al, possessing a wealth of versatili- ty within his CV. A harrowing, tu- multuous childhood like his may have stunted the development of others, but thanks to the encour- agement of his stepmother (play- wright Eve Ensler), McDermott took a gamble on himself, for which both the small and big screen alike are ever grateful. Icon- ic roles in television series such as Bobby Donnell in "The Practice" and both Dr. Ben Harmon and Johnny Morgan in "American Hor- ror Story" have helped McDermott secure his presence as a skilled character actor, though often with a more dramatic and serious lean. "L.A. to Vegas" allows McDermott to explore his quirkier, zanier side, playing a suave pilot with a pen- chant for sarcasm and a minimal filter. "L.A. to Vegas" also features soap opera star Matula, who brings with her a unique fanbase that is also more familiar with an actress swept up in the dramatic instead of the comedic. This isn't the actress's first shot at comedy, as 2017 has seen Matula explore her more hu- morous side, with appearances in the series "Teachers" and the film "Maybe Someday" (2017). While discussing her character on Break- fast Television Toronto, Matula ex- plained that Ronnie is someone with "big dreams ... a lot of hopes for her life, and she has not made the right decisions ... she's an in- credibly impulsive person." The relatability of Ronnie, and the humorous missteps of her life, give her an endearing quality that is entirely relatable to both Matu- la's soap opera fans and those sit- com lovers who have yet to see her perform. Ultimately, the show's ap- peal stems from the fact that in such confined spaces, even through the duration of a short flight, peo- ple have a way of opening up and revealing themselves, their charms and annoyances in a way that elic- its both sympathy and laughs. Prepare for a weekly weekend getaway, four days in advance, as you board Flight 1610 with Cap- tain Dave and his crew for a fun- filled trip from "L.A. to Vegas." Buckle up for some laughs when the series lifts off Tuesday, Jan. 2, on Fox. High-flying hilarity: Winners abound in 'L.A. to Vegas' Cover Story this week Kim Matula as seen in "L.A. to Vegas" The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon Last night, Charles Manson died at the age of 83. Which means today he met his new roommates: Adolf, Osama and the Time Warner customer service rep. I saw that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are celebrating their 70th anniversary by getting new portraits together. It was a big day for them — and a huge day for the photographer at Sears. CBS just fired Charlie Rose after allegations of sexual harassment. Yeah, they told him to clear out his desk, put on some pants and leave. The Late Show With Stephen Colbert You might remember that, while he was in China, Trump asked China's President Xi Jinping to release three UCLA players who had been arrested for shoplifting from a Chinese mall — easily the most scandalous thing to happen in a mall that didn't involve Roy Moore. Trump also took a shot at Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. Flake was caught on camera dissing his own party, saying, "If we become the party of Roy Moore and Donald Trump, we are toast." Sen. Flake, that's a little too hard on toast. The Late Show With James Corden This weekend, President Trump lashed out at NFL running back Marshawn Lynch after photos showed Lynch at a game in Mexico where he was standing during the Mexican national anthem, but sitting during the U.S. national anthem. By the way, "Marshawn Lynch stood for the Mexican anthem" is also the sentence that will start 70 per cent of your Thanksgiving fights this year. On Saturday, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake was caught on mic when he made a remark, saying, "If we become the party of Roy Moore and Donald Trump, we are toast." If? IF you become the party of Donald Trump? He's the president of the United States! That's like the Catholic Church going, "Why does everyone keep associating us with Pope Francis?" Late Night With Seth Meyers An Alabama pastor expressed his support for accused Senate candidate Roy Moore in a recent interview and said, quote, "There are some 14-year-olds, who, the way they look, could pass for 20." He is the pastor of The First Church of the Virgin Mary According to Her Anyway. Pringles has launched several new potato chips flavors, including Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potato, Green Bean Casserole, and Pumpkin Pie. Or as single dads call it: "Thanksgiving!" 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