James Nesbitt's Blazing Saddles
Las
Vegas, home of rodeo, gambling, cowboys, high rollers and more surprisingly,
James Nesbitt (Cold Feet / MurphyÂ’s Law).
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Choice persuaded the inimitable James Nesbitt to swap his normal
surroundings for glorious Vegas, to host his first ever documentary,
the action packed one off James NesbittÂ’s Blazing Saddles on
Sunday 5 May at 10.00pm.
JamesÂ’s
mission was to find out precisely what the Miss Rodeo America competition
is all about and what exactly goes on at the high profile National
Finals Rodeo. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Jimmy embraced
his adventure with open arms, equipped only with a Stetson, his
cheeky Irish charm and a Cadillac for good measure.
First
stop was the Flamingo Hotel - the location for the 30 finalists
of Miss Rodeo America where James soon found out that itÂ’s
not merely a beauty pageant but a competition that involves skilled
horsemanship and detailed knowledge on rodeo. He found that the
girlÂ’s schedules are relentless; fashion show rehearsals, personality
interviews, horsemanship competitions, all of which are taken very
seriously.
Rodeo
is big business in the States and the National Finals Rodeo sees
the creme de la creme of the sport competing for the prestigious
title. Over ten million people tune in nightly to follow the different
events that make up the competition including bull riding, the saddle
bronc and bareback riding.
Initially,
James was unsure of what to make of the sport but after hanging
out with Fred Whitfield, the superstar cowboy, and partying with
Cash Myers, the heart throb of the competition, he canÂ’t get
enough of rodeo. Throughout the many events James is overwhelmed
by the sheer level of skill and determination of the contestants
and comes away with real admiration for rodeo riders - however not
quite enough to make him get on a horse himself!
After
two and a half weeks in Vegas and a whole lot of Rodeo later, James
reflected on his experiences: "I
had no idea of what to expect from the competitions. The nearest
IÂ’d ever got to something like this was playing Curly in Oklahoma
when I was 17! I found Miss Rodeo America very bizarre and an unforgettable
experience but not one I would like to repeat in a hurry!
"I
found rodeo an incredible sport and was continually thrilled by
the athleticism, skill and courage of the cowboys. I absolutely
loved being part of a team and it was definitely an experience of
a lifetime but it's definitely much easier being an actor!"
When
the sun goes down on the rodeo for the day, James seeks out all
the other leisure activities that Vegas is famed for, namely gambling
and more gambling. James NesbittÂ’s Blazing Saddles reveals
the thrills and spills of rodeo and proves thereÂ’s never a
dull moment to be had in Las Vegas, especially if youÂ’re James
Nesbitt.
James
NesbittÂ’s Blazing Saddles is a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sport Production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Choice, Sunday 5 May at 10.00pm.
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