Three Rivers’ and Alex O’Loughlin musings

I’ve been a fan of Alex O’Loughlin’s from his “Moonlight” days and was an avid supporter of pushing the show to another network or campaigning for a movie (or 2 or 3) when CBS did not pick it up for a second season. Alas, with the background politics and so-so ratings it was not to come to pass.

CBS was smart enough to offer Alex O’Loughlin a holding contract with a possible development deal with Simon Mirren thrown in. I was excited as it looked like we might get a cross of “Spooks” and “Criminal Minds” (2 of Mirren’s successful shows) and the thought of Alex as a “secret agent man” had me salivating at the possibilities. Unfortunately the development of the show didn’t develop and it was time for Alex to pick a show from the list of possibles CBS was offering.

So, here we are and Alex picked “Three Rivers”. Doctor show? DOCTOR show? DOCTOR SHOW? My inner editor was cringing when I heard “single camera”: that meant all the jerky stuff just like “The Shield” (a pretty much useless show for any DECENT Alex footage). Add the whammy of “split screen like 24” and my head was exploding. Well, not actually, but I think I got a migraine without the dirty video to show for it.:-( (Anyone who would like some back story, email me!)

Trying to be positive, and knowing Alex, da man picked the show, I was willing to give “Three Rivers” a go. I already knew that Alex O’Loughlin does not take the easy road. His first lead role on American TV was a genre series. Can anyone say kiss of death? He might have wanted something completely different than Moonlight, or he liked the philanthropic side to the show (having been involved in the Red Cross efforts for Moonlight), or just got the best deal for this show as CBS was looking for a medical drama. Whatever the reason, Alex liked “Three Rivers” and I was more than willing to follow him and support the show – wholeheartedly.

Due to some weird programming ideas “Three Rivers” premiered late and the first two episodes were switched to air episode two first instead of one. (I’ll throw my two cents in here and hope that whoever's “brilliant” idea it was got fired or at least reprimanded and leave it at that.) No change in the edit of either show was made and therefore no explanation for the why we are meeting Ryan in episode two when he already was in one. Luckily fans knew about the switch but to the average viewer (and some bloggers) they did not know to not be confused – well the fans were also confused – but there was a reason- even if we don’t know what it was!

Programming starts, episode orders, and extremely long overages for football affecting ratings aside, I am seeing a show that needs some improvement but has a lot of potential; not only to showcase Alex O’Loughlin’s talent, but to bring the need for organ donation to the general public, a cause that I am more than happy to be involved in. Hopefully my little contributions to the Alex O'Loughlin fandom helps to further the cause.

DEb