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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-12-2009 @ 2:29PM
chrome said...
Last night I was pleased to check IMDb and find that Royal Pains is indeed filmed in the Hamptons. (At least, I assume so. Most of the bit players are NY-based.) You're right that filming location does lend an important verisimilitude, especially with a setting like Pittsburgh that looks and feels SO different from Los Angeles. Heck, Pittsburgh doesn't look much like Vancouver either. I understand that the LA industry is hurting and needs more jobs, and that Pittsburgh might not have the full logistical support necessary for a full season of a TV show. But I'm just so tired of the dual issues of Hollywood pretending the whole world looks like Los Angeles, or them setting most shows and movies there because the world revolves around them.
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6-12-2009 @ 4:47PM
bc said...
Well, 'Queer As Folk' used Toronto as a stand-in because it's grittier than Vancouver.
Pittsburgh has a Film Office and a fair number of movies, tv movies and even a cable series or two have been filmed there, but I don't know whether the infrastructure to support a network series exists. Most of the TV series set in Pittsburgh have been sitcoms that really could have been anywhere because there were no outdoor scenes.
I suspect it's possible that the expiration of the Pennsylvania film production tax credit affected this decision, too. Renewal of the credit is currently the subject of public hearings and debate in the legislature.
6-12-2009 @ 4:08PM
lanouette said...
Alex O'Loughlin is a gorgeous and talented actor. he so deserves to be well considered by CBS. I can't wait to see Alex as Andy Yablonski!
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6-12-2009 @ 4:49PM
Erica said...
As a Pittsburgher....WTF??? There is NO place like Pittsburgh!!! How dare they think a sound stage in hollywood could do it justice.
Even The Gardian, another Simon Baker show, didn't film exclusively in Pittsburgh. They had exterior shots, and talked about cities and neighbors in the area.
Pittsburgh is a great town, and in the last few years many movies have been filmed here and it seems like it is growing leaps and bounds.
I also know I am not the only woman who would be happy to house Mr. O'Loughlin during filming.
Plus, Pittsburgh has been ranked the most livable city for 2 years in a row, and I am proud to call it my home!
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7-12-2009 @ 8:51PM
Mustangpatty51 said...
I am a former Pittsburgher too and I'm very happy a show is being done about that great city. Erica, I'm with you. No matter where I live I will always call Pittsburgh my hometown. I was born and raised there and happy to call it that..We now have the Stanley Cup Champions and Super Bowl Champs there. Great people and a great town. "The Burgh" will always be part of me.
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8-11-2009 @ 4:19PM
darci said...
I really can’t wait for this show to come out! I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this until yesterday when I saw a promo video set to “Swim” by Jack’s Mannequin (a fantastic song by the way). This really looks like an interesting concept for a show, and I loved Alex O’Laughlin in Moonlight, so I just know this will be great. October can’t come soon enough!
FYI you can watch the promo video at : http://modestcomplexity.blogspot.com/2009/08/three-rivers.html
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