To little surprise, CBS has pulled Three Rivers from the Sunday night schedule, effective immediately. Will the show be back? Has it been cancelled?
Three Rivers follows a group of dedicated doctors and medical staffers who help those in need of organ transplants. The series stars Alex O’Loughlin, Katherine Moennig, Daniel Henney, Justina Machado, Christopher Hanke, Amber Clayton, and Alfre Woodard.
The medical drama got off to a slow start in the ratings back in early October. Unfortunately, the numbers only got worse as the weeks wore on and it became a likely candidate for early cancellation.
To CBS’ credit, the network has been patient with the series and has kept it on the air. Two weeks ago, the network tried switching timeslots with Cold Case. While the veteran crime drama benefited from the time change and attracted more viewers, Three Rivers did not.
Three Rivers has now been pulled from the Sunday night schedule. As expected, Cold Case will slip into the earlier timeslot and repeats of various crime dramas will take over at 10pm.
A CBS spokesperson has said that Three Rivers’ fate has not yet been decided but the network has not ordered any additional installments beyond the initial 13 episodes.
Eight episodes of the drama have been aired, leaving five on the shelf. CBS will likely burn them off either on Saturdays or during the summer months but, unless the execs have a major change of heart, Three Rivers is essentially cancelled.
What do you think? What went wrong with Three Rivers? Is Sunday night football to blame for the show’s failure to attract more viewers or was the show flawed?
Image courtesy CBS.
Why is it when you get a TV show that is down to earth and relates to real life situations, and has a great cast and storylines You Pull it off the air. Alot of people can’t afford to get Cable Channels that have a broader variety of shows so they have to depend on local stations. You then pull these shows off and put some crappy show on that they are forced to watch. Three Rivers on CBS and Fast Forward on ABC, to name a few are really great shows, now they are gone or replaced or even… Read more »
I’m not surprised it got canceled, but I’m sad it did.Great actors and it did have some not so good story lines but certain episodes were great, I feel It could have gotten better. I was actually interested to see what would happen this Sunday, but then I find out it’s canceled and that sucks. I really like the episodes that didn’t focus on the hospital so much and more on their lives outside. Like Andy and his wife and the relationship with his uncle and past.Alex O loughlin is a great actor and I feel so bad for him.Two… Read more »
I agree with the above comments about this outstanding, and informative show Three Rivers. If only this show could be on Wed. or Fri. night it would have done well. Please bring it back, at a better time!!
We happened to like Three Rivers and wish you would bring it back.
I can’t say that I’m surprised that it was cancelled. Last year CBS opted to cancel The Unit and it, like Three Rivers, was a great show. I really like Alex O’Loughlin and was glad to see him in a starring role once again. One can only hope that he lands on some show like Criminal Minds (which he guest starred on once).
I am very disappointed that Three Rivers is cancelled. It is was a great drama without any of the R rated scenes. Football definately was a huge problem for this show and I hope CBS finds another spot for this show.
I am so sad that Three Rivers has been taken off the air. Each episode was well done, great acting and situations, one of the best shows to come along in awhile. Alex is the lovliest, sexy actor. After the Mandy Patinkin episode, in my opinion GREAT TV, I was inspired to make a donation to UNOS, United Network for Organ Sharing…..Please, please, please, CBS, bring this inspirational show back!!
Alex O’Loughlin just can’t seem to catch a break with a series show on CBS. First Moonlight got axed and now Three Rivers. Alex posted a blog on My Space that he received word the show is done and how disappointed he is. So are all of his fans. Alex is a very talented actor who puts his heart and soul into the characters he portrays and it shows.
Perhaps CBS needs to resurrect Moonlight…….vampires are quite popular right now. I miss the Mick St. John character a lot; the on-screen chemistry Alex and Sophia had was incredible.
Yes, I believe part of the problem with Three Rivers was Sunday football. When CBS has 2 football games on on Sundays, almost every single time it runs over most of the time 20-30minutes. Then the whole schedule runs late. I believe this is why previous ratings winners like Without A Trace & Shark didn’t do well on Sundays. I do wonder a little bit though considering it was between Amazing Race & Cold Case. Maybe people didn’t want to try a new show? I thought it was great because it was a different type of medical show. Maybe there’s… Read more »
CBS….you have a wonderful show on your hands. The actors all compliment each other and each show brings new focus on the how and why organ donation is so important, and some of the circumstances that surround it. I believe the only problem you have with this show is that you placed it on Sunday night. Please try moving it to a different night at 8 or 9 to see if this brings the ratings up, before you cancel ANOTHER great show!!
I am truly sorry that such a great and really well enacted tv program is not attracting more viewers, the episodes aired showed a lot of human emotions, making this show a rare one as there is not really a winner each time (House) or someone making out in a closet (Grey’S Anatomy)…. I do watch these mentioned programs also, but it is a shame that because of bad timing THREE RIVERS should be cancelled…..
how about wednesday night, I find not much interesting programmation there.
I think following football definitely had a negative effect on THREE RIVERS. The show never had a chance. Even those of us who are die hard fans of Alex’s had to jump through hoops even to DVR the show! I think it deserves another chamce on another night.
I so love Three Rivers. This is one of the best shows on CBS. I hope they don’t cancel the show. When I view each episode, I cry and it really encourages me and others who watch this show give a lot of thought to organ donation. I agree that following football really causes this show a huge problem, especially when you try to tape it. I also agree that it should be a lead in for a show like Criminal Minds. CBS if you are reading and listening, please do not cancel this show. CBS cancelled my other most… Read more »
When is Alex O’Loughlin going to jump from CBS to a real network. They have cancelled TWO of the best shows “Moonlight” and “Three Rivers”. I pray he does not give them another chance to ruin his career. Fool him once shame on CBS fool him twice shame on him. I pray he finds another series away from CBS. They deserve to lose someone as talented as Alex.
This show does need a second chance on a different night and better time slot.