The River (American TV series)

Last updated

The River
The River promo logo.jpg
Genre
Created by
Starring
Composer Graeme Revell
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Samantha Thomas
  • Robert D. Simon
  • Jaume Collet-Serra
  • Ryan DeGard (assoc)
  • Hilton H. Smith (co.)
Production locations
Cinematography John Leonetti
Editors
  • Alan Cody
  • Tim Alverson
Running time43 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseFebruary 7 (2012-02-07) –
March 20, 2012 (2012-03-20)

The River is a 2012 American found-footage supernatural adventure horror television series that ran from February 7, 2012 to March 20, 2012, on ABC. [1] Broadcast as a mid-season replacement, the first season has eight episodes. [2] Despite generally favorable reviews, The River had sub-par ratings. [3]

Contents

On May 11, 2012, ABC canceled the series after one season. After that, Netflix was in talks with ABC Studios about possibly continuing the series on its video-on-demand digital distribution service, [4] though they ultimately passed. [5]

Synopsis

Famed explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) went looking for "magic" deep in the uncharted Amazon basin and never returned. The shocking truth about his disappearance is out there, somewhere, just waiting to be discovered. To the millions of children who grew up watching his nature show, Dr. Cole was a hero. To his own son, Lincoln (Joe Anderson), he was more of an enigma. Now, six months after he vanished, Lincoln is finally ready to bury the past when Dr. Cole's emergency beacon suddenly goes off. At the urging of his mother, Tess (Leslie Hope), Lincoln reluctantly joins her on a search for his father. To fund the rescue, they agree to let Dr. Cole's cagey ex-producer, Clark (Paul Blackthorne), film the mission documentary-style. The mixed crew of old friends and new acquaintances includes the missing cameraman's daughter, Lena Landry (Eloise Mumford), ship's mechanic Emilio Valenzuela (Daniel Zacapa), and private security bodyguard Captain Kurt Brynildson (Thomas Kretschmann).

Cast and characters

Main

Guest

Production

Oren Peli and Michael R. Perry created the series about a documentary crew searching the Amazon for a beloved scientist-explorer-television host. Peli told The Hollywood Reporter that producer Steven Schneider "became obsessed with this idea of nature run [amok] and animals taking over humans." Peli stated, "I started developing the idea of a missing documentary reporter who went to this weird place in the rainforest where strange things would happen". He added, "We were developing it as a low budget movie, but ... I had a meeting with Steven Spielberg". Spielberg suggested doing a television show with Peli. Perry added his thoughts, saying, "Why waste [the idea for The River] on a movie, when you can do a TV show where every season they go to a different place". Then, they pitched the whole pilot to Spielberg. [6] In September 2010, ABC won a bidding war against NBC for the rights to the project. [7] [8] In February 2011, after a re-write by Michael Green, ABC green-lit the production of the pilot. In May 2011, ABC committed to produce eight episodes, announcing that the show would premiere in the 2011–12 mid-season. [9]

The pilot episode was filmed in Puerto Rico and the next seven episodes were produced in Hawaii. [10]

Release

The River premiered in the U.S. and Canada (on CTV) on February 7, 2012. The series aired in South Africa on DStv on February 21, 2012. In India the series started airing on STAR World on March 3, 2012.

In the United Kingdom the series has been picked up by Syfy on October 9, 2012 after being premiered on iTunes on February 8, 2012. [11]

On May 22, 2012, ABC and DreamWorks/Amblin released the first season of The River in DVD format on to the United States and its territories, Canada, and Bermuda. Entitled "The River – The Complete First Season", the package includes all eight episodes in their entirety and features deleted scenes and episode audio commentaries. [12]

Episodes

  1. ↑ Gorman, Bill (November 18, 2011). "ABC Mid-Season Premieres: 'GCB', 'The River,' 'Missing,' "Work It,' 'Shark Tank,' 'Wipeout,' 'Celebrity Wife Swap,' 'Dancing With The Stars'". TVbytheNumbers. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  2. ↑ Schneider, Michael (July 8, 2011). "Networks Put in Short Orders for Next Season". TV Guide . Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Updated (3): 'Don't Trust The B in Apt 23,' 'Scandal' Renewed by ABC for Second Seasons; 'GCB' Canceled – Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 22, 2012). "Netflix Eyes ABC Drama Series 'The River'" . Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  5. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (May 23, 2012). "Will 'Pan Am' Take Flight With Amazon?" . Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  6. ↑ Rose, Lacey (February 6, 2012). "'Paranormal Activity's' Oren Peli on Scares, Spielberg and 'The River's' Pricey Pilot (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  7. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 2, 2010). "ABC Takes To 'The River' With 'Paranormal Activity' Filmmaker Oren Peli". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  8. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 1, 2011). "UPDATE: ABC Loads Heavy Drama Guns, Orders Pilots From Marc Cherry, Oren Peli, Darren Star, 'Twilight' Producers, Mark Gordon And 'Lost' Alums". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  9. ↑ "ABC Unveils Fall Primetime Schedule for 2011–12 Season". The Futon Critic. May 17, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  10. ↑ Mark, Steven (June 3, 2011). "ABC to move 'The River' filming to isles". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  11. 1 2 Munn, Patrick (February 1, 2012). "The River To Get Its UK Premiere On iTunes". TVWise. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  12. ↑ Lambert, David (March 5, 2012). "The River - 'The Complete 1st Season' DVDs for this Mysterious DreamWorks/Amblin Show". TVShowsonDVD.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  13. 1 2 Seidman, Robert (February 8, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'NCIS,' 'Glee,' 'The Biggest Loser Adjusted Up; 'Raising Hope' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  14. ↑ Gorman, Bill (February 15, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'Ringer,' 'The Biggest Loser' Adjusted Up; 'New Girl' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  15. ↑ Bibel, Sara (February 23, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'Glee,' 'Unforgettable,' 'Body of Proof' Adjusted Up 'NCIS,' 'NCIS: LA,' 'Raising Hope' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  16. ↑ Gorman, Bill (February 29, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'NCIS,' 'Last Man Standing,' 'Body Of Proof' & 'Cougar Town' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  17. ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 7, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings : 'The Biggest Loser' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  18. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 14, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Biggest Loser' 'I Hate My Teenage Daughter' 'New Girl' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  19. ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 21, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'NCIS,' 'New Girl' and 'The Biggest Loser' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  20. ↑ "The River: Season 1 (2012)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media . Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  21. ↑ The River: Season 1, Metacritic, December 20, 2012.
  22. ↑ Roush, Matt (February 7, 2012). "Tuesday TV in Review: A Thrill Ride Down ABC's River, Justified, Southland". TV Guide . Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  23. ↑ Bianco, Robert (February 6, 2012). "Ride 'The River' if fright floats your boat". USA Today. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  24. ↑ Hale, Mike (February 6, 2012). "Rescuers, Cameras and Guide Are Jittery". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Magus" (Part 1) Jaume Collet-Serra Story by : Oren Peli & Michael R. Perry
Teleplay by : Michael Green and Michael R. Perry		February 7, 2012 (2012-02-07)7.59 [13]
Six months ago, Emmet Cole, adventurer and host of The Undiscovered Country, disappeared while on an expedition deep in the uncharted waters of the Amazon River. The fruitless search and subsequent 'memorial service' left thousands of fans in shock at the loss of their icon. Now, his emergency beacon had been activated, and his wife Tess, who reluctantly faced reality, organizes a search party to find him. The team comprises her estranged son Lincoln, who was more than ready to leave the past behind; Emmet's long-time friend and Undiscovered Country producer Clark Quietly; Magus mechanic Emilio Valenzuela and his daughter Jahel; Lena Landry, daughter of cameraman Russ Landry who has disappeared along with Cole; and ex-forces Captain Kurt Bryndilson, who provides security for the expedition. What the team does not know is that this journey will take them to a place where magic comes alive and things are never what they seem. The paranormal entity they encountered in this episode is a corpo seco.
2"Marbeley" (Part 2)Jaume Collet-SerraMichael Green & Zack Estrin February 7, 2012 (2012-02-07)7.59 [13]
When Jahel becomes possessed by Emmet Cole's spirit, Tess becomes undeterred from her goal of finding clues to her husband's whereabouts. The team then discovers a tree draped in children's dolls, and an old legend reminds them that the tree of dolls is an offering site to "La Dejada, the abandoned one", as mentioned by Lena, in this case a spirit of a girl who drowned in the river. Tess was suddenly dragged away to drown and Lincoln has to find a way to appease the spirit.