You knew it was a bad sign in November when CBS decided to flip flop Cold Case and Three Rivers to test whether it was the time slots that were dictating the sliding ratings of the Sunday night dramas. The results were hardly conclusive, but consistently drawing less than 2.0 in the demographics has doomed Three Rivers. CBS has pulled Three Rivers off the schedule for December. Merry Christmas, Alex O'Loughlin lovers.
This is the first step to cancellation and anyone who tells you otherwise is blowing smoke. Despite a big star in the center, Three Rivers is an earnest medical drama that's just not catching on with viewers. CBS will complete the 13-episode order and then kiss the show bye-bye.
What happened? Why did this show fail to make the grade? Hard to say, but I think the transplant angle was limiting. Also, the show stumbled out of the gate. It switched cast members from the get-go and then moved production out of Pittsburgh, trying to re-create the look of the Pennsylvania hospital in Los Angeles. None of that would have mattered if the program had some dynamic appeal, but beyond O'Loughlin, it didn't.
As The Hollywood Reporter pointed out, nobody at CBS is in tears over Three Rivers being shelved on the road to the end. The network has produced two successful dramas this fall, NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife. Two out of three is a great track record.
But what about Alex O'Loughlin? It's my belief that CBS will not give up until they find the right vehicle for AO. He'll be back again. I'd bet on it.
In the meanwhile, effective December 6 and for the rest of the month, reruns of NCIS: LA, Criminal Minds and Cold Case will slip into the 10 p.m. slot in Three Rivers' place. But don't set your DVR for any of those Sunday nights because NFL games will be mucking up the schedule for certain.
And don't think for a moment that the screwy schedule didn't hurt Three Rivers. It sure didn't help The Unit last year.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-01-2009 @ 10:45AM
Georgia said...
I started watching this because of AO, but I have continued to watch because I love the stories of each episode. I thought the episode with Mandy Patinkin was a great one.
They put this new show in an awful night. Against DH and football.
Oh well, won't be the first time I loved a show and it was cancelled!
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12-03-2009 @ 4:47PM
Dolores said...
I totally loved the Patinkin episode, I was crying at the end like a doofus. And, I really wanted to find out if the wonderful Kuol was going to get his transplant. I also liked Dr. Foster, Dr. Lee and Dr. Jordan. I thought it really had a chance. And, of course, I started watching for A.O., too, but got into the show. So, I only watch like three shows and most of them end up getting cancelled, ugh. I do hope they find the right vehicle for A.O. because he's good as well as good-looking, has a tremendous fan base, and seems to be able to fit in different kinds of genres. Maybe ABC should nab him, CBS gives up so easily. Why they cancelled Moonlight is still a mystery, since the ratings were good, much better than 'Three Rivers'. Oh well, again...ugh.
12-01-2009 @ 10:46AM
TR said...
What a shame.
Three Rivers was a great show that was really coming into it's own. More so than NCIS 2 I think as the second NCIS is just now starting to mesh finally as well.
How stupid, you put a show in a slot that mucks up the start time and then wonder why it fails... brilliant !!
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12-01-2009 @ 11:23AM
Televinita said...
That stinks. The last four new shows I've liked on CBS have all been canceled in short order - Moonlight, Worst Week, Harper's Island, and now this. I'm still watching most of their older procedurals, but they haven't come up with a solid one in a long time. Three Rivers was far more interesting to me than either of their new Tuesday hits.
I don't think I have enough heart left to throw it into another O'Loughlin project, even if they manage to come up with one I like. (oh, who am I kidding. Of course I will.)
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12-01-2009 @ 1:57PM
Coacoav said...
They need to put Alex on CSI NY spice it up.
Then case him in another series this summer
Hawaii- 5-0???
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12-01-2009 @ 3:14PM
LucyJanK said...
I am sad & angry! CBS will no longer be on my TV. I have had it with TPTB there who would put a show in an impossible time period and then decide to shelve it for poor ratings without giving it a chance on another night? The one-time "flip" with Cold Case wasn't enough to tell anyone anything about ratings! Everything in that time period has struggled, remember The Unit? Without A Trace? And really, has Cold Case ever been a ratings winner? Three Rivers is a show that has important stories to tell and without the "super-soapy" storylines. The characters and the show are just coming into their own, and their backstories are developing nicely. I will keep an eye out for Alex, because he is a very talented actor who will go on and do great work in the future, but as far as him and CBS, how can he have any confidence in them after this and the Moonlight fiasco. CBS...you suck!!
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12-01-2009 @ 4:34PM
Joseph Klimczak said...
I think the issue is Football it runs over and people tune out
You cant dvr the show cause most dvrs dont know when NFL runs over.... I think If you put cold case on FRI night it would do better as fro 3 rivers one word MOONLIGHT
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12-01-2009 @ 5:47PM
CJ said...
I DVR Three Rivers and Cold Case, but add an extra hour (or more) on the back of Cold Case. Football isn't the only one that mucks up scheduling. The Amazing Race (which I do NOT watch) runs over too. I end up DVRing the whole mess, then fast forwarding through 60 minutes and AR. Irritating to no end. Why doesn't CBS try scheduling it on on weeknight, then see how it rates? Or do they think everyone actually likes reality shows? *Grrr*
12-01-2009 @ 10:50PM
Ann said...
Why does CBS hsve to put these great shows (Ciold Case, Three Rivers) on Sunday nights when there are so many other programs on at the same time. I have 3 dvr's working at the same time and with the football running late, everything gets screwed up, plus Cable has all their good shows on Sunday at the same time. Why doesn't CBS try putting some of these programs on Friday or Saturday evenings. Not everyone goes out these two nights. Us "seniors" are usually home early and have nothing to watch.
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12-01-2009 @ 10:22PM
Cray said...
Indeed football has effected the ratings as it has push the show further away from its regular time slot. The same thing has happened with the UNIT.
I think the solution is to not have too many hour long programs on Sunday night during football season. They should do more half hour programs, much like FOX does. This allows greater scheduling flexibility.
THREE RIVERS deserves a better time slot, but I'm not sure where. I really think it would've did well as a lead in to NUMB3RS. But CBS picked up MEDUIM, to go along with GHOST WHISPER as part of their "sci-fi fridays" programing.
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12-20-2009 @ 9:37PM
catkimball said...
They should have done away with Ghost Whisperer (she is the WORST actress, and always has to scream and cry in every episode - PHONY!) and put Medium in the 8:00 slot, then put Three Rivers in the 9:00 slot to be followed, like you said, with Numbers. That would be a perfect Friday night! They put these great shows on Sundays and even though millions DVR them, they don't show up as popular in the ratings because of football. Recording a show should count.
12-02-2009 @ 6:15AM
Annie said...
I really only watched Three Rivers to see Alex O'Loughlin. He never disappoints, and he made Dr. Yablonski seem like a very real person. I would have liked to have seen more about Andy and a bit less about all the patients. I enjoyed the other doctors too. To me, the show was way better acted than it was written.
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12-02-2009 @ 8:11PM
Meredith said...
This show was terrible and boring. They tried making this the Alex show and focus on him. The other actors were much better than him and deserved as much screen time. Lots of people refused to watch because they hate the way CBS tried to push Alex and make him a star. They neglected the real talent in Daniel Henney, Kate Moennig and Alfre Woodard. If they had focused more on them and the writing and less about AOL, this show would have been a hit.
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1-25-2010 @ 12:16AM
Lynda said...
You are SOOOOOO far off on your comment.
They did NOT try to make Three Rivers about Alex O'Laughlin (although HE represents a TRUE actor), it is ALL about the time slot which was disastrous!
How can anyone NOT adore Alex??
Are you NUTS???
OR...are you just trying to get attention from all the ALEX fans who love & adore him.
L.P.
12-04-2009 @ 1:15AM
Kenny said...
This show was just okay. CBS used this show to try and make Alex a star and it did not work. CBS should have made it an ensemble show they way it was planned. Alex was on the screen 80% of the time while the rest of the cast had to take a back seat to him. Alex is just not a good actor. He is cut and the old ladies like him. But Daniel, Kate and Chris are cuter, better actors, have more fans and their fans are much younger. That is the coveted demo CBS claims to want. Maybe CBS should let Alex go back home and work with some younger and hipper upcoming stars that can bring it. Alex has failed twice, Let Daniel and Kate have a chance. They can do it.
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12-06-2009 @ 12:49PM
maureen said...
I agree w/Dolores...Three Rivers is a show worth saving..Patinkin show was very moving and I also was looking forward to seeing what happens along the way with other characters. Sunday night is "football night" but I also DVR and go beyond time frame to make sure I get Three Rivers AND Cold Case. Please CBS consider another night for Three Rivers!!!
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12-07-2009 @ 6:29AM
Mary said...
I absolutely LOVED Three Rivers. It was compelling. I looked forward to staying up on Sunday just to watch it.
So now they put on NCIS Los Angeles and it just has never got my attention. I have tried often to watch it and fell asleep whenever it is on. No offense but do we need another NCIS? Even if it does have great actors. Bad choice CBS!
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12-06-2009 @ 10:48PM
Betty said...
What is the matter with CBS? This was such a good show. I got other people interested in it, and you gake it off!!! There is so much garbage on TV today. I watch very little, but have favorites I look forward to.Three Rivers was one of them(so was Moonlight).They put this show up against terrible odds.What is the matter with them? The writers must be fit to be tied too. BRING THREE RIVERS BACK!!!!!
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12-07-2009 @ 9:28AM
RoeC said...
this is why I generally stay away from watching new shows. I am not a Neilson family. So the fact that I watch this show every week (searching it out cause the time is always screwed up) means nothing. How many of you are Neilson families? If your not then the networks could care less if you watched. They need to come up with a better way to guage what is actually getting watched.
I loved this show, the entire cast. The stories are new. The charactors are believeable, the acting top notch. CBS sticks with NCIS Los Angeles which IMO stinks. NCIS is the best show on tv, and Los Angeles dosen't even make sense.
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12-07-2009 @ 10:25AM
Buddy C said...
USA seems to putting out some descent TV.
Hurry up USA and snatch up AO
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