CBS pilot: Three Rivers -- news and discussion - Part 2

[willing freshie]

.

Be kind to your friends. Don't give them heart attacks or aneurysms.

Yeah! CBS is doing that to us already! We don't need more . *goes back to trying to pretend that TR is not going to affect her life at all.*

[VAsusieQ18]

I'm with Grace and coco. I would imagine they consider the few (dare I say) rabid Moonlight fans to be nothing more than a nuisance, flies to be batted away. They are in no way scared. I would also imagine they laughed their collective a$$es off, and not in a good way, at some of the antics perpetrated by a few. Three Rivers's success depends on TPTB liking the pilot, it screening well in front of a sample audience (if they do that) and most importantly, will the advertisers buy up space during the broadcast of the episodes. In the end, its all about the $$$, pure and simple. Its a busines. Nothing personal, but a business.

[allegrita]

Think on the positive side, Alle. We know a reallllly goood doctor..works in Pittsburgh I think..heart specialist...nice bedside manner..

Ooooh... OK, let's keep the heart attacks. But everything else is out.

[amyvil]

When CBS picks up TR (yeah, I'm thinking positive here), it will be a combination of many factors with Alex being at the top of the heap. Money will come into play, of course, as will the relative strength of TR against other pilots, how many shows are cancelled, whether CBS thinks it would fit in well with other shows on the network, as well as many other things I can't even think of.

If they don't choose TR, then the question becomes what happens to Alex? Is there a contingency plan in his contract that they will slot him into one of their other shows (such as NCIS 2) and try again next year? If they do, is this something Alex would even want to do? Would they sign him to another one year talent holding contract? I would hate for that to happen. He's a hot ticket item and he can't afford not to be in the public eye for another year. But stranger things have happened.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Amy V.

[willing freshie]

He's a hot ticket item and he can't afford not to be in the public eye for another year.
Amy V.

If that happens, at least he has the 2 movies to get him and keep him in the public eye.

[Josefismysire]

He's a hot ticket item and he can't afford not to be in the public eye for another year.
Amy V.

If that happens, at least he has the 2 movies to get him and keep him in the public eye.

And US! Alex's own personal Promotional ARMY ..we'll never let him be forgotten!!

[willing freshie]

He's a hot ticket item and he can't afford not to be in the public eye for another year.
Amy V.

If that happens, at least he has the 2 movies to get him and keep him in the public eye.

And US! Alex's own personal Promotional ARMY ..we'll never let him be forgotten!!

And JIMS, just so you know, we are all rooting for Jason in Body Politic, also!

[Josefismysire]

He's a hot ticket item and he can't afford not to be in the public eye for another year.
Amy V.

If that happens, at least he has the 2 movies to get him and keep him in the public eye.

And US! Alex's own personal Promotional ARMY ..we'll never let him be forgotten!!

And JIMS, just so you know, we are all rooting for Jason in Body Politic, also!

Thank you sweetheart...

[MoonMad]

Sorry ladies, Overdamoon and I should have made it more apparent that this was purely our own speculation about the NCIS spin-off. I can see our brain farts have created some confusion.

It only came about because we were watching and waiting for every little scrap of pilot casting news that came out. We would speculate which one Alex would end up in and an early contender was the NCIS spin off. When each new cast member was cast we'd wait to hear who was left and oddly enough, after all this time, the role of Dominic Vaile has never been publicly mentioned. Maybe the role was dropped from the script to cut back costs, but it's not entirely ridiculous to think the role has been left open for a guy they've been paying for a year if his first choice falls through.

Whether this would be a show that Alex would even want to do is open to debate, but frankly it's pretty much a sure bet to get on air at least, and has a really good chance of being successful too. It obviously isn't his first choice, but if TR doesn't get a pick up it would surely be better than no job at all, considering all the other pilots have been cast. As for it being seen as favouritism by other actors, well, do we really think that Les Moonves gives a damn about what his employees think?

But yes, I agree it sounds highly unlikely. But if it happens - don't forget Over and I thought of it first! :curtesy:

[mwj01]

Think on the positive side, Alle. We know a reallllly goood doctor..works in Pittsburgh I think..heart specialist...nice bedside manner..

But I think the good doctor happens to be on sabbatical, in LA right now and preparing to sweep J-Lo off her feet.

[Overdamoon]

Sorry ladies, but the Plan C conjecture just sounds like gossip to me and is backed by no evidence. Do I hope it's true? Sure I do. But sorry, I don't want to see Alex plopped into the middle of an existing drama. That NCIS opening sure didn't sound promising, especially given that it sounds like a techo-geek position. Not exactly how I picture Alex's talent being used to its full potential. Unless they can ditch Chris O'Donnell and replace him with Alex, I don't think I want to see him in this show at all. And as for placing him in an already running show, with CBS cutting back on expenses and shows possibly already trimming talent, how do you think it will be received when they add Alex to a show that's already seen cost cutting measures? I'm thinking there will be some (maybe a lot) of resentment.

It's still a surprise to me that NBC picked up 2 med dramas, especially one so freakishly expensive. Considering this is a network that is majorly struggling, you do have to wonder what's going through their heads in the programming dept. First Leno five nights a week in primetime and then a $4 mil an episode drama. What are they thinking???

Yeah, it could all be hogwash. But apparently there is a great concern from CBS's end should Alex's pilot not get picked up, US. Les doesn't want to deal with us again, with good reasons.

They can offer it to Alex but he doesn't have to accept. But at the very least, it would get them (CBS) out of the 1-year talent hold headache that the media keeps bringing up.

I know absolutely nothing about network tv... but I cannot imagine a few hundred of US scared a corporate exec. I know many corporate execs (not in tv)... they're not even afraid of Mr. Obama... they are certainly not afraid of us. I WISH they would be... but we got no power here. Some of US may be mouthy, but these people have faced down far more serious protesters, protesting far more serious issues, than US.

If they do or don't pick up 3R, it will only have to do with Alex's talent, the strength of 3R as a show, and perhaps, on a purely positive side, the fact that he has fans, and thus a proven track record in attracting and expectations of attracting... even more fans. They will NOT take 3R cause they're afraid of US being upset.

Actually, there's nothing in my post to be interpreted that the ML fans will have any effect on what's going down at Upfronts. The networks have some influence in presenting and showcasing their pilots to the advertisers. As far as the ML fans are concerned with regards to Upfronts, we carry no weight, none whatsoever.

What I meant in my earlier posts, or what I interpreted what the other poster on MLD said was that should 3R not get picked up, CBS will stick Alex in a show and be done with their obligation of him. My hope is that it will be on a new show rather than an existing one. And like MoonMad said, NCIS2 was our pick for Alex when we were speculating and going through the cherry picking, as a fallback plan. Not as his first or second or third choice. But I do take comfort in knowing that Alex will be back on TV this fall no matter what.

This is all consistent with what had been discussed in the press articles about Alex's talent hold with CBS: A new TV series or a slot in a show, a guest appearance, and some film project with CBS Films. I see CBS is trying very hard to fulfill their obligations where Alex's concerned so it's a positive. Now, let's hope 3R will get picked up.

Again, this is all speculation so take it with a grain of salt.

[Overdamoon]

Sorry ladies, Overdamoon and I should have made it more apparent that this was purely our own speculation about the NCIS spin-off. I can see our brain farts have created some confusion.

It only came about because we were watching and waiting for every little scrap of pilot casting news that came out. We would speculate which one Alex would end up in and an early contender was the NCIS spin off. When each new cast member was cast we'd wait to hear who was left and oddly enough, after all this time, the role of Dominic Vaile has never been publicly mentioned. Maybe the role was dropped from the script to cut back costs, but it's not entirely ridiculous to think the role has been left open for a guy they've been paying for a year if his first choice falls through.

Whether this would be a show that Alex would even want to do is open to debate, but frankly it's pretty much a sure bet to get on air at least, and has a really good chance of being successful too. It obviously isn't his first choice, but if TR doesn't get a pick up it would surely be better than no job at all, considering all the other pilots have been cast. As for it being seen as favouritism by other actors, well, do we really think that Les Moonves gives a damn about what his employees think?

But yes, I agree it sounds highly unlikely. But if it happens - don't forget Over and I thought of it first! :curtesy:

Yeah MoonMad, we are legends.... in our own minds.

I hope we won't get swept in our self-generated buzz but from the recent THR article on the pilots, it said that it was getting crowded at CBS even before TR is delivered. The author was being too complimentary with the other pilots saying "NCIS" spinoff is like a sure thing. "The Good Wife", "U.S. Attorney," and "House Rules" all have come in strong.

1-2-3-4. That's 4 pilots altogether, will they room for another one???

[mwj01]

Hey ODM, I'm pretty sure the responses were referencing this statement:

But apparently there is a great concern from CBS's end should Alex's pilot not get picked up, US. Les doesn't want to deal with us again, with good reasons.

And I have to agree with Suz's flies analogy. What fans want, or any concern (if it exists) of how they may behave should they not get what they want, won't be entering into the decision making process.

[SirenSong]

When you read about all of the wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes, it does make you wonder if it's worthwhile shows that actually make it to air or just the ones who have the best negotiators behind them. The follwing exceprt is from Nikki Finke at deadlinehollywooddaily.com concerning today's NBC presentation:

3RD UPDATE: I've learned why announcements regarding the renewal fates of Chuck and My Name Is Earl have been delayed. And it involves more horsetrading than the Triple Crown. My sources tell me that NBC lowballed the Earl license fee, and the show's owner, Twentieth Century Fox, came back with a proposal which NBC has been sitting on for a few days. As for Chuck, this gets complicated. Turns out NBC didn't like David E Kelley's Warner Bros pilot Legally Mad. Problem is, there's a $2 million penalty that gets paid to WB if the network doesn't pick up the show. So NBC is hoping to work a deal tying the renewal of Chuck, which is also a WB show, to a pass on paying that Legally Mad penalty.

2ND UPDATE: I'm told that Medium has been picked up for 13 episodes. So why wasn't that announced today? Because star Patricia Arquette has a guarantee of 22 episodes, so NBC has to negotiate that down.

So it all comes down to cutting costs (licensing fees), renegotiating stars contracts and penalties for NOT picking up shows. WTH?? Anyone else's head spinning?

[mwj01]

So it all comes down to cutting costs (licensing fees), renegotiating stars contracts and penalties for NOT picking up shows. WTH?? Anyone else's head spinning?

Yeah.