Friday, October 02, 2009

'Three Rivers' review - Sepinwall on TV

In today's column, I review "Three Rivers," the new CBS medical drama about organ transplants. It's, uh, not good.

Also, I'm curious to see if my mention of "Moonlight" brings any of the commenters from this post to return for more fun and excitement.

16 comments:

Brandon Kosto said...

Or will CBS be busy trying to plug O'Loughlin into some other series a year from now, hoping that this time he's a match?

There is that Criminal Minds spin-off they just announced. Knowing how much CBS apparently loves O'Loughlin I was a bit surprised they didn't give him NCIS: Los Angeles.

Nicole said...

I think you may be safe from the loony Moonlight fans. It is usually anything vampire related that encourages blind admiration to otherwise crappy material. (e.g. Twilight).

Anonymous said...

I love how all the Moonlight fans bristled at Nina Tassler's comments about it being more about the actor than the show, yet practically every message board is filled with fangurls saying they'd watch O'Loughlin read from the phonebook. And judging from your review, that may have been a better show.

Maura said...

Just watching the ads for this show was enough to make me wary, Alan. Your review just sealed my decision to avoid the show.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't this actor on "The Shield" for a bit? I think the premise was that he was going to take over for Mackey, but they [the show] seemed like the dumped him pretty quickly and he left almost now impression compared to the mighty characters (and acting) on that show.

Cameron Hughes said...

Christ, I'll never understand why people loved Diet Angel so much.


(For the slow ones in the audience, I mean Moonlight)

Pamela Jaye said...

When Dr. Miranda Foster (Katherine Moennig from "The L Word") chews out the inattentive father of a patient, it's obvious that she's working out some daddy issues of her own, but boss Sophia Jordan (Alfre Woodard) has to explain it to her.

Gee, they don't even have to explain the anvils on Grey's Anatomy.

Anonymous said...

Uh, he left The Shield because he got the Moonlight job--trust me, a lead in a CBS drama is heads over heels above a cable show. He had more viewers there (8 million) then The Shield could ever hope for. BTW: his name is Alex O'Loughlin and watch for him co-starring in J Lo's movie The Back Up Plan in January.

Also, he wasn't"given" NCIS:LA because he got to CHOOSE the show he wanted. He chose one that wasn't procedural crap which requires little acting ability and doesn't serve up anything for the world. In Three Rivers he can actually do character development and he is a spokesperson for Donate Life America--organ donation.

I always laugh at people that let other people tell them what to watch and criticize shows they've never seen (Moonlight or Three Rivers.)

How about you watching something yourself and judging. You want the critics to pick out your husband and wife, too? Just saying.

Pamela Jaye said...

I'll watch anything with a medical theme - once. I think I deleted Hawthorne for space (and cause the only thing i was curious about was her husband's death and why everyone was so weird about it.)
I watched one ep of Heartland and was pretty much bored to sleep. Recorded two eps. Then gave up.

Plus I have a grudge against CBS and this would be the 4th show of theirs I am either watching or recording.
Some shows Alan didn't like right off I either did watch or stuck around till I did.
Not interested in procedurals or vampire shows though. (I regretted saying that about Buffy, but not till the summer before season 6/FX premiere)

Amonymous Fan - are you going to watch Men Of A Certain Age?

JoeE said...

Thank you for directing me to the Moonlight comments. Sometimes I wonder why I waste so much time on the Internet, then I get to read a diatribe written by a real person indirectly likening the cancellation of a TV show to Jim Crow laws and I remember why.

Anonymous said...

I watched the premiere of Three Rivers, even though I was skeptical of how they would deliver 3 perspectives within an hour. Every week, the theme will be the same so unless there is some serious character development and sub-plots, it will not last long.

I think the hi-tech hospital perks are over the top. CBS should have stuck with the tried and true of what real hospitals look like.

Three Rivers was a disappointment because there was nothing to grab me.

Carrie said...

I don't doubt that CBS will continue to give Alex O'Loughlin lead roles until one of his shows sticks. Heck, they basically did the same thing with Simon Baker. (Perhaps Tassler just has a thing for Aussies?)

Oh, and if what Anonymous says is right and AL "picked" Three Rivers over NCIS: LA, then he has a really bad agent.

Carrie said...

And, by AL, I obviously mean AO. Oops.

Vanessa said...

Now that was hilarious. Your article must have been linked on some rabid Moonlight forum. I fully cop to whining and lingering bitterness when they cancelled Firefly and Wonderfalls. Say, are you to blame for them too?

Moonlight was kind of a snooze but I did at least try to watch it once or twice. Three Rivers tho I don't think I'll even manage to do that (altho that chick from The L Word is in it and she's awesome. Or is she in Trauma? Or is it called Mercy? I swear I can't tell them apart.)

dez said...

How about you watching something yourself and judging. You want the critics to pick out your husband and wife, too? Just saying.

If Alan can find me a spouse as wonderful as his, sure, why not? :-)

Anonymous said...

I think Three Rivers messed up and put on the wrong episode the first night (leaving everyone going, "huh? Who are these people?") But, I decided to give it another watch the second week and I think that was supposed to be the first episode! It introduced all the characters and a little bit about each one of them..... Not bad, but not as good as Gray's Anatomy!! I went to high school with Chris Hanke, (Abbott)... his family owns "Hanke Brother's Siding" and has always been well-to-do. Don't let Chris fool you that he grew up in a trailer! ;-) (You can see him say that in his journal clip). I guess I will watch it again since there is not much else on Sunday nights. :-)