Comments on: Corrected: Say Goodbye to Three Rivers as CBS Yanks It From Schedule

By: jaime

jaime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:13:19 +0000

I’m not sure where or what the problem is, but I am pretty much disgusted with the CBS network. Beginning with Without a Trace, then Moonlight, Flashpoint, Eleventh Hour, and now Three Rivers … whomever is being polled for these ratings is NOT representative of the population! The majority of various network shows are ridiculous reality shows. I HATE them. I am bordering on not watching TV at all (or perhaps moving to Canada). I really hope the shows I’ve mentioned above come out with DVDs, even if they are not complete. As soon as Moonlight came out I bought it. There are only a few shows left worth watching – not sure how much longer they have since they’re there one week and gone the next!
And what is it with don? Why do you want shows to fail? Like Cold Case and Numb3rs? There’s already too many stupid shows on tv. Can anyone say VARIETY?!

By: john

john — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:02:30 +0000

My wife really enjoyed three rivers as a break from all of the usual crime shows on CBS. We watch all of them as well. But something different lilke 3 rivers is nice too. We also thought the cast was good and we were strating to connect with the staff at 2 rivers. It’s really hard to get inerested in a new show and later find most of them always get cancelled.

By: John

John — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:13:11 +0000

It is really surprising to see many negative comments about Three Rivers and Cold Case among these posts. These are two of the best shows on T.V. now. One commenter even lauded the sleezy trash Desperate Housewives. If that person is an indicator of our society as a whole, yuck!

By: crystalabell

crystalabell — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:34:40 +0000

I am very sad to see Three Rivers pass into the land of the dead. I thought that all the actors were excellent but the show needed time to find its balance. The themes were great and I believe that many in its 7 million strong audience have been educated about the life- giving possiblities of organ donation. I can honestly say that this show and these actors have convinced me to sign a donation card. The stories showed me that my organs can give life.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:46:05 +0000

I guess I’m in the minority but I REALLY LOVED this show. I thought the episode with the bus crash was fanntastic. I actually never heard of Moonlight before reading this discussion, so I didn’t watch 3R for that reason. I also thought Jericho was good too and wish it had a chance to come to a conclusion. Anyway, another mistake by CBS IMO.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:34:15 +0000

Three Rivers is a quality show. It has failed because of it’s night and time slot. You could never count on it to be played on time because the football games would go late, so I bet people gave up on it since most people go to bed early on Sundays. That is CBS’ falt, not the shows

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:06:49 +0000

I’m bummed…I happened to like Three Rivers…never got into Cold Case…

By: shar

shar — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:27:52 +0000

I loved this shows cast. ALL of them.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:38:27 +0000

Well its seems odd that Three Rivers being pulled is considered a “hiatus”. Generally, anytime CBS pulls a drama its cancelled, but with this series, its not officially cancelled. I think CBS may actually burn this one off on saturdays. They never do it, but if they kept this one on long enough to air more than half of their eps, they could burn the extra 5 off.

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:20:39 +0000

Oops, forgot to cite my source (because I don’t do that much math)

Those numbers are from The Futon Critic’s “10 Things You Need To Know About The New Season”

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant.aspx?id=20091001_10things

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:17:22 +0000

Did you know that over the last 10 years, nearly half (46%) of dramas that premiered on CBS got a second season? That’s significantly better than any other network (29% on ABC, a mere 26% on FOX, and 31% on NBC).

By: MistyAnn

MistyAnn — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:01:42 +0000

CBS has a reputation for not giving shows a chance. In the time I watched Three Rivers their time slot was always being interrupted because of The Amazing Race. Bye-Bye CBS now I have no reason to watch you.

By: Emerald

Emerald — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:32:56 +0000

Hey, Realistic Expecations, Riff Rafferty and others

Stop dissin’ on us Moonlight Fans. Don’t you know we’re the only reason the Moonlight DVD was released (nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that TPTB might have wanted to recoup some of the money they lose through advertisers pulling out when the show failed to hit it’s target market), and a Moonlight Movie (with TEN…count them TEN!!! sequels planned) is already in the works. Give us enough time and we’ll have a complete, mint condition copy of Tod Browning’s ‘London After Midnight’ for you as well.

*snerk*

By: Shaz

Shaz — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:30:55 +0000

BTW, cook, I meant to ask you: where/when did Carol Barbee admit that the writing on the 3R pilot was heavy handed, etc.? I’d be interested to see what specifically she had to say.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:27:55 +0000

I’ll give you that. I named her first. But that was only because I was directly responding in kind (pot, kettle, etc.) to the rather condescending post she made.

By: cook

cook — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:45:04 +0000

You dear were the first to diss by name.
Get a clue.

She’s an organ recipient. Give her a break.
And just…please…pontificate on…

By: Shaz

Shaz — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:19:45 +0000

I’d say Joanne made it personal first:
“Some of the replies here, were nutty (excuse my name calling). Some of you must think you are top of the line writers, for TV shows, and Movies??? Have you done a show recently? I am not sure you would know how to write for an hour long show… Then we have some who want some crappy show on in it’s place. Do you all have any other hobbies, or activities, or children, or household planning to do? I watch Three Rivers, and then a couple of Create shows. I have a life. I don’t sit in front of the boob tube (sorry) my entire life. Go exercise, find some great recipes and make some good, nutritious meals.”

By: Shaz

Shaz — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:17:03 +0000

Cook, I’ve got a clue. I keep my posts on the topic of the TV show itself and I refrain from calling people that don’t agree with me losers who need to find a life.

By: hookedonmick

hookedonmick — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:30:29 +0000

@Dan I agree with you about it might have or not done better following NCIS LA….for me yes because I don’t watch AR so I would only turn on to CBS for 3R. I do believe that a new show needs a strong lead in. But it wasn’t only the time slot that hurt this show. It was a lot of things rolled into one. It is a shame though because I think it was starting to make improvements. More character development and more continuation with stories. When they retooled the pilot they should have waited until mid season to air. JMO…..

@Janice not all of us are the way you see Alex fans. It is a shame that people have to lump us all together but I guess that is what makes the world go round. Each actor in Hollywood has crazy fans and sane fans. Some of us have a life and use tv as our escape from single parenthood and homework.

By: cook

cook — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:15:05 +0000

uh….Shaz….
You personalized first, my dear: “And, Joanne, considering that your posts on this thread have been longer and more plentiful than anyone else’s perhaps you need to find some more hobbies.”

Joanne’s # of posts: 8
Shaz’s # of posts: 8

And I would venture to say both pretty close in length, so get a clue.

As an organ donor for most of my adult life, I agree with Holly – panning a TV show which is badly written and just a tad too ambitious despite a lofty goal, is not an indictment of, or lack of support for organ donation.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:01:21 +0000

“It does get people talking about being an organ donor though. There is no other show on TV that does that.”

Grey’s Anatomy has done TONS of organ donation stories. In fact, one of the most popular and beloved storylines the show has ever done — the season-long Denny/Izzy arc — was about a man who needed a heart transplant.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:55:12 +0000

I see that you can’t actually respond to the on-topic content of my posts so you have to resort to personal slights. Classy.

By: Joanne Schum

Joanne Schum — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:44:17 +0000

Shaz,

Thanks for noticing my typing skills.

What do you type WPM?

I am at 93 wpm… I type fast, so I can get on to cooking and doing my volunteering etc.. and living, not watching TV.

Thank goodness for great lungs and fast typing, in my case.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:38:23 +0000

“You cannot watch someone being listed, waiting, transplant, recovery in an hour!”

Have you actually watched any other medical dramas besides Three Rivers? The way you handle something like that is:

1. Continuing storylines over several episodes. Three Rivers even did this with the Kuol storyline. They could have had more than one continuing storyline going.

2. Find stories to tell about people during ONE of the phases in the donation/transplant timeline instead of trying to cover the entire process in an hour. As a bonus, this would have actually expanded the range of stories they could tell because the plots wouldn’t be limited to extremely predictable “donor dies/transplant patient arrives/doctors do transplant/everyone lives happily ever after” sequence of events every single episode. And another bonus, delving more deeply into specific aspects of organ donation and transplants instead of glossing over the process (in an overly utopian way) would have been far more educational.

No one wants Three Rivers to be replaced by a crappy show. Quite the opposite. People want Three Rivers to go away so that a better show will have an opportunity to take its place.

And, Joanne, considering that your posts on this thread have been longer and more plentiful than anyone else’s perhaps you need to find some more hobbies.

By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:29:00 +0000

One more time: Opinions about this TV show and its ratings have absolutely NO CONNECTION to opinions about real-life organ transplants. It is just plain stupid to assume that recognizing that a TV show has horrendous ratings means the person doesn’t care about transplants. That’s like saying those who don’t like a given cop show are pro-anarchy or that not liking Raising the Bar means you hate the justice system and the Constitution.

By: Joanne Schum

Joanne Schum — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:20:40 +0000

Okay, so here I am waiting for lungs, on oxygen, barely lift my purse, etc. etc. I had to relocate 700 miles when they called me and told me I had about 3 months before I get my lungs. I moved in June of 1997 and I got my lungs on September 12, 1997. I waited 30 months. Then my recovery was tough and long. I got lungs from a young man much larger than I (they must match blood type and the size they match generally) So they had to do extra sewing and stapling. After 72 days in the hospital, I went to my apartment for more Physical Therapy and bronchoscopies, etc. Do you think they could show that in one hour? NO, HEAVENs NO. So it is unrealistic, so what. It does get people talking about being an organ donor though. There is no other show on TV that does that. AND REMEMBER YOU MAY NEED AN ORGAN, A LOVED ONE ,OR YOUR CHILD some day…. don’t you want to promote organ donation on TV, Radio, wherever you can… believe me, when it is your child…who needs an organ, you will be so happy that it comes along, but sometimes it does not… Write to the SAVE OUR SHOW CAMPAIGN…. this show is so important. Move it off of Sunday, away from Football..

Joanne

By: Joanne Schum

Joanne Schum — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:11:59 +0000

Hi, Reading everyone’s comments…It is so, so, so sad that many of you don’t feel this show should of ever been on TV. Some of the replies here, were nutty (excuse my name calling). Some of you must think you are top of the line writers, for TV shows, and Movies??? Have you done a show recently? I am not sure you would know how to write for an hour long show… Then we have some who want some crappy show on in it’s place. Do you all have any other hobbies, or activities, or children, or household planning to do? I watch Three Rivers, and then a couple of Create shows. I have a life. I don’t sit in front of the boob tube (sorry) my entire life. Go exercise, find some great recipes and make some good, nutritious meals.

As far as being reality(I hate those sbows, I watched 10 minutes of one, many years ago…. made up, planned garbaage, what a waste of electricity. Going back to “it is not realistic”. I think I mentioned that this is an hour show!! You cannot watch someone being listed, waiting, transplant, recovery in an hour! I am a double lung transplant recipient. 12 years ago I had this transplant. Thank goodness for organ donors and their families. Anyway, I was evaluated in March of 1995, I was listed 2 weeks later. I was told the wait was about 24 months, they told me I had about 24 months to live. My blood type is the most common (O+) and I am smallish (typical for Cystic Fibrosis folks). I will do another message to finish this…stay tuned

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:49:09 +0000

Dan, I agree that Good Wife would be a good fit thematically with Ghost Whisperer and Medium, but I still think it would be a bad move and tank in that timeslot.

These days, no one seems to be watching new shows on Friday. The only shows that are doing decently on Friday are the ones have been around for years and (I assume) have gained viewers dedicated enough to follow them anywhere.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:45:27 +0000

Im surprised Three Rivers lasted 8 episodes before being pulled, then again it would seem like a waste even for CBS to have to many unaired eps, unless a show was really bombing. I had a feeling it would get pulled after the switch with Cold Case. As for Trauma, I was suprised that NBC ordered 3 more eps, but it seems to make more sense to have 6 eps in the can instead of 3. They probably arent confident with midseason as well. Look for Trauma to likely air fridays out of Law & Order. As for Mercy, its doing OK but its still doubtful for a second season.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:41:14 +0000

I suspected Three Rivers would be DOA when I first heard Carol Barbee was behind it. The show’s subsequent problems (reshot pilot, missing the Paley preview at the last minute, etc.) didn’t surprise me a bit. Maybe the biggest tell was the decision to add an ER (set and doctor character) and split the storytelling between organ donation and ER cases — a obvious sign that the premise of the show is inherently weak and too limiting to base an entire show around.

Out of the three medical dramas this season, I actually thought Trauma would be the best since it’s from the Friday Night Lights people and I lurve FNL. But I quit Trauma after the first episode although I’m thinking of checking it out again since some people here say it’s improved.

I think Mercy turned out to be the best of the three, but I still only watch it on and off, when noting else is on. It’s entertaining but I don’t find it compelling enough to be appointment TV.

By: Berlinwall

Berlinwall — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:05:33 +0000

Had they used the talents of Kate and Alfe maybe the show would not have been such a disaster. CBS didn’t know what they had.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:02:22 +0000

hookedonmick – Three Rivers would have done better defintiely, but who knows if it would have done as good as The Good Wife. Wife had a good lead in from a freshman series NCIS LA, which in turn did well airing out of NCIS. In comparison Three Rivers only had an Amazing Race lead in which wasnt great, and at the same time heavy competition from Desperate Housewives, Family Guy/American Dad, and Football, which if your a new series isnt good. Even if Three Rivers aired 10pm sundays, who knows if it could have held on to the declining Cold Case. For next season Id suggest moving The Mentalist to 9pm sundays, and airing new dramas at 10pm Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays (If Good Wife is renewed, it can replace Numb3rs on Fridays). That way If all other dramas are renewed and stay in their slots, new dramas can air out of The Mentalist, NCIS LA, and CSI, which I think is fair for CBS.

By: hookedonmick

hookedonmick — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:56:13 +0000

I would like to have known if 3R would have done better at the 10pm slot on Tuesdays with the good lead ins….

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:36:08 +0000

Rob K – its too late, the “Numb3rs” will be up by February and its likely CBS will just replace the series rather than move it (Numb3rs has never aired anywhere but 10pm fridays) The series along with Cold Case is done. Numb3rs is expensive but it had a great run, and helped put CBS on the map for fridays for 6 years. 10 episodes will ahve aired by December 4, which means the rest will air Jan 8, 15, 22, and Feb 5, 12, and the finale on the 19th. If I were in charge at CBS Id put Flashpoint in Sundays at 10 ASAP, Move The Good Wife to 10pm fridays and premiere Miami Trauma at 10pm Tuesdays. I think Good Wife would be a better fit 10pm fridays as opposed to Flashpoint or Miami Trauma, and Flashpoint would work better airing at 10 sundays then another new medical series. Plus 10pm Tuesdays is a good place to launch a new drama in, after both NCIS series. This is the last year for Numb3rs sadly, but atleast the producers have prepared a finale.

By: Rob K.

Rob K. — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:27:38 +0000

If CBS is unhappy with “Numbe3rs” at 10 p.m. Fridays, why not try it on Sundays? I’ll bet it would work well. I’m sad they’re slashing the eps for this season.

By: Mark W

Mark W — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:01:48 +0000

Out of the 3 medical dramas this season: Trauma, Mercy, and 3 Rivers. 3 Rivers looked to be the most watchable. But all three are very weak and poorly written stories. 3 Rivers really had no medical in their drama. It was just maybe 1 or 2 patient stories chopped together. This does not seem to be the season for medical or police dramas.

By: cook

cook — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:33:42 +0000

DonJ – I don’t feel bad at all for Carol Barbee. In my opinion she is an abysmal showrunner, and her track record speaks for itself. Unlike the cast and crew who have had to live with her decisions, she was the main cause for the fate of the shows you mentioned. Heavy handed, and unimaginative, it took months for her to admit that her writing of the premier episode was lacking and that was even after the pilot was re-shot. At premier week at the Paley, the episode to be aired (alongside Medium, The Good Wife and NCIS:LA) was pulled, the moderator saying only “It wasn’t ready.” This was 3 weeks from air, after having months to get it right.

Considering how quickly CBS makes decisions, I wonder when they will “get” that Ms. Barbee needs to be canceled too.

By: Patrice

Patrice — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:54:44 +0000

What a waste of talent. I wish they could have changed the storylines.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:32:15 +0000

CBS made the mistake of airing Three Rivers at 9 and Cold Case at 10, when they should have aired CC at 9 and TR at 10. Rivers still wouldve likely been axed and this still is Case’s final season but atleast numbers may have been better. Cold Case as a veteran can compete better with Housewives, Family Guy, and Football, while Rivers could have competed better with B&S. I still think CBS should just burn Rivers off on Saturdays. Hopefully if they announce their midseason sched soon, Flashpoint will air 10 beginning Jan, Miami Trauma can air 10pm Tuesdays beginning March and Good Wife can then move to Fridays when Numb3rs finishes up. By doing this, the established Flashpoint can help out sundays with Cold Case, freshman Miami Trauma can get a chance to to well by airing out of NCIS LA as opposed to the lower rated Cold Case, and The Good Wife can air with the compatible Ghost Whisperer and Medium as a potential trio for next season.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:25:02 +0000

Terrible show. Good riddance. Grey’s, ER, and others have all aired far better transplant stories than anything Three Rivers has so far spat out. If CBS wants to get a successful non-procedural, they need to make better pilot picks.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:24:20 +0000

Well the 2007-2008 season was horrible drama wise for CBS and the strike didnt help. However had Moonlight been renewed, its liekly that it would have turned out like Pushing Daisies, or Dirty Sexy Money, despite producing eps after the strike. That season CBS axed all of their sophomore and freshman dramas. This year we all knew from the start that Three Rivers would be axed but it took an extra month, likely because Alex O’loughlin was in the series. Its also likely that CBS didnt want to pull the series early because of the money they would have wasted on unaired eps. We all expected this to happen but because of the fact that CBS is calling this a “hiatus” the show may be burned off on saturdays or in the summer. Anytime CBS pulls a drama from the sched, it is cancelled but this time its a hiatus. I think its about time for CBS to dust off those 9 Flahspoint eps and air them in the 10pm slot.

By: elaine

elaine — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:17:44 +0000

As much as I love Alex, and he is the only reason I watched 3 eps before calling it quits, Three Rivers was a dog from the get go. Now maybe CBS will admit they messed up big time when they Cancelled Moonlight and bring it back. Three Rivers is the only NEW SERIES I have watched on CBS since the cut ML and I will not be watching any other new ones.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:02:16 +0000

I dont think even a heart, a brain, a stomach, and a liver will save the series but its all I have so Ill send away.

By: Riff Rafferty

Riff Rafferty — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:58:57 +0000

Guys, I’m organizing a Save Our Show campaign. To do your part, please mail your spare organs to:

Nina Tassler
c/o CBS Entertainment
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
90036-2112

I just sent my spleen!

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:47:10 +0000

I think the 13th episode produced should give some closure. Im hopefull that CBS will burn the eps off on Saturdays. As for next season I think CBS’s best bet is to move The Mentalist to sundays at 9 in place of the axed Cold Case and air a new drama Sundays at 10 after The Mentalist and Thursdays at 10 in Mentalist’s old slot. WIth Numb3rs likely axed, if CBS renews Good Wife, then they should move the series to 10pm fridays to see how well it does with Ghost Whisperer and Medium (which will probably both be renewed) And then with that they can air anothjer new drama 10pm tuesdays, so maybe the schedule could look like this.

Sundays
7:00 60 Minutes
8:00 The Amazing Race
9:00 The Mentalist
10:00 NEW DRAMA

Mondays
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
8:30 NEW COMEDY
9:00 Two and a Half Men
9:30 The Big Bang Theory
10:00 CSI Miami

Tuesdays
8:00 NCIS
9:00 NCIS LA
10:00 NEW DRAMA

Wednesdays
8:00 Rules of Engagement
8:30 Gary Unmarried
9:00 Criminal Minds
10:00 CSI NY

Thursdays
8:00 Survivor
9:00 CSI
10:00 NEW DRAMA

Fridays
8:00 Ghost Whisperer
9:00 Medium
10:00 The Good Wife

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:33:03 +0000

grr…ignore the second “quick”

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:32:28 +0000

^If by “final episode” you mean “a finale that gives the show a god send-off and the viewing audience some closure,” that would have involved making this decision at least a month ago (for a quick, one-episode quick wrap-up, longer for a closing arc), which means fans would be whining that they made the decision too soon, and didn’t give it a chance, and it was getting better but no one would tune in because they knew it was canceled, etc., etc..

Besides, if the writers have any sense, the 13th episode will provide some closure because they should have known it was going to get canned. Since CBS is still indicating that they will air the remaining episodes at some point, you still have some hope of getting some closure.

By: patricia

patricia — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:16:34 +0000

CBS could have at least given us a final episode.

By: DesperateLecter

DesperateLecter — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:37:44 +0000

The Mentalist,even if moved on Sundays at 9pm won’t kill off Desperate Housewives. Come on…where’s The Mentalist on the 18-49 demographic??

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:49:42 +0000

How can a show that almost nobody watches help in the Organ Donation cause? The characters were not interesting enough to make people care. This show was terrible , sorry . I hate shots , they really freak me out , because of Moonlight I donated Blood , twice. Give people a character they love , and they will follow. 3R and their characters were not able to click with the viewers .