Comments on: Three Rivers: Do Not Resuscitate

By: Holly

Holly — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:14:40 +0000

^Probably the same people who apparently don’t know about AIDS, breast cancer, etc. and need the constant “awareness” campaigns.

By: J.R. Herbaugh

J.R. Herbaugh — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:59:17 +0000

It does raise awarness of transplants

Why do people keep saying that? Who didn’t know aboot transplants?

By: Patsy

Patsy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:19:34 +0000

Has anyone here watched Three Rivers? It’s a great show! It does raise awarness of transplants and is very well written. Shame of the network for not giving this show a chance. Sticking it on Sunday where football always runs overtime, shows are unpredictable for starting on time. They need to stick this show in a better time slot during the week. As far as I’m concerned any show they put in that time slot is going to fail until football is over.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:14:30 +0000

Cold Case is likely to be axed by the end of the season, I imagine CBS has told the producers already when got picked up for the seventh season, at least they’ll have time to write a series finale unlike Trace.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:57:12 +0000

Yeah Trace at a good run but 7 Seasons and 160 episodes is good. Unless a long running CBS drama is part of a CSI or NCIS franchise its a likely contender to end. Look for Cold Case and potentially Numb3rs to be axed by May. I’d say

Cold Case – 100% chance of being axed in May
Numb3rs – 10% chance of being axed in May

Most people thought why not shift Trace to sundays at 10 like in the 2006-2007 season but its less expensive to axe a veteran and develop a new drama. It seems Three Rivers may make it to November, but I really think it will be gone after the November 1 airing.

By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:52:30 +0000

@Tracy,
Without A Trace is over. If someone else was going to pick it up, it would have already happened. It had run its course and was far too expensive for anyone else to consider picking up.

CBS for several years has been in the position of having to cancel shows with OK ratings simply because they didn’t have enough shows with horrible ratings.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:39:42 +0000

I’m glad that Three Rivers isn’t doing that well. That’s what CBS gets for cancelling Without A Trace to make room for Three Rivers. They should have bumped the renewal of Without A Trace instead of cancelling it. I hope another network picks it up. I used to love CBS but now that they are cancelling good running shows, I’m very disappointed.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:25:18 +0000

I wonder why Three Rivers hasnt been pulled yet. It may be early in the week, but last weeks numbers couldnt have been goon enough for CBS to keep the show on for sweeps. Rivers may last into November but Im not sure why CBS would keep it this long. Accidentally should get a full season soon.

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:41:04 +0000

The only thing “Three Rivers” needs is a better day and time slot. For the past 2 out of the 3 weeks it’s been on, it has been delayed considerably by overtime football games. I do not see how a network can determine the success or failure of any program after only 3 episodes. That is not enough time to get to know the characters or the storylines. As far as it being “depressing” – life itself can be depressing sometimes, especially for people who are quite ill, maybe in need of transplants, a subject that is not your run-of-the-mill topic of conversation. Maybe it is not as “action packed” as the 800 spin-offs of CSI or NCIS but there is an audience out there, if CBS gives “Three Rivers” the chance.

By: Patrice

Patrice — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:59:11 +0000

I watched part of two different Three Rivers.
The patients on the show seem to be the most obnoxious, ungrateful
lot I have ever seen. I taped saturdays and it starts out with
the Doctor wanting a cocaine etc guy to get the transplant.
They should have made it a Rock star like Crosby and show us why some famous rock stars seem to get aheard of the line or how they decide that. (I will admit I have not watched a whole episode so maybe they did)
I think the tone of the show is so depressing that it is hurting it.
I like all the actors in Three Rivers but when the nicest people are the ones who die and the patients are stupid idiots its hard to watch.
I am not even going to finish watching this.
I think they should get some of the writers from Faulty Towers
or SCTV and make it a more interesting show. Faulty Towers could show how being obnoxious can be funny and entertaining.
This show the way it is now should be on Lifetime if they change it
to more humor than keep it on CBS. I suggest they take Carol Burnett out of retirement and let her have a go at a Hospital show, add
Bernadette Peters and Cloris Lechman as nurses. I would watch the whole show.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:23:49 +0000

Julie, NCIS gets 7 million more people then The Good Wife…… Btw NCIS is a great show that nicely combines Military Drama with Crime Procedural, not only that it makes Over the Top Cheesyness Look not to cheesy and over the top

By: julie

julie — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:06:07 +0000

if CBS cancels the good wife, then Im done with CBS.. if they are willing to cancel a show that does 13.5 million/week for another stupid show like NCIS..its means they really don’t care about their audience..

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:24:26 +0000

I doubt CSI: NY will get axed any time soon, it’s still a solid performer and it’s still making money plus it’s a CBS production. The CSI Franchise are still a moneymaker for CBS and I think they’ll be trying to get at least enough episodes so they can be stripped 5 days a week for about a year in syndication.

By: lisaw

lisaw — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:03:25 +0000

Could CSI:NY come under pressure?

It’s dropping in the ratings and as we know CBS is ruthless. This could be the show they drop next Season if they need the spot to bring something new through.

By: amyvil

amyvil — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:07:32 +0000

CBS is rebroadcasting Three Rivers’ “Good Intentions” episode this Saturday at 8 p.m. and will broadcast the next epi “Code Green” this Sunday at 9 p.m. The sides for epi 109 of Three Rivers were released yesterday (October 21) and they’re still in production so I remain cautiously optimistic.

By: vsaint

vsaint — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:12:05 +0000

Wow can’t believe it’s survived this long. I mean there probably filming episode 8 now?
Why continue to waste money, with these horrible ratings. Amazing Race is a solid lead in, and Cold Case does better after Three Rivers.
People don’t care about the Transplant procedural stuff in general.
It’s about the characters, stories. Check CSI, William Peterson left, now it’s ratings are only good, not great.
Bad acting, bad stories, horriblly filmed, unrealistic. This is worse than the stuff NBC has on the schedule.

They could rename the show to NCIS: THREE RIVRERS, place it behind NCIS at Tuesday 9pm, promote the show like hell and it still would get the ratings it’s getting.

By: vsaint

vsaint — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:07:43 +0000

By: Heradite

Heradite — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:08:09 +0000

I remember last season how football really helped CBS Sundays, then it went away and almost all their shows fell. Three Rivers without any football…I don’t think CBS is going to want to find out.

Quick CBS! Transplant this show with something else!

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:44:47 +0000

Kate, actually this past week, the late start IMPROVED Three Rivers’ ratings because it wasn’t up against Desperate Housewives on the east coast.

So it looks like late starts can giveth and taketh away depending on how late the start is.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:39:57 +0000

Kate, the numbers are the numbers and that has proved to be the case in the past, particularly for one hour dramas, and regardless of extenuating circumstances. I get that it doesn’t feel fair, but it is fair whether it feels fair or not

By: Kate F

Kate F — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:36:13 +0000

For the past two weeks, Three Rivers has been plagued by late starts which have no doubt impacted the ratings negatively.

Why not a show about transplants? They are part of life; and frankly, if it increases awareness of organ donation, it has merit. But I guess that is too much reality for some of those “reality show” aficionados.

It really is unfair to start discussions about cancellations with so few episodes having aired – two which aired at the wrong times.

By: Brian C

Brian C — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:15:55 +0000

Not cancelled yet going to reply ep 3 on saturday and ep 5 on sunday then ep 4 the next sunday

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:51:07 +0000

Three Rivers’ chances of getting a pickup is slim at best.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:43:14 +0000

Dumont- a 1.9 in the demo is horrible, no matter what the competition. Even Fringe manages to stay above a 2.0, and it’s in the toughest slot of the week.

By: dumont

dumont — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:32:45 +0000

No Hanna, you’re the right one. I’m sure at upfront Mr. Moonves guaranteed advertisers an NCIS-like 20 million viewer 4.0 demo for a brand new show up against ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘NFL Sunday Football’ and ‘Family Guy’. Or he would have, had you been his sageworthy counsel.

By: Stephie

Stephie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:32:33 +0000

Three Rivers is dying , Who cares?
Noone wants to watch a show about Transplants.
Whoever decided to kill the sexy Vamp and turn him into a Transplant Doctor had not had taken his medication that day.
Is anyone really thinking it is going to be a Save Campaign for this one?
Well at least CBS hit the Jackpot with NCSI LA.

By: Hanna

Hanna — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:02:51 +0000

Yes dumont you are right , a show at CBS with 7.8 million viewers and 1.9 in the demo…I am positive CBS and advertisers are so so happy. You’re right I am sure CBS will give this fantastic show 10 seasons. And I will even say next year they will put Three Rivers in the NCSI spot, because this show has so much potential.

By: dumont

dumont — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:56:02 +0000

With the positive Nielsen trends last Sunday, plus the extra airing that CBS skedded for this Saturday, ‘Three Rivers’ looks safe for now, and has broken through the “three and through” hurdle that has afflicted so many CBS dramas over the past few seasons (e.g. ‘The Ex-List’, ‘Smith’, ’3 lbs’).

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:43:42 +0000

Yeah, I don’t think it would help Three Rivers, but I’m curious if this is something TV productions (especially scripted ones) can do — partner with a charity or nonprofit for some joint marketing and get to writeoff a portion of production costs.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:39:10 +0000

Tax benefits, if there are any, aren’t going to save a show with ratings as woeful as Three Rivers.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:38:38 +0000

I wonder if The Good Wife gets a bit of extra help from being from Ridley & Tony Scott’s company. CBS seems to like doing business with them.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:38:21 +0000

“Don’t forget that part of CBS and Three Rivers’ partnership with Donate Life America is tax-deductible. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20091001cbs02”

Where does that press release say that CBS is getting to writeoff part of Three Rivers’ production cost?

By: Heradite

Heradite — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:55:41 +0000

I love the Good Wife, but it can be boring as heck at times due to the slow speed it can take. I imagine it’s boring some viewers away.

I hope more viewers tune in, for this drama is pretty great!

By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:59:32 +0000

The Good Wife’s problem isn’t its lead-in…it isn’t even its ratings. Wife is getting respectable ratings and it has remained quite stead. It’s problem is that CBS has such a solid schedule that they end up canceling shows with decent ratings just to open up some spots for new shows. I definitely think its possible at this point for Wife to get a second season, but I wouldn’t be surpised if it didn’t.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:54:02 +0000

Shame that the Good Wife is heading for cancellation. Perhaps if it had a stronger lead in rather than NCIS LA, which is dropping steadily, clearly an inferior program to the original. Is it possible that CBS has a deal with the producers similar to that of Gray’s Anatomy/Private Practice?

By: Mandi

Mandi — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:32:09 +0000

3R is a horrible premise holding fantastic actors hostage. I like the entire main cast and would much prefer to see them in something else. CBS should resuscitate Moonlight, lol! I think few could argue that in the midst of vampire mania going on right now that the show would do well.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:39:28 +0000

I can’t see Three Rivers growing its ratings and double counting ratings doesn’t count, I have no doubt CBS likes Alex O’Loughlin but a show about organ donations is the last thing people want to watch on a Sunday. I imagine the ratings will be nearer 6m than 10m.

Although I think it is likely that Cold Case will shift back to 9pm, isn’t it also possible that a new show airs at 9pm and CC remains at 10pm?

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:43:51 +0000

Tom, you are looking at total viewing, not demos. It’s not even CBS’s second highest new show in the 18-49 demo. It is CBS’s lowest rated drama from Monday-Thursday. Even if it is doing decently (and it pretty much is) CBS has to cancel shows every year to bring in new shows in the fall. That’s how TV works. Right now, it looks like The Good Wife is a good candidate for cancellation.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:38:29 +0000

Tom – Possibly if the series goes down by the end of the year, CBS can opt not to renewing it. This happened with last year’s Eleventh Hour. The Good Wife has a good chance of coming back though.

By: tom

tom — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:34:07 +0000

Why would the Good Wife Be Cancelled? It is Consitantly in the Top 20 and is the second highest rated new show of the season

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:38:50 +0000

Forg – CBS would normally add an NCIS repeat to fridays but they wouldnt want to disrupt their Ghost Whisperer/Medium/Numb3rs combo. The combo may be down, but its atleast working well enough. Numbers should pcik up though, its not like the trio has any competition. My guess is after CBS pulls Three Rivers, CBS sticks an NCIS repeat in its slot for November and then moves Cold Case to 9 and adds Flashpoint to 10.

Shaz – It wouldnt hurt CBS to burn off Three Rivers on saturdays, they just wont do it.

By: sylvi

sylvi — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:06:24 +0000

Don’t forget that part of CBS and Three Rivers’ partnership with Donate Life America is tax-deductible. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20091001cbs02

If part of the production cost is tax write-offs, TR may not be that expensive to make and CBS is happy with that.

By: lainey

lainey — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:41:20 +0000

That site says the both Three Rivers and Cold Case will air on Saturday, so it seems that they want to see what they would do if they aren’t affected by things like football. What do they have to lose if both shows are already in trouble?

By: Harold

Harold — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:20:45 +0000

I just want to note that it’s still not too late for “Three Rivers” fans to conduct a strong skywriting campaign to save the show.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:45:33 +0000

I think they’ll burn off Three Rivers on Saturdays because if Harper’s Island viewers can scare CBS into airing out that series, CBS will tremble in their boots at the thought of angering Alex O’Loughlin fans.

By: forg

forg — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:08:25 +0000

Maybe CBS should schedule another NCIS rerun on a Friday even for just one time to see it it could boost up the numbers for the line up, I know they are still winning but they are struggling to get to 2.0 these days. B

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:59:55 +0000

forg – No, if it aired on NBC or ABC Three Rivers would likely be relocated to saturdays (if it was doing really badly in its current slot like last years Crusoe and Kings), but CBS doesnt do that. Harper’s Island was the exception because it was a mini series, and if pulled actual viewers who followed the series would be more annoyed. CBS would just pull Rivers and never return it like Threshold, Love Monkey, Smith, 3 lbs, Viva Laughlin, and The Ex List

By: Lucia

Lucia — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:56:32 +0000

No CBS , wants Three Rivers and Alex to gain viewers. The show got backluck with football and the delays.The show will get more viewers with the Saturday rerun and on Sunday with no delays it will get over 10 million viewers.Next week Three Rivers won’t be in the same color in your list

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:54:19 +0000

Riff Rafferty – Yes Dear and Still Standing were both cut in November 2005 but both were into syndication (which is the most likely reason both were kept for 2005-2006 (as well as both comedies from the season before being axed). CBS hasnt done that to a drama in a while. Cold Case has stablized sundays nights and will continue airing until May. The creators should write a proper finale so the show doesnt end Cold, since it will be axed.

lainey – Friday nights are generally given more leniency. All 3 CBS dramas win the night however, so CBS should be glad about that. All 3 are consistent and for once the 9pm series isnt the weak link. Numb3rs is starting to slip, and I admit has a slight chance of being axed in May, but its more likely CBS will keep the friday trio for 10-11. I still thought it was funny when last year, Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs were down airing with The Ex List but as soon as NCIS repeats went into the slot, both dramas improved considerably.

By: forg

forg — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:54:03 +0000

Well is it possible that Three Rivers will be relocated to Saturdays like Harper’s Island?