Prominent LV attorney behind TV action show

Kim Smith

Monday, Nov. 20, 2000 | 11:04 a.m.

Prominent Southern Nevada attorney James "Bucky" Buchanan has gone into show biz.

Starting next year television viewers can see the defense attorney's name in the credits for a new show called "Street Justice."

The one-hour show will star Chuck Zito, a former celebrity bodyguard, who plays enforcer Chucky Pancamo on HBO's prison drama "Oz."

"The show's going to be a combination of the WWF (World Wrestling Federation), Jerry Springer and Judge Judy," Buchanan said.

Until now Buchanan has been well-known for taking on such clients as David Mattsen, Ted Binion's former ranch manager who was charged with stealing the gambling figure's silver fortune two days after his death.

But Buchanan decided to go into producing after his longtime friend, Howard Cohen, came to him with the concept for "Street Justice."

Buchanan and Cohen, along with other Las Vegans Mark Tenner, Kathy Dugan and Sam Petrillo, now make up Two Square Productions. Zito and Beverly Hills publicist Jo-Ann Geffen are also partners in the company.

Two Square Productions, along with Triage Productions, are behind "Street Justice."

"Street Justice" is all about real people getting "in-your-face" advice from tough-guy Zito and the occasional guest celebrity, such as Howard Stern or Mickey Rourke.

Zito, who has been a bodyguard for Elizabeth Taylor, Sylvester Stallone and others, is an ex-con and former president of the New York chapter of Hell's Angels. He also received attention in February 1998 when he punched action-movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme during a dispute at a topless bar.

"He's done what Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone have done, but in real life," Cohen said.

Cohen said he came up with the idea after watching an episode of Stern's show in which Zito gave a brutal dressing-down to one of the guests.

"I realized that on a lot of the shows, the solutions to people's problems are boring, and people don't really believe that Maury Povich settled down a gang-banger," Cohen said.

Cohen, who is in the casino consulting business, made a call to a friend at HBO, who called Zito and pretty soon he was meeting with Creative Artists Agency.

On Tuesday a deal is expected to be signed with the USA cable network, which is supposed to start airing the show in January or February.

"To get an agency like CAA is unbelievable, and to sell the show to a network the first time out is squared unbelievable," Cohen said.

The backdrop for the show will be an alley complete with graffiti, and Zito is expected to roll onto the set on a huge motorcycle dressed in his trademark duster and leather outfit.

"He's very, very intimidating," Buchanan said. "He is so mean."

Although most of the shows will be filmed in Hollywood, certain Strip properties have been approached with the idea of filming an occasional episode in Las Vegas, Cohen said.

Cohen makes no bones about who his intended audience is.

"We're going for the WWF audience," Cohen said. "This is not going to be an Emmy-award winning show."

Buchanan even jokes about the scantily clad women who will be hired as bailiffs.

"It has it all -- sex and violence with a judicial temperament," Buchanan said with a laugh.

Although there has even been talk of going five days a week if the show catches on, Buchanan said he has no plans to leave the courtroom.

"I'd never give up my bread and butter," Buchanan said. "It pays for all of my investments and my rowdy lifestyle."