Ask Matt answers a fan's questions about Alex O'Loughlin's Three Rivers project

TV Guide's Matt Roush fields great fan questions about Alex O'Loughlin and his new tv show pilot, Three Rivers.

Ask Matt

Question : There's been a lot of buzz about the Three Rivers pilot. I don't think I've ever heard this much about a pilot being filmed before. Is this an indication that it has a higher than normal chance of being picked up for the fall schedule? Do the networks push certain pilots to the top of the heap for better chances of being chosen? Alex O'Loughlin fans (me included) are chewing their nails off waiting for news on new pick-ups. Any inside news about this? The show sounds fascinating beyond the fact that it will star our handsome and talented Aussie hunk. —Cindy R

Matt Roush : The buzz about Three Rivers is magnified by the fandom for Alex O’Loughlin. Nothing wrong with that, but keep it in perspective. Industry buzz, including in the Hollywood Reporter just this week, indicates the show is a “strong contender” for fall, no doubt enhanced by the star’s enthusiastic following, especially since the demise of Moonlight on the same network. (There’s a reason he was given a high-profile guest role on Criminal Minds in an episode airing next week.) Is all of this enough to clinch Three Rivers an on-air spot? Maybe, maybe not. For me, the show makes some sense because with ER gone, there’s an opening for a new medical drama with sexy leads. The transplant-surgeon angle also sounds promising, but just the very idea of Alex O’Loughlin around blood (even if it’s being pumped into patients instead of being drained from necks) no doubt has millions swooning. Hard not to see why.

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/ask-matt/ask-matt-say-it-br-aint-so-tony-750.html?page=2

Annual tv report predicts The Ex List will lose in Moonlight's time period

Each year, Horizon Media analyzes the tv shows on the major broadcast networks Fall schedules. Their report contemplates the future of the television programs..... which they predict will be successful and which will struggle. I've selected a bit of the info from the Hollywood Reporter's article, specifically the part regarding our beloved Moonlight.

I like the word "trouncing." ;>

Report analyzes upcoming TV season

An annual television report by Horizon Media that includes speculative estimates of how every broadcast show will fare in the fall.

With ABC shifting reality veterans "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" to Fridays in the fall, the report speculated that the network will take control of the evening from longtime winner CBS. Although CBS' "Ghost Whisperer" and "Numbers" are expected to win their time periods (including besting NBC's new drama "Crusoe"), the report has ABC's "Supernanny" trouncing the new drama "The Ex List" in the former "Moonlight" slot to tip the scale.

http://tinyurl.com/6c77oq

Critics continue to question CBS canceling Moonlight

TV critics and reviewers still can't believe that CBS made the choice to cancel Moonlight. Marisa Guthrie, from Broadcasting & Cable website, talked to several television critics about the lineup announcements of all the networks. I'll only share their opinions of CBS. The yellow highlighted text is my emphasis.

If Critics Ran the Networks: A Multiplatform Roundtable

Five top thinkers tell us how they'd fix what's broken about broadcast TV.
By Marisa Guthrie

TV critics have it easy. They get to voice their strongly held opinions about what networks choose to fill their airwaves. So we decided to offer five of the industry's top critics (listed below) a keener challenge: Tell us what each of the broadcast networks is doing right, and what you would do to fix what they're doing wrong.

The timing for this lively roundtable couldn't be better. We've seen a development season plagued by a writers' strike, digital uncertainty and a recession. And with few pilots to view in advance of this week's broadcast portion of the Television Critics Association confab on the West Coast, the fall 2008 season may be the best-kept industry secret since the merger of UPN and The WB. There's plenty to talk about.

The B&C Critics Roundtable:

Aaron Barnhart, The Kansas City Star
Robert Bianco, USA Today
David Bianculli, B&C and TVWorthWatching.com
Matt Roush, TV Guide
Maureen Ryan, Chicago Tribune

CBS: You Have the Right to Remain Violent

GUTHRIE: CBS has aging police procedurals and they need new ones. The Mentalist with Simon Baker, could that fill the bill? They also famously tried to be daring and different last season.

BIANCO: That's like the wedding band that plays “Proud Mary” for the young people.

GUTHRIE: But why didn't it work?

RYAN: Because they didn't commit to it. I think the one show where you could argue that they did make a passionate or at least a realistic or reasonable commitment to doing something different was Swingtown, which is now, as we all know, out in the middle of the summer.

We all watched that pilot for Viva Laughlin; that was a BBC [British Broadcasting Corp.] series and it was sensational and it had a really terrific cast, but you had to fully commit to it.

Imagine Ugly Betty if it weren't Ugly Betty but a knockoff of Suddenly Susan. No, you had to really commit to that particular concept and get a show runner who was really gonna go for it. Because Lost, Ugly Betty, sometimes with a particular show you have to embrace one sensibility, one creative vision and go for it.

BARNHART: I think it's fascinating that CBS would take a show like Moonlight and remove it from its schedule and then put a show like The Mentalist on, which is essentially a bunch of CBS executives sitting around saying, OK, which of our bankable stars have we not plugged into a forensic detective drama yet? Oh, Simon Baker.

And so what we have is The Guardian airlifted into a police procedural. Until CBS really starts to tank with this approach, I think that their conservative programming strategy is probably not such a bad thing.

ROUSH: With CBS, again it's a thing about execution. It wasn't just that weird shows didn't work last year, because Pushing Daisies was at least a creative triumph. But at CBS, when they tried to go off the charts, they just didn't, like Mo [Ryan] said, commit to them, or they just didn't execute.

And this time they've gone back to their strengths. I think that their Monday-night comedy is strong. The Mentalist, kind of a thin concept, but Simon Baker brings a lot of charm to what he's doing and it really fits into their mode. And we haven't seen the full pilot of The Eleventh Hour yet, which is this new trend of creepy procedurals with a little bit of a science-fiction aspect to them.

But that might work for CBS because it's within the procedural format. So they're playing it safe, but I think playing it safe after last year is probably the right way to go.

BIANCO: I have to say if I'm forced to choose, I'd rather go with ordinary competence than extraordinary incompetence. I'd rather have The Mentalist than Viva Laughlin, as much fun as it was to make fun of Viva Laughlin.

And I thought CBS' slate this year was surprisingly strong. I don't know that The Mentalist will make anybody's best list, but I think in that time slot it will be a solid contender, just an ordinary, entertaining TV show.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6578032.html?rssid=193

Daemon's TV writer not impressed by preview of The Ex-List

Sandie, from Daemon's TV, has written an article about the incredibly lame show (The Ex-List) that CBS is planning to air in place of the canceled Moonlight. In the piece, she says basically the same thing we did upon seeing a preview video of the usurper.

What were they thinking?!?!? As I ranted in a previous blog post... CBS executives stated they want to attract more female viewers. However, they axe Moonlight & Mick St John/Alex O'Loughlin in favor of this rubbish. URGH!

First Look: CBS’ THE EX-LIST

By Sandie

Now that we have learned a little more about CBS’ new primetime schedule, it’s time to take a closer look at all of their new shows, next up THE EX-LIST.

So this is what they are replacing Moonlight with…well I’m not going to lie, it doesn’t look even half as good as Moonlight. Then again, it’s a totally different genre, which begs the question why would they put it after Ghost Whisperer?

I’m not sure if I am convinced yet, I would really need to take a look at the full pilot to make a decision, but let’s just say it’s going to have to be REALLY good for me to get over the fact that it replaced Moonlight (which we all know I loved).

http://www.daemonstv.com/2008/07/06/first-look-cbs-the-ex-list-picture-video/

Video ~ The show CBS will air in Moonlight's time slot

Video promo for the new CBS fall show, The Ex-List. You are kidding me, right? THIS is what they will be airing in Moonlight's spot?!?!

Even the official description sounds lame.......... "Bella Bloom (Elizabeth Reaser), an attractive 30-something successful business owner is surprised to learn from a psychic (Anne Bedian) that she's already dated her future husband AND there's a catch: if she doesn't find him in the next year, she'll remain alone forever ."

What do you think?

TV Week reporting a tenative schedule for CW's Sunday night lineup

TV Week is reporting that the CW & Media Rights Capital have issued a tenative schedule for Sunday nights. Moonlight is not included. However, the article states the programs could change. I don't know about you, but I intend to continue contacting Warner Bros, MRC & the CW! There are plenty of other networks that the WB can approach if the deal with the CW doesn't happen.

If you have or need ideas for saving Moonlight... or just wanna talk to other fans... stop by the message board. http://www.runboard.com/bmoonlightfanforum

CW, Media Rights Capital Set Up Sunday
By Josef Adalian

The CW quietly revealed details of the four new shows likely to air on Sunday nights as part of its new Media Rights Capital-produced lineup.

Titles of the new shows flashed during the network's upfront party Tuesday. In an interview later, CW Entertainment President Dawn Ostroff confirmed that MRC has identified two dramas and two half-hour comedies it plans to program on Sundays.

Ms. Ostroff said it's possible the titles could change, but as of now, the four shows are:

—"F.A.T. City," a scripted procedural crime drama set in Las Vegas.

—"Valentine's Day," a "Cupid"-like romantic drama.

—Comedies "Murphy's Law" and "Surviving Suburbia."

Ostroff said The CW's Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday lineups all will premiere the week of Sept. 1. The network's Friday schedule should bow early in September as well, she said. Thursday's lineup of "Supernatural" and "Smallville" likely will premiere later in the season, she added.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/cw_media_rights_capital_set_up.php

Seat42f says Moonlight may return for midseason

Seat42f is reporting rumors that even if Moonlight is not on CBS' Fall schedule, it could be a midseason show.

More speculation! Is it Wednesday yet?


Moonlight Not On Fall Schedule

Got some Moonlight intel I wanted to share with you guys. It looks like as of right now Moonlight is not on the fall schedule and is not in the plans for pickup. AS OF RIGHT NOW. It appears CBS and Warner Brothers are still trying to hammer out a deal for midseason so the show is not dead just yet. HOWEVER, An EARLY look at the CBS schedule has The Unit moving to Friday's at 9:00PM taking over Moonlight's slot. Like everything else upfront related this is all speculation at this point as CBS fine- tunes their 2008 - 2009 schedule. A lot could change over the next 24 hours. I will update you when I know more.

Stay strong Moonlight Fans!!!!

http://seat42f.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2324&Itemid=247

News from Deadline Hollywood Daily

We have more news from Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily blog about the behind the scenes negotiations for Moonlight. According to her, our show is still fighting!

Primetime Pilot Panic: 'Moonlight' Not On CBS Fall Schedule But Not Dead; Show Lobbying For Back 13-Episode Order

The news just came in to me from my sources.... "They're fighting for a back 13, but Moonlight is definitely not on the fall schedule. But it's not dead, either. Insiders tell me the sticking point is money: that CBS wants Warner Bros to "step up" more financially. But WBTV is saying back to CBS that the network has to step up as well, even though CBS doesn't own the show. Here's what I can tell you about the behind-the-scenes:

Moonlight has been fraught with problems (see below). But CBS' Nina tassler told the producers that she was "very happy" with the direction of the series. The show pitched her the stories for all next season, "and Nina loved them". And then CBS gave the show its list of what the network wanted. But CBS made clear that the renewal of the show was "all going to be dependent on making the last four shows of this season ratings-wise. Well, those ratings were only fair. They didn't win the night, but they won their demos. On the other hand, Friday's ratings are always low. But the real story is, as usual in Hollywood, all about the money. Even though comparatively Moonlight is being done on the cheap (especially when put up against another WBTV show, Pushing Daisies on ABC, which is a notoriously expensive production), and was picked up in the beginning by CBS for a relatively low licensing fee, CBS now wants Warner Bros to pick up more of the tab. There was a specific conversation between the two Big Media outfits about this on Wednesday of last week. "We need you to step up," CBS reportedly told WB. To which WB responded to CBS, "You step up, and we'll step up." Interestingly, I hear that CBS just ordered to series the pilots The Mentalist and 11th hour which both have higher licensing fees than Moonlight. But the producers knew all along that their series was "on the bubble," so to speak. And in response to communication pushing the network to pick up Moonlight, I understand that CBS responded to the effect, "Where's WB? Why won't they step up?"

Meanwhile, there have been other problems. Coming back from the writers strike, the executive producer and showrunner Chip Johanssen was cut loose, despite being a close friend of Tassler’s. Also, series creator Ron Koslow was shown the door after the picket signs went down. That left no official showrunners in place to guide the episodes produced after the strike ended. Husband and wife writers / producers Harry Werksman and Gabrielle Stanton were informally given the reins, and they supervised the most recent four shows ending the season. The question is whether they are up to the task. I hear the Moonlight producers offered to change showrunners to get a CBS renewal. Already, the fallout has led one of the few surviving players, staff writer and producer Jill Blotevogel, to be unceremoniously dumped before any renewal is announced. There's a rumor which I haven't confirmed that, if CBS does renew, it may bring the showrunners from the expected-to-be-cancelled Shark to come in and retool Moonlight.

http://tinyurl.com/3jfc8f