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Monday, November 9, 2009
THREE RIVERS - ALEX O'LOUGHLIN - MEET THE EXPERT - Dr. Gonzalo V. Gonzalez-Stawinski, M.D.
"THREE RIVERS" - MEET THE EXPERTS
Source: CBS.com
Episode: Code Green
By: Dr. Gonzalo V. Gonzalez-Stawinski, M.D.
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Cleveland Clinic
In the episode “Code Green”, Dr. Andy Yablonski calls his transplant colleague Dr. Gonzalo Gonzalez to ask if Dr. Gonzalez could recover a donor heart for one of his patients and bring it to Three Rivers transplant center. But Dr. Gonzalez is more than a character, he is a real-life transplant surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic and is the inspiration for the character of Andy Yablonski, played by Alex O’Loughlin. Here is a conversation between Donate Life (DL) and Dr. Gonzalo Gonzalez (GG).
DL: When did you first meet Alex O’Loughlin?
GG: Our first conversation was over the phone. I was coming back from a meeting in Orlando and was stuck at the airport. Carol Barbee (“Three Rivers” executive producer) called me and said Alex wants to talk to you. I called Alex and found we had a lot in common. That first call lasted about an hour. It was like talking to one of my best buddies, we just got along.
DL: Did Alex come to see you at work at the Cleveland Clinic?
GG: He did and even followed me in the operating room. I think he was impressed with who I am as well as with what I do. I tend to be pretty level-headed and keep the whole surgeon thing on the down low. But when I am operating there is a whole different persona. I am very focused. I am also very passionate about the work I do and about my patients.
DL: Do you see yourself in the character Andy Yablonski?
GG: People tell me, dude, that’s exactly you! How I deal with patients, certain mannerisms, I do see myself in the character. There was a scene where Andy flicks off his gloves and slingshots them into the trash can. I taught him that!
DL: How does it feel to know that Andy is based on you?
GG: It’s surreal. Not a lot of people will ever have the experience of having a television character loosely based on them. It’s flattering but it’s also cool to just have people recognize what we do in your work and how we help save lives.
DL: In an interview Carol Barbee described transplant surgeons as “adrenaline junkies,” is that how you see yourself?
GG: When I heard her coin that phrase I thought, wow, are we that transparent? But it’s true. The stakes are so high and we thrive on being on the edge, being the best, and saving lives. We live for helping and being great at what we do. There is no better sensation than when the whole process goes right.
DL: Do you think “Three Rivers” is pretty realistic?
GG: I would say 90% of the time it is very much like a typical day for us. I enjoyed the process of helping to create the show. I had the opportunity to sit with the writers and they are really trying to stick to the medical aspect of what we do.
DL: Is there a specific scenario you helped with?
GG: In the first episode there was a pregnant woman who needed a heart transplant. I suggested that she have a neurological injury so that there was a dramatic element about whether they would be putting a good heart into a brain damaged patient.
DL: What’s it like to be an expert consultant on a TV show?
GG: It’s been amazing to go through the process of creating a scene and then seeing it come to life on the screen. It’s incredible to see all the elements come together and I’m always impressed by what the final product looks like. It’s fulfilling to know you had a hand in it.
DL: You play yourself on this week’s episode of “Three Rivers,” how did you like acting?
GG: It was scary as hell. It is easier to do open heart surgery than to act. Honestly, the outtakes from that scene are painful to watch. There is definitely a mutual respect between what actors do and what I do. I’d rather do open heart surgery any day.
not a bad dream either....sigh...to see the two of them together again, to hear the snark, the banter...God, I miss them 
Re: Three Rivers - news, links, discussion - part 10 *SPOILERS*
) so let me just agree with what Hot Micks said. Alex is doing a LOT better with getting into the character, but he's still not 100% there yet. You definitely see him acting at times and it takes you out of the show a bit. It is so strange though, to see him be that way, after watching him as Mick, Michael, Jack, Kevin, etc. I really do think that his relationship with Dr. Gonzo and the fact he's a real person is making this WAY more difficult for Alex. It's challenging, but I hope he figures it out soon. 
It just doesn't grab me although a few scenes here and there have affected me. Overall though, no. I HATE the way they have to do exposition, because that's the reason I hate Criminal Minds. LOL Perhaps, it is the way they write that show and TR, but it bugs me big time. There has got to be a better way to explain things without boring the audience to death, right? 
I always feel like I'm a 5 year old and they are trying to explain how to eat eggs or something, it is just...UGH!! I'm NOT stupid! I get it! 
Yeah, mom. Sigh....
I'm in for the duration, but I haven't bought any eps on iTunes or anything. I'm anxiously awaiting Back-Up Plan though!! 
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