The last of the new fall shows debuts Sunday night (but not before one of the rookies, The CW’s “Beautiful Life,” has already been axed).
“Three Rivers,” airing at 9 on CBS, is one of those warm, well-meaning dramas.
The series is set at a major transplant hospital in Pittsburgh (hence the title). The jist of it is: “One must die so that many can live.”
Each episode features one or two patients in need and another one or two people whose lives are going to be cut tragically short, but “who can live on by helping others.” (That’s not actual dialogue, but it is the message that’s hammered home.)
Now promoting organ donation is an admirable idea. But if no one’s watching, the word isn’t getting out there.
Starring in “Three Rivers” is Alex O’Loughlin as Dr. Andy Yablonski, who is the workaholic lead transplant surgeon. A couple of seasons ago, O’Loughlin starred in “Moonlight,” a decent series which had the misfortune of airing just before the current vampire craze took hold. Being on a show about the undead was a better career choice for O’Loughlin than a series that’s DOA.
The rest of the cast is made up of types rather than characters. There’s the poor little rich girl, the womanizer, the newbie and the wily mentor.
This drama is fortunate to be on top-rated CBS, which can hang in a little longer with new programming, giving it time to grow. Also, there is less expectation on Sunday nights. Still, up against the NFL, “Desperate Housewives” and “Family Guy,” which viewers are left over for “Three Rivers”?