Why even bother?


I've only seen the previews available off the ABC website, but I'm already turned off by this show. I would love to see a serious show that dramatizes life in a military hospital on the front lines, but the previews make this look little more than "Grey's Anatomy in Afghanistan." One of the doctors looks like he was the lead singer of a boy band before he became a neurosurgeon. The female lead is, of course, "hot", and all the doctors and soldiers want to get it on with her. Most of the preview is about the hot female being hit on by a doctor or a soldier, or the female acting so inexperienced and naive that you question the sanity of anyone who assigned her to this hospital. As a previous poster said, this is little more than a soap opera.

Seriously, how did MASH manage to get it right all those years ago?

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I know, before this show, they aired "Off The Map" and it got canceled after the 1st season with 13 episodes. LOL These drama hospital shows will not last on ABC. They need to come up with newer and original material than reusing it over and over again. LOL It's seriously laughable now!!



I'll always catch you when you fall.. -Will Young, Who Am I

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Here's the answer to your question, MASH was mostly a comedy with some drama. Hopefully we'll get a drama series with some occasional comedy, but at least something that sticks to the reality of this kind of hospital.

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I've never really viewed MASH as a comedy per se. A black comedy, perhaps. What I loved about MASH was that you always got the sense the characters were using humor to help them get through a dangerous and oftentimes sad situation. Rarely did anthing feel forced or fake. Even the actors seemed "real" in comparision to those cast in this new show. Hawkeye, Trapper, BJ and Margaret weren't hot young things; they looked like they were the appropriate age for being surgeons and senior level nurses and didn't look like they could've been on the cover of GQ or GLAMOUR.

I might tune in just to see what happens and I do like Elias Koteas, the only actor in the preview who seemed both believable and interesting. If the show focuses on him and what really goes on in a front line military hospital this show could be good but, based on the previews, this one's circling the drain already.

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I too enjoyed Elias Koteas's character (I thought he was great in "Almost An Angel") but this show's going into the crapper without some decent writers and competent tech advisors. The wide shot of the C-17 taxiing into "Kandahar" at the beginning of the pilot episode with the USAF Thunderbirds F-16's plainly visible in the foreground does not bode well as far as convincing viewers that this show is for real. And enough of the stereotypical plot lines, cliched dialog, and stale B-roll footage from CNN. Bring some "adult supervision" to the set or suffer the same fate as "Off The Map".

Six Actual......OUT!

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Depends on what season you look at. It started as a dark comedy, it ended as an overly sentimental anti-war propaganda with some almost out-of-place slapstick.

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Agree with all of the above, especially the age appropriate actors.

Casting seems to have forgotten that in a non-draft combat situation, our volunteer forces come from all age groups.

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Why even bother? Yes good question, why even bother asking such a question without watching the show first and giving it a chance?

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The purpose of a promo is to get people interested in a show or movie. It's perfectly legitimate to make a determination whether to tune in or pay good money to see a movie based on the previews and promos. Most previews make the show or movie seem really good. When even the promo doesn't get you interested in the product, then the producers should be worried.

When someone criticizes a show, whether a promo or the first few episodes, there's always someone on hand to lambast them for rushing to judgment. Funny how it's never the oposite.

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but since this one included Canadians I thought I'd watch it. I thought it wasn't half bad.



"I'm some disgusted with the human race." Billy Pretty - The Shipping News

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[deleted]

Why you may ask? Because of Michelle Borth my good sir, only reason whatsoever.

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I have seen a documentary by Australian Broadcasting Corporation [known as ABC] which reports on the MAKING of this series. 'Combat Hospital' was based on the work of Dr. Mark Dauphin of the Canadian Army. I will try viewing the series if it ever comes to Australian TV.

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The pilot had problems, but oddly those weren't among them. Maybe the secret to launching a new series is not to promote it using hacked promos.

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If your question,"Why even bother?", is to the network, then my question to you is "Why even bother to post this?"

I'm not familiar with the preview you referred to, but just the same, it's seems odd to have such a strong reaction, and pass such a strong judgement on such limited information. If you don't think the show is for you, then ignore it and move on. Or... watch a few episodes, then post a more informed opinion.

As for MASH... you are really comparing apples and oranges. Both are fruit, but that's about it. Both shows are set in a military hospital, but again, that's about it. Your comparing a half-hour sit/com to a one hour drama.

Also for MASH, I would not agree with your comment that they "got it right all those years". The show was based on a movie. A successful movie that was written as a comedy. The first 3 or 4 seasons followed that idea. It was funny and did very well. Then it started going down hill. They ran out of jokes, and instead, started to write episodes based on actual stories related to the Korean War, the military, politics and medical advancements of that era. Many episodes were still very good, but now for other reasons. As Alda took more control, he steered the show towards a more serious drama. In the end, it was almost devoid of any humour at all. I loved MASH in the beginning, hated it in the end.

As for Combat Hospital, I wouldn't say I'm a big fan. I've seen perhaps 4 episodes. While it may not be a 'great' show, it's certainly more than just decent.

As for your critique about the cast... what's wrong if the lead happens to be "hot"?. If you have a problem with that, then you must hate most tv shows period. Casting decisions frequently have a visual appeal component to them. Sometimes they are unrealistic or sacrifice talent for looks, but in this case, Michelle Borth's character is entirely plausible. Her "inexperience" is both realistic and intended. Do you think every doctor that gets assigned to a field hospital always walks in with at least 10+ years experience?

I don't think the neuro-surgeon is anything special. (Attractive? Maybe. Supermodel? Nope.) No different than Travis Stork - a real doctor from "The Doctors".

Another doctor is asian and while a good choice to promote diversity, it's not as if he was cast to appeal to the majority of the demographic of the shows main target audience - white, middle-class, 18-64.

That leaves Elias Koteas, a good actor that I've never heard described of as "pretty".


I respect your right to post opinions, that's what this board is for. I just think you should be able to support them a little more.



Wolf



"I Drank What?!" - Socrates

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