A Diagnosis of Three Rivers

The new medical drama Three Rivers will debut on CBS at 9 PM on Sunday, October 4. The main premise of this series is not only about the preeminent transplant hospital in the country located in Pittsburgh but also about the three sides of organ transplantation: the donor, the doctor and the recipient.

Three Rivers debuts Sunday, October 4 / CBS

Starring in the series is Alex O’Loughlin (Moonlight), as Dr. Andy Yablonski, a highly-skilled workaholic lead organ transplant surgeon, whose good-natured personality and sarcastic wit make him popular with patients and colleagues alike and Katherine Moennig (The L Word) appears as Dr. Miranda Foster, a surgical fellow with a rebellious streak and a fiery temper who strives to live up to her deceased father’s excellent surgical reputation.

Julia Ormond had been cast in the original pilot, which has since been scrapped, reshot and recast. In her place is acclaimed actress Alfre Woodard as Dr. Sophia Jordan, the dedicated head of surgery who has no patience for anyone who hasn’t sacrificed as much as she has for the job.

Rounding out the cast are Daniel Henney (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Dr. David Lee, a womanizing surgical resident who’s broken as many hearts as he’s replaced; Justina Machado (Six Feet Under) as Pam Acosta, Dr. Yablonski’s no-nonsense operating assistant and best friend; and newcomer Christopher J. Hanke as Ryan Abbott, the inexperienced new transplant coordinator who arranges the intricately choreographed process of quickly and carefully transporting organs from donor to patient.

Very little is known about Three Rivers except for the casting (and recasting) and the basic premise of the show simply because CBS has not allowed a screening of the series to take place. On two separate occasions – the first at a Donate Life Charity event back in June and the second at the recent Paley Center for Media Preview Party for CBS – the pilot episode, which was to be aired at both events, was unexpectedly pulled by the network.

The reason behind the episode being pulled at these events is unclear. Speculation is running rampant especially given the recent announcement by the network that the second episode that was filmed will actually air prior to the pilot episode. This switch could be for a myriad of reasons, but for fans of Alex O’Loughlin and his former CBS series Moonlight it is unsettling to say the least. And, given the less than positive reviews by countless critics, the prognosis for Three Rivers is bleak. However, tune in on Sunday, October 4 at 9 p.m. to judge for yourself.