Other than Criminal Minds I don’t really talk about television very often on my blog. I want to, lord knows it is an absolute passion of mine. I could go on and on about shows that I love that I want you to love as well. I’ve even written a television run down for Erin at TheMomBuzz.com. But rarely does a show actually mean something more than entertainment to me. Three Rivers has come along and I need this show to work. Let me tell you why.
Organ donation is near and dear to my heart. The fact that there are people on waiting lists who will never receive an organ that they need to survive, while so many people take their healthy organs to the grave, baffles me. When you apply for a drivers license you can check off whether or not you would like to be an organ donor. However if something were to happen and your family disagreed with your decision they could stop you from saving someones life.
I strongly believe that instead of opting in for organ donation, we should have to go out of our way to opt out. My personal belief is that organ donation should be a requirement and you should only be able to refuse for religious beliefs. But in general if you are going to die and nothing can keep you alive, your organs should be harvested if someone can benefit from them. I know that this belief is not shared by all, my own husband thinks my idea is “dangerous”, but it is mine and I will not be swayed.
Imagine sitting at your mother, spouse or even worse your child’s bedside every day and watching them deteriorate. Knowing that you are waiting for a new heart. Knowing that someone will have to die to save your child’s life. Knowing that every second counts and your loved one is working against the clock to survive. This situation would leave you a sick, stressed out, emotional wreck. I never want to have to be in this situation. This is why I am a currently an organ donor. I can also tell you that if anything, god forbid, ever happened to my children I would be sure their organs gave another family the gift of life.
Three Rivers is one of the first shows of its kind to tackle such a touchy subject. Each week we meet someone who needs a transplant and each week we meet a family who can make that happen. Of course there is always going to be a family member who is worried that the doctors have given up care on their loved one in order to save the life of someone more deserving and that person will learn the truth behind organ donation.
Alex O’Loughlin from Moonlight stars as Dr. Andy Yablonski who will stop at nothing to save the life of every patient that is in need of an organ transplant. He is the heart of the show. Alfre Woodard is Dr. Sophia Jordan, the big boss lady. Her role is more of the conscience of the group. It is her job to be sure every decision made is the right one, and for the best. My favorite character is played by Daniel Henney. Dr. David Lee is the cool, collected transplant surgeon who seems to always have the right answer. He is also the eye candy of the show. Katherine Moenning plays Dr. Miranda Foster and she is ultimately looking for a home. Filled with self doubt and a lonely childhood this doctor needs to be reassured that what she is doing really is for the best and that she continues to strive to be the best in the field.
The way these doctors and nurses deal with the families of transplant patients seems so realistic. Families often don’t want to hand over organs and recipients are often scared of receiving an organ from a stranger. The team tackles the fears, tears and raw emotion of each and every character as if they were born to do it. On Three Rivers, they were.
Watch Three Rivers on Sunday Nights at 9PM EST on CBS.
I'm already hooked!!!!
Ok, so I have never seen Three Rivers, but I love Criminal Minds. I am addicted.
Wow, I'm going to have to set this one to record on my DVR.
I don't understand why people are against organ donation. You don't need them afterwards…
My husband says that this is a free country and so my idea of people being required to donate is against our rights.
I also do not understand what people have against organ donation. I know that the Jahova's Witness religion is against accepting blood from another person so that probably has something to do with it.
I'll start to set the DVR and give it a try. CBS has a lot of great shows! They apparently got the memo that reality TV is begining to get on people's nerves and are throwing money at good programs like Three Rivers or Criminal Minds or the Mentalist. All great shows!
Oh and I agree, if you have a healthy organ (major organs) you should give it up by law. But that is what makes me a Democrat I guess, I also think everyone should have healthcare in this country. Why is it that everytime we want to do something in the country to make us a strong moral people, we are stomping on the Constitution?
I had not even heard of this show. Thanks so much Lee, I will check it out. I am also a supporter of organ donation. Hopefully this will get the word out.
Billie
i watched the second episode and really liked it, great stories and cast !
Three Rivers is a wonderful show with an important message. I have heard more and more people talking about organ transplantation since TR was first announced. Besides the message, the show is good. I wish it were on at a better time. Alex O'Loughlin is my favorite actor of all times and I hope CBS considers moving the show to a more accessable time slot. The entire cast is fun to watch. This show has "heart" and I would love to see it have a chance to gain a strong audience.
I'm hooked..the stories are good, the acting is great…it's something to definately tune into every week!
Thank you for the shoutout to Three Rivers in your blog, Lee!! So glad that you are loving the show as I am..it is not only a real pleasure to see the wonderfully talented and gorgeous Alex O'Loughlin back on television but this is also a show with an important and necessary message!! I hope that CBS realizes the potential for TR and lets it continue to grow and spread the word on the blessed gift of organ donation!!
Lee, thanks for spreading the word about this wonderful show. I really hope CBS gives it a chance to find its audience. It's a little different so I think it's going to take a little while for people to discover it. It's so worth the time to check it out. In addition to the wonderful regular cast, the show will be featuring some great guest stars–Dr. "Gonzo" Gonzalez-Stawinski will be on, and they just announced Mandy Patinkin too!
I like the fact that Three Rivers and CBS are working with Donate Life America and committed to accuracy in their scripts.
I didn't know they were working with donate life! That is even more reason to watch this show, maybe for once a show will have some canon.
Gina
I dont understand why people don't automatically donate either.
for reference, if I become sick, yall better make them give my organs up. someone needs this sexy eyes! LOL!! totally kidding.
I think for some maybe they are creeped out a little?
I haven't gotten a chance to watch Three Rivers but I did post about it when I posted about The Good Wife. I will have to make sure and check in!
thanks Lee, always a valuable post!
haven't seen this one yet, but i'll look for it – sounds riveting (and probably heartbreaking too)
Thank you for this wonderful blog! This show has been buried behind football and DH and it needs to be put where people can find it. I know if they watch they will fall in love. It covers a really important theme and uses believable characters to show it. It touches the soul and informs every one of what organ donation is all about and how we all can make the choice to help others.
I hope it reaches many people in the future.
I have totally got into this show. I watch it online as I can only watch/record so many shows .. This by far is one of my favorites that has come out this year.
I also really like its not to sugarcoated. not everyone gets an organ.. not everyone gets a happyeverafter.
Dr. David Lee gives me enough reason to watch this show alone. He is so hot as Agent Zero. Yum-O!
The show is good too I've watched each episode this season. I'll contine to watch and I really hope they don't get canceled.
Brittany
I will be setting my DVR for this one. It looks like it is a great show.
What a cool idea for a show – I'll totally check it out. I'm an organ donor
setting my dvr also!
I already love the show. It has so much compassion and emotion. The start of a new show is always a bit wonky, but the writing is improving already. I like the three perspectives, the glimpses in the personal challenges of the doctors and their character, and the reality of it all. I only wished they gave it a better spot and more backstory for all the characters. I want to feel with them a bit more.
looks great! I'll have to check it out.
I first heard about this from your last MomTV show…THEN I saw the commercial lol. How about that?
It seems pretty interesting, thanks for making me aware of it.
What a unique and powerful premise! I have always and will always be an organ donor, because I just don't see why I would be selfish with a body I don't need anymore when I could be (and will be God willing!) saving a life. Thanks for spreading the word Lee!
i love that they are working with Donate Life…makes me want to watch it now! Thanks for the rec…jenedee
I don't know why they don't change the law that you have to opt out of organ donation instead of opt in. That way, if you feel strongly you can do something about it. I think people don't choose to be organ donors because they don't want to think about dying.
There is a quote that I love about organ donation
"Don't think of organ donation as giving up part of yourself to keep total strangers alive. Think of it as total strangers giving up most of themselves to keep parts of you alive. "
I'll be watching every week!!
MariaMoonlight
Thank you for your positive blog on Three Rivers. I think it's a wonderful show that just happens to send out a worthwhile message as well. It deserves to be successful and I hope it's around for a long time to come.
Set your DVR's to tape long or set to tape Cold Case also, because Football runs late and the shows start and end late! Love the show and its message and the cast does a wonderfull job of not over acting and over dramatizing everything.
I love this article. It is actually influencing me to watch the show. You should start a TV blog!
Donna
Thanks for posting this blog. I'm enjoying Three Rivers and hope am looking forward to watching it each week. I don't usually watch medical shows but I like this one as the doctors seem more real than the doctors on the other medical shows on TV.
Just want to start by saying, I'm in favor of organ donation, I think that everyone should be an organ donor, and it's a wonderful gift.
That said, I think the argument against legislating that people must be organ donors is best summed up by the Pro-Choice argument "Keep the government out of my body". It's a slippery slope, giving the government that kind of control, and letting them set "moral guidelines". Really not the best people to look to for guidance there….
IS THREE RIVERS OVER?
I found this story on another blog and posted it on the Donate Life Organ & Tissue Donation Blog. We need to get the word out and get everyone to watch every week to build viewership and ratings.
Please get the word out. Many thanks,
Link to story:
http://donatelife-organdonation.blogspot.com/2009/10/three-rivers-gone-thats-all-alex.html#links
Glenn if you come back to this please email me at mysentimentexactlee@gmail.com
Lee
I love this show so thanks for the blog. I hope it is around for a really long time because I will be watching each and every week. The writer do an amazing job spreading the message about organ donation, and the actors are simply amazing. I hope CBS realizes the winner they have in Three Rivers.
Thank you for posting this! I will check it out!
The only problem is that the dialogue is so cheesy and lame that it's next to impossible to stomach the whole episode, and the editing flat-out distracts from the storylines.
I'm already watch Three Rivers and have blogged how much I have enjoyed it. I'm glad that you wrote this piece. More people should be watching such a wonderful show. Thank you!
Blogger please link me to your post about Three Rivers, I'd love to see it!
I saw a commercial for this and it looked pretty good, I'll set my dvr to catch it next time! Thanks for sharing, as it's just as personal to me!
I'm so moved to see so many people talk about how this show could impact them. I'm glad to hear it. Please forgive the shows time slot and try to give it a chance. It is suffering from the "Commander In Chief" effect. A great show being ruined by a crappy time slot. It really is wonderful.