CBS accidentally on purpose crosses three rivers to create one good new show
9/26/09;)
CBS will pepper its new shows throughout the week beginning on Mondays with "Accidentally on Purpose" a situation comedy about a San Francisco film critic (Jenna Elfman) who ends up pregnant after a one night stand and decides to keep the baby and the boy toy. Tuesdays play host to another cop show spin off - “NCIS: Los Angeles” with Chris O’Donnell (Batman) and LL Cool J following in Ice T's footsteps. Later in the week the network debuts its new political/legal drama “The Good Wife” with Julianna Marguiles (ER) as the resourceful, responsible wife of a corrupt politician (Chris Noth) who lands in jail, leaving his wife to revive her pre-marital career and rear their two kids alone. Following “Cold Case” on Fridays, CBS introduces “Three Rivers” (yet) another medical drama, this one centering around an organ transplant team.
Watch previews: http://www.cbs.com
New pick: “The Good Wife”
Target audience: males and females 35-85 years of age
Viewers can expect every new season of shows to include a few misses, as well as a few hits. In CBS' case it has three duds and one hit. While its one stab at comedy, “Accidentally on Purpose,” falls short due to flat, unfunny writing, its NCIS spin off is a complete departure from reality or believable fiction ;)
with only eye candy to offer. It's medical drama, “Three Rivers” is just another medical drama, but a not so well acted one. But, then there's the one good show, “The Good Wife,” which is not just good, but great. The show combines quality writing, a believable plot, talented actors, and the requisite eye candy to entertain viewers.
Alicia Florrick (Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies) has a great life as a socialite married to successful politician Peter (Chris Noth) until her husband's indiscretions land him in jail. Alicia's publicly humiliated by her husband's public sex and political corruption scandal, but that's the least of her worries as she scrambles to make a living and care for her two teenagers. A defense attorney before she married, she returns to the courtroom as a junior associate at a Chicago law firm where an old college buddy has made partner. The show combines cut throat law firm drama with court room action and family situations without the saccharine, sappy melodrama viewers have sadly come to expect from television.
It isn't often that television creates a genuinely good show, so keep those fingers crossed that CBS keeps up the quality on this one. “The Good Wife” has a great start down to the most basic element - a situation people can identify with: husband and wife separate, and the formerly stay at home mom must return to the workforce with outdated skills, while parenting on her own. The only way the network could lose on this one is to do so on purpose by moving the show to a bad time slot or night or letting the writing get sappy or outlandish. It's got everything going for it and unlike most shows on TV today, it's actually worth watching.
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The references for this article include: CBS, 2009; CBS Fall 2009 Lineup, TV Verdict, 2009.
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This post blogged by Carlie Lawson. She is a hazards consultant, freelance writer, model, musician, and weather nerd living in Norman, OK, also known as the weather capital of the United States.
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Reader Comments (8)
I disagree with your negative review of Three Rivers. You must have seen only the original pilot....may not have been the best but CBS believed enough in the show and it's actors to reshoot it. The newer version is wonderful....the storyline is more believable....and the actors have found their characters. Please give this excellent tv show another look-see, you will be pleasantly surprised. So many people have been touched by organ donation/transplantation....themselves, family members, friends or co-workers.......the message is so important. Alex O'Loughlin in an excellent actor and brings so much to his character and his show.......can't wait to get him back on my tv where he belongs......Three Rivers will be a great show!
One thing we know for sure about Three Rivers is that the star , Alex O'Loughlin, is a great actor. The show has been revamped and is now ready to be enjoyed... I can't wait.
Alex O'Loughlin has the most devoted fans in the world. Moonlight has been off the air for 16 months, but his fans are as loyal today as they were when Moonlight was coming into our homes every Friday night. Why? Because he is very talented, cares about the characters he portrays, is supportive of his fellow cast members, has a great sense of humor, is modest about his own abilities while praising the talents of others, and is as devoted to his fans as his fans are to him. Three Rivers is not just another medical show. Before the first episode is aired, it has already been the driving force for many to sign up as organ donors. And I have no doubt the acting will be stellar! As I have said on other sites, I would watch Alex O'Loughlin watching paint dry....because he could make even that interesting! How much more so, then, the life and death stories of organ donation? My DVR is already set. October 4th can't get here fast enough!
"As I have said on other sites, I would watch Alex O'Loughlin watching paint dry..."
As good as that Cheryl?
Hi Caro, Maria, and Cheryl,
I'm happy for you that your fav is back on TV. Hopefully you'll enjoy watching him on Sunday the 4th. I have to be honest in the preview reviews and I honestly didn't like the show he's on although my issues weren't with he or Alfre Woodward's acting. Rather, I thought Christopher J. Hanke went way over board with his over eager delivery as the newbie on the transplant team. I also found the writing lacking.
I completely agree with you that organ donorship saves and transforms lives. I hope everyone makes the choice to become a donor, but the topic does not make the show good. I stand by my review. "The Good Wife" is still the best show CBS has this fall.
And Cheryl, girl, I totally understand about watching paint dry... I could watch Eddie Van Halen or Izzy Stradlin play scales all day. It could just be C major and I wouldn't care. I hope you enjoy Alex's return to telly!
Revamped Three Rivers is great! Alex O'Loughlin is lovable and a wonderful actor.
The storyline is excellent; can't wait to learn more about Dr. Andy's character
and the rest of the cast. Please keep "Three Rivers" on for at least the next 5 years.
Regina, I'm glad you're enjoying the show! I hope they give you some great Alex storylines.
Just another boring story for elderly.. I'm not sure CBS heading to the right direction. I loved to it on my PC's Satellite TV, but dropped that channel