253 replies to this topic

[Happyshooter]

TNT is starting a mix between a hospital soap opera and a House 'what is it' show. It is a really bad sign when the extended commercials feature loud piano playing to cover up the character's dialog.

[redshirtx]

I'd heard some vague "what the heck is this?" mumblings about this show, but haven't seen anything about it until now--and I'm torn. It's a David E. Kelley show, which is theoretically good; it has Jamie Bamber, Alfred Molina, and Ving Rhames in it--also good; but then you get to the two existing promos, and...urgh. I will so watch this for Jamie and Ving, but it looks so incredibly pretentious. On the other hand, it only has ten episodes to potentially stink up the place.

[BondGirl]

Here's another one:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ziJKxUUvDUA

I'll watch it for Jamie Bamber. :)

[bulldawgtownie]

Oh,man everyone's posts have got me worried but like the rest of you I'll be tuning in for the cast. On a related note I was surprised to see Ving Rhames get no love when TWOP mentioned this show when they did their preview of the upcoming new shows.

[Digital Am]

I've seen a number of positive reviews of this show. Oddly enough, I think because it hasn't been on in some time (or in syndication that I've seen lately), and am surprised it hasn't drawn the ER comparisons yet...(Though again, ER, House, Private Practice, Grey's, Chicago Hope, etc....are all different in their own right as a whole and individually.)

Edited by Digital Am, Feb 4, 2013 @ 4:14 PM.

[BondGirl]

I liked it and I'll keep watching, but then again, I'd watch anything with Jamie Bamber in it. :)
Speaking of whom, I thought he looked great. That scruffy, rumpled look works on him and the blue scrubs really bring out his eyes.

I like the difference in the M&M conferences. The first one we saw, we'd only just met the characters and I get the feeling that we're not supposed to like the first guy who raked over the coals. But by the second time, when it was Wilson, I winced and cringed the whole time, both at the way he got reamed out and the realization of how much he'd fucked up. But I think it was unfair to call him arrogant. Reckless, certainly, but it's hardly like a million people were telling him NOT to do the procedure and he just ignored them all with a "know-it-all" attitude.

Or maybe I'm just ridiculously partial to any character played by Bamber. :)

I like Ving Rhames' character too.

[ShortyMac]

Agreed, BondGirl, I liked all of the characters and I will definitely be watching next week. I hope the ratings are good.

[SoapDoc]

I liked it as well. I am a surgeon by training so I felt for them!

It actually brought back memories of M&M rounds in my past but since I am not the one on the hot seat, I can handle it.

I think I am in.

[PhPhan]

"Dead!" That guy is kind of like Cho on The Mentalist. He doesn't mince words. Straight to the point. Caught between a rock and an 8 ball. That was hilarious.
I liked this show. I thought the drama was good.

Sarayu Rao reminds me of Jennifer Gray when she was in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.


This is a first for me. I didn't dislike anyone.

[LeGrandElephant]

I saw a billboard for this and I was like wait, its on on monday mornings? What's the title?

[name234]

I'll be lurking for this one mostly, but I am in and annoyed that it conflicts with Castle.

I hope they can keep the C(s)oTW interesting.

I ask the Dr.'s on the thread the following, surgical equipment reps in the OR?

Element of Horror for the sake of added drama (earnest Dr.s v. Big Medical Industry), or does that kind of (I would think wildly inappropriate) stuff happen?

[Digital Am]

I'm going to catch the second airing (I saw most of it the first time around), but I was distracted (not by choice). But from what I saw, I absolutley loved. I really enjoyed the majority of the characters, and already have my favorites (yes, I'm biased, and yes it's Jamie Bamber as well). Ha. Anyway, I felt the show has a great start, and next week looks just as good, if not better.

I totally agree with BondGirl, in that the blue scrubs really bring out Jamie Bamber's blue eyes. Additionally, the beard is pretty good; it does make him look older of course (because for anyone who's seen L&O: UK or BSG the clean-shaven look makes him look quite young. The hair?...It's okay. I like when it's shorter, but it does work.

[Fisher King]

I really liked the pilot. Alfred Molina is outstanding.

[SoapDoc]

Surgical reps do end up in the OR. When they can come into the OR will depend on specific hospital policy but since they may actually know more about the instruments than the surgeons in the beginning, the reps often give the surgeons tips about the instruments.

For instance, if they are bringing in a new surgical scope, the rep may watch and give suggestions about features on the scope. The surgeon can also ask questions about the product. Again all ORs may not let the reps in but many do.

I thought goal of the surgical rep scene was to give us insight into the surgeon -- she's somewhat idealistic and strong-willed. I liked both lead female docs -- so far they are good presentations of female physicians (represent!)

[name234]

SoapDoc - Thank you.

Right now I think I like how well its been cast, that its more House than Grey's Anatomy.

[BondGirl]

I totally agree with BondGirl, in that the blue scrubs really bring out Jamie Bamber's blue eyes. Additionally, the beard is pretty good; it does make him look older of course (because for anyone who's seen L&O: UK or BSG the clean-shaven look makes him look quite young. The hair?...It's okay. I like when it's shorter, but it does work.

More like a five o'clock shadow. Which makes sense for someone in his profession, that he might not have time to tend to that. I love it. It makes him look all dark and edgy.

I loved the focus on his hands clenching around the podium during the M&M. The guy's already blaming himself for the kid's death, but he has no idea just how much he screwed up.

I'm surprised Jennifer Finnegan's character is married, as I could have sworn reading in a series description that she and Bamber's characters were husband and wife, and their interactions and body language, while not overly lovey-dovey, was clearly more than that of mere colleagues/coworkers. Not to mention the other doctor's snarky comment about "in bed with. . .". which was ostensibly about them being in agreement on an issue, but also obviously meant to imply that something was going on between them.

But I guess it's too early for Grey's Anatomy-esque hijinks just yet.

[SDcat2009]

I haven't watched any medical dramas since ER left the air. I tried Grey's Anatomy but no thanks. I tuned in for Jamie Bamber. At the very least, I now know that Lee Adama became a surgeon the next go round :D.

I like the entire cast so far, Alfred Molina is always wonderful and it's nice to see Ving Rhames in something again. I'll check it out again for sure.

[SassySenior]

Was expecting more from David Kelly. Technical advisor should address some of the "flaws" I picked up on. Picky, I know, but all those docs could be fined for not wearing their protective eyewear during surgery. Of course, eyewear would interfere with those (trying-to-be) dramatic close-ups. Dr. "Dead", with the poor bedside manner typical of Kelly's snippets of comic relief. How many episodes will it be used to amuse us before it becomes annoying? I suppose each of the featured surgeons will have an opportunity to step up to the podium. The (??) transplant guy should be made to expose the plastic surgeon who is responsible for the drastic eye-lift job that has left him with the eyes wide open, ala Robert Stack, Bruce Jenner, "stare". Snark material, for sure, but will give it a few more episodes. It may, however, warrant a DNR.

[redshirtx]

I thought the pilot did a really good job of fleshing everybody out to some degree (yeah, even Dr. "Dead always worst case" Park--he'll probably be annoying as hell by episode eight), and it didn't do anything egregiously stupid (okay, halfsies on the partial lack of surgical eyewear). And I liked that for all intents Ving Rhames' Gato Villanueva is set up as the "heart" of the group and Alfred Molina's Harding Hooten as the "brain," with everybody else at varying levels inbetween. If nothing else I'm willing to give it another couple of episodes.

[mishy]

I liked it. I was watching for Jamie Bamber (like a lot of us) but it actually held my interest. I too thought I'd read that the Bamber and Finnegan characters were married but I first heard of this show sometime last summer so it must have just been something they changed. I think we got a feel for everyone but that the resident or whoever she was at the beginning and the two doctors who were supposed to get engaged were the least explored. But it's a pilot I'm sure that will change.

[DashDixon]

My one nitpick with the show is that I was left wondering if Jamie Bamber was going to spend the next however many episodes moping and being an emotional wreck over giving bad news/advice/outcome, and if Jennifer Finnegan was going to spend those same episodes invariably looking understanding and sympathetic...oy vey.

[SabrinaSmith]

This show is based on Sanjay Gupta's book of the same name that was published last year. I read it and enjoyed it. It was a fast and entertaining read. Having read the book, I know the direction of the plot. Be prepared for some twists and turns...so far they have done a good job of sticking to the book.

[LeGrandElephant]

Who was that who said he'd always wanted to know what happens at a morbidity and mortality conference, and was told to become a surgeon? Was he a different type of doctor? I was under the impression from other medical fiction shows that both surgical and medical had morbidity and mortality conferences.

What happened right at the end? My DVR cut off as they brought in the internally decapitated guy.

[BooksRule]

What happened right at the end? My DVR cut off as they brought in the internally decapitated guy

That was basically the end. The various people started working on the guy and barking out orders for this and that and then they faded to credits.

I liked the show okay. I'll give it some time to grow on me. I could do without the 'artsy' shots, like the one after the little boy died where they showed the closeup of the surgeon's red bloodstained hands against all of the white in the background. I found it a little distracting. However, any show that uses 'Gimme Shelter' (one of my favorites) in it can't be all bad.

What else has the surgeon who seemed a little 'off' been in? I think he was playing a plastic surgeon, maybe? He was the one who got angry when the instrument salesguy was told to leave the O.R. He was kind of twitchy, doing that weird thing with his feet. I don't know the actor's name, but I've seen him in other stuff. He always plays a kind of creepy guy.

[ShortyMac]

Premiere's ratings: DOA

A pity, I liked the show. Don't get attached, folks.

[Jodhaa]

I really enjoyed this. I'd rather watch this on Mondays than The Following. Disappointed about the ratings but considering I hadn't even heard about the show until yesterday I guess not too surprising.

[Ailiana]

I will probably keep watching, but as a non-medical person, both of the meetings bothered me, because I didn't see how the surgeons were entirely to fault. Yes, I know they are meant to make them more aware of issues and more alert to possible problems, but these particular ones didn't seem to be problems the specific doctors being focused on could have prevented.

If every single person who came in with some vague joint pain were sent through all the expensive tests every time, the already extravagent costs of medical care would be even more astronomical. The patient, when the tylenol didn't help after a few days, should have come back, at which time more tests would have been appropriate. Seriously--why did everyone act like he was a moron and should have known a sore hip meant bone cancer? Didn't the actual adult woman have a responsibility to seek further care when things didn't get better? And I say this as someone who lost a beloved aunt to bone cancer--but she was also an active participant in her own care, which is what I see lacking in that case.

For the second one, it seems like they were trying to paint the picture that with a few minutes of asking questions, Dr. Wilson would have discovered the boy might have had this disease. But, especially with the way the world works now, the mom may have no idea of the medical history (which was the impression I got), and the hospital realistically shouldn't have been able to quickly discover his medical history. Yes, with that peice of family history, there was a high probablility that the boy had the disease, but out of the general population, there is a low chance. It just seemed like they were trying to make him have done something wrong, when realistically, I am not sure that he did.

So with this, it kind of undermines the premise for me. let it be something I can actually believe someone did wrong; that will help me to believe the criticisms are merited.

[SoapDoc]

If every single person who came in with some vague joint pain were sent through all the expensive tests every time, the already extravagent costs of medical care would be even more astronomical.

This is true but I think the point was that he didn't do anything. He didn't fully examine her, get an x-ray (which isn't that expensive), get an ortho consult, or make a follow-up appointment for her. It's true that he may not have caught the cancer in the ER but he didn't use any of the safeguards that we are supposed to use in the medical profession. A 39 year old woman with excruciating hip pain needs to be seen again before 4 months down the road -- no matter what the cause. He didn't take good care of her -- and he had a history of not taking good care of his patients.

For the second one, it seems like they were trying to paint the picture that with a few minutes of asking questions, Dr. Wilson would have discovered the boy might have had this disease.

The problem here is he didn't ask. The father not in the picture -- OK on to the surgery. The information must have been fairly easy to find because the head MD found it pretty quickly. If you are going to be digging in someone's head, you need to know as much as you can and a "father not in the picture" comment is not really getting a good history. If he had asked about the father's medical history and she didn't know who the father was, that might have given the surgeon a little wiggle room (not much but a little). But since the father's name and medical history was available, there is no excuse for not asking about it or investigating further before jumping in.

Edited by SoapDoc, Feb 6, 2013 @ 9:37 AM.

[attica finch]

I liked it more than I didn't. I'll stick for another ep or two. I have only limited patience for docs who Take! It! Personally!, and the love-interests-who-hate-docs-for-all-the-time-away-from-home is such a freaking tired trope I want to puke, so naturally DEK gives it to us double-barrelled. But I loves me some Molina and Rhames and I can't wait to see what they do with Bill Irwin. Plus, that Deep Brain Stimulation thing was super cool: "Oh! Perhaps that Fear Center in brain. Maybe write paper!" Hee!

I never watched BG, so this is my first exposure to Jamie Bamber's American accent. It...wandered some. He sounds like he's thinking about it with every syllable. But he's a good actor and easy on the eyes, so I can overlook it with no more than token complaining. ;)

My first medical nitpick is the 007 guy who didn't order even an x-ray. I laughed out loud. X-rays is how these places make money; no ortho guy wouldn't order an x-ray, even if he thought there was nothing wrong. The waiting room sets are wrong as well. Hospitals as fancy as this one would have a person working at a desk who gets updates from the surgical suite to pass on to the families. The last waiting room I was in (in a small rural hospital) had a giant flatscreen with status updates for all the procedures on it, so people knew how long they had to get a bite to eat or whatever, as well as knowing when the surgery was over so they could expect a doc to come out soonish. (Not that I think that a tv show would bother with that kind of set authenticity, when you can set mood with dim lighting and plinky sad piano music.)

[BondGirl]

I never watched BG, so this is my first exposure to Jamie Bamber's American accent. It...wandered some. He sounds like he's thinking about it with every syllable. But he's a good actor and easy on the eyes, so I can overlook it with no more than token complaining. ;)

I noticed that too. It felt. . .strained. I never watched BSG either, but I saw enough clips to know that his American accent was nearly flawless. I guess years of him being able to talk normally on Law & Order UK has left him out of practice, because I don't think he's done nearly as good a job with it with any of the projects he's done since (with the exception of Perception and Body of Proof, where he kept his British accent).

Plus, it's often difficult to maintain a fake accent during certain types of scenes--highly emotional, etc, which had several of.

But like you said, his acting skills and good looks eclipse all that. I'm so disappointed we didn't get to see the Shower of Angst that he apparently took after the operation.

The problem here is he didn't ask. The father not in the picture -- OK on to the surgery. The information must have been fairly easy to find because the head MD found it pretty quickly. If you are going to be digging in someone's head, you need to know as much as you can and a "father not in the picture" comment is not really getting a good history. If he had asked about the father's medical history and she didn't know who the father was, that might have given the surgeon a little wiggle room (not much but a little). But since the father's name and medical history was available, there is no excuse for not asking about it or investigating further before jumping in.

Aside from not asking about the father, a coagulation profile (PT, PTT, bleeding time) is a standard pre-op lab test. With Von Willebrand's, there would have been abnormalities visible in the results (increased PTT and bleeding time). Are we to believe that Wilson is so reckless that he failed to order that test or that he didn't realize the significance of the results? Because he certainly didn't come across as such.