TV Squad Previews Three Rivers

The folks at TV Squad have gotten a sneak peek at several of the new shows scheduled for CBS this Fall. One of those is Three Rivers. I will share Allison's opinion of it here. To read about all the shows, follow the link below.

TV Squad previews CBS's new shows
by Allison Waldman

Generally speaking, CBS had a strong 2008, developing one bona fide hit drama -- The Mentalist -- even though shows like The Ex-List never found an audience or a critical plaudit. Ironically, I liked The Ex-List based on the screener I reviewed last summer, so go figure. Sometimes a preview can inform you about a show's potential and sometimes it's just the best it'll ever be.

CBS has shared previews for the new season and we've had a chance to take a look. There are star vehicles for Jenna Elfman, Alex O'Loughlin and Julianna Margulies, which would seem logical based on the success of Simon Baker as The Mentalist. CBS is counting on familiar, popular TV stars to win over audiences. Will the strategy work? It's probably too soon to tell.

Still, we've watch these advance peeks and here are our thoughts -- bearing in mind that things are liable to change before the shows air.

Three Rivers (Sunday at 9:00PM ET)

Premise of the screener: Dr. Andy Yablonski is a dedicated doctor, the leader of the team of surgeons at Three Rivers Center for Transplant Medicine, a prestigious Pittsburgh hospital that specializes in transplants. Working against the clock to save patients, Three Rivers explores not only the doctor's trials, but the lives of organ donors and recipients of the organs, often dealing with questions of ethics and efficacy.

Allison says: Alex O'Loughlin is the centerpiece of Three Rivers, and if fans feel that CBS didn't come through for the star with Moonlight, the network has made every effort to give him a success with this new medical drama. The show is not edgy or caustic in the style of House or Nurse Jackie. Three Rivers is just the opposite. It's earnest and contemplative. It poses ethical questions about transplants, giving the viewpoints of those donating organs as well as those receiving the spare parts. While there's some mention of Dr. Andy's troubled home life in the screener (he's living in a motel instead of his house), the focus of the show is the hospital, the patients and the life or death race to get the transplants done. Considering the quality of this initial offering, as well as the prime Sunday time slot, Three Rivers will have a solid send-off and could very well be an early hit.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/07/02/tv-squad-previews-cbss-new-shows/

Photograph ~ Dr. Miranda Foster (Katherine Moennig) and Dr. Andy Yablonski (Alex O'Loughlin) in promo picture for Three Rivers television series

TV Squad ~ Three Rivers Making Changes

Allison Waldman (an entertainment reporter from TV Squad) gives her opinion of the adjustments to Three Rivers.

Three Rivers making changes
by Allison Waldman

Just because CBS is changing where the new medical drama Three Rivers will be filmed, doesn't mean the show is in trouble. After all, a lot of shows are retooled once the pilot is filmed. However, they recently dumped the leading lady, Julia Ormond, too. To me this says that Three Rivers is shifting focus, and I don't mean by filming in a Pittsburgh hospital set that they're building in Los Angeles instead of the real thing in Pennsylvania.

It could well mean that CBS is thinking about making Three Rivers a star vehicle for Alex O'Loughlin. CBS has The Mentalist in mind for Three Rivers, with Alex becoming the next golden pin-up, just like Simon Baker. I mean, take a look at this publicity picture. That's a muscle shirt more than a surgical scrubs top. And don't get me wrong, Alex has the body to pull it off.

For the record, CBS claims that filming the pilot in Pittsburgh was not conducive to the production's needs. There were limitations. If you understand the flexibility of filming on a sound stage brings filmmakers, this is understandable. What they gain in productivity, though, they lose in verisimilitude. Shows like The Sopranos, filmed in New Jersey and Queens, had the right look and feel. CBS says they want Three Rivers to have a warmer look, hence the move to the Paramount lot.

As for Julia Ormond, what a come down. Here's an actress that has played opposite Harrison Ford (Sabrina) and Sean Connery (First Knight), not to mention Brad Pitt in last year's Oscar-nominated The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She also did a recent guest arc on CSI: NY. Being bounced from Three Rivers has to hurt.

In place of female co-star, creator Carol Barbee, is opting for recurring characters like specialists and a social worker to appear, with one a possible love interest for Dr. Andy Yablonski, a.k.a. the hottie in scrubs, Mr. O'Loughlin. Julia's role, Dr. Jordan, the head of surgery, will be recast.

To see how it all plays out, Three Rivers will air Sundays at 9 p.m. If you set your DVR, be prepared to bracket your timer for late starts. The NFL will be encroaching on CBS prime time like it always does from September to December.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/06/12/three-rivers-making-changes/

Photograph ~ Dr. Andy Yablonski (Alex O'Loughlin) in a Three Rivers television series promo picture

New TV Squad interview with Alex O'Loughlin

As usual, Alex O'Loughlin gives a great interview! In this chat, they not only talk about his new projects but also our beloved Moonlight. Do you think that, as a boy Vampire, Mick St John would kick Selene's (Kate Beckinsale) tail? I would like to see that fight ;>

Oooooooo.... I totally agree that the Vampyre film Alex recommends ("Let the Right One In") is a must see!

Moonlight's Alex O'Loughlin talks guest spots, TV pilots, and vampire smackdowns
by Mike Moody

Moonlight is history, but Alex O'Loughlin is still in demand. The actor, who garnered a huge fan base playing Moonlight's good guy vampire Mick St. John, returns to TV this week. O'Loughlin will guest star as a conflicted serial killer on CBS's Criminal Minds on Wednesday.

For O'Loughlin fans, the guest appearance is only a tease. What they really want to see is their favorite Aussie actor starring in a new weekly series. They might get their wish if CBS picks up Three Rivers, a drama pilot starring O'Loughlin as an organ transplant surgeon.

I got a chance to speak with O'Loughlin this week. We chatted about his new projects, his love for the vampire genre, and how Mick St. John could totally kick Kate Beckinsale's ass. Click through for the conversation, plus preview images and video from the actor's appearance on Criminal Minds.

Mike Moody : Moonlight got the axe, but you've landed a high-profile guest spot on CBS's Criminal Minds and you're starring in a new pilot for the network, Three Rivers. How does it feel to be so in demand at a major network?

Alex O'Loughlin : It feels good, Mike. It feels good. I mean, as an artist, you spend a lot of your life maybe not working and training, reading and really trying to further yourself. And the reality is a lot of us never really get to make a living at it. So it brings me great joy to be in demand. It's a lovely feeling. I've worked hard for a long time to be able to choose what I want to do ... It's a lovely feeling.

Mike Moody : You play a serial killer who's possibly seeking redemption in Criminal Minds. Can you draw any parallels from that character to Mick St. John from Moonlight, or is this something completely different?

Alex O'Loughlin : It's definitely different, which is what drew me to the part. With Mick St John, the only thing the two have in common is that they are both in control of what they're doing, but Mick was more in control than this guy. This character has a crippling case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which now runs his entire life. He's had to stop working to maintain his anxiety, and it takes him all day and every moment to control it. And the killing is part of that as well. It's a form of control for him, and yes, he is seeking redemption.

Mike Moody : Did you study the effects of obsessive-compulsive disorder before taking on this role?

Alex O'Loughlin : Yeah, I actually had it. I think a lot of us have a certain degree of it, I know I do, but I'm not crippled by it. When I was a young boy in elementary school I was quite a blatant example of a child with OCD, and I remember how it used to make me feel and how difficult it was. I also did a lot of reading and I studied the effects of OCD on children and how it continues from childhood to adulthood if left untreated.

Mike Moody : Let's talk about Three Rivers, the CBS pilot you're starring in. The character you play is based on a remarkable real-life surgeon, Dr. Gonzalo Gonzales-Stawinski. What was it like getting to know the doctor and playing a character based on him?

Alex O'Loughlin : Well, I don't get star struck by many people, but I'm completely star struck by this guy. I love this guy so much. He's become such a great friend of mine. He's a rock star, he's a hero, and he's so cool. I spent many hours shoulder to shoulder with him in the operating room, and I've never met anyone like him before. I've really been affected by him. He's a great source of inspiration to many people. He gives life to people, and he's a wonderful, funny guy and really enjoyable to be around.

Mike Moody : Three Rivers can be called a "show about doctors," but it seems to be more than that. What's unique about this project?

Alex O'Loughlin : It's not a show about doctors, it's about transplant surgery, and it's called Three Rivers because it takes place where the Allegheny River and Monongahela River meet with the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. And it's also called Three Rivers because it's about three perspectives of transplant surgery: the recipient, the donor and the surgical team. That's what unique about it.

Mike Moody : Do you think it will appeal to Moonlight fans?

Alex O'Loughlin : I think it's going to appeal to a lot of people. It's a different genre. I love the vampire genre, though. I always have. Actually, I want to recommend a film, Let the Right One In ... It's directed by Tomas Alfredson.

Mike Moody : I've seen it. It's great.

Alex O'Loughlin : You've seen it?

Mike Moody : Yeah, I liked it.

Alex O'Loughlin : Oh, it's f*ckin' brilliant. Yeah, I'm a huge vampire fan, but (Three Rivers) is a different show, and I love it. It's really smart, it's grown-up, it's clever, it's funny and sensitive, it's got everything.

Mike Moody : You've been involved with a few causes, like the American Red Cross, that seem to stem from the roles you take on. What are your hopes or goals for Three Rivers, not on an entertainment level, but on a social or awareness level?

Alex O'Loughlin : My hope is to become involved with Donate Life America or an equally large non-profit organization to educate about organ donation. I want to be in a position where we can leverage the philanthropical aspects of what we do with TV spots, PSA's and campaigns.

Mike Moody : You have a few big movies coming up, including White Out with Kate Beckinsale, who was in the Underworld films. Did you two trade vampire stories on the set?

Alex O'Loughlin : A little bit, yeah. It was more like, "Who was the better vampire?" I was the better vampire! No, I was the better vampire! No, I'm a boy, I was better and I'm stronger than you!" (Laughs) We went back and forth, and I think she finally said, "You're an idiot" and walked away. But the bottom line is Mick St. John would kill what's her name, I don't even remember her name, from the (Underworld) movie! Mick St. John would kill her!

Mike Moody : So you're obviously a big fan of the vampire genre. Is there any chance you'll return to genre television or maybe do a genre film anytime soon?

Alex O'Loughlin : Sure, why not genre film? Why don't we do a big film? I'd love to do more genre work. I don't know about anytime soon, but it's not out of the question for me.

Mike Moody : Audiences really responded to your onscreen relationship with Sophia Myles on Moonlight. Any chance you might work with her again?

Alex O'Loughlin : Yeah, maybe. There's nothing set up, but she's a friend, and you never know. It's a small world and we have a scarcely small acting fraternity, so I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. She's great.

Mike Moody : We look forward to seeing you on Criminal Minds next week. Anything you want to say to your fans about the show?

Alex O'Loughlin : Tune in. Come on! Show up! It's a good episode. I think you'll like it.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/04/28/moonlights-alex-oloughlin-talks-guest-spots-tv-pilots-and-va/

Photograph #1 ~ Mick St John (Alex O'Loughlin) from Moonlight television show

Photographs #2 & #3 ~ Serial killer Vincent (Alex O'Loughlin) from the CBS tv program, Criminal Minds