With Shonda Rhimes unleashing another ensemble medical drama staffed by hotties into ABC primetime, critics at press tour want to know: How is her latest production, Off the Map, not just Grey’s Anatomy in the jungle? (Or, as Ken Tucker dubs it, “Grey’s Anatomy with flies”).
“Because it’s not,” insists Rhimes, who then passes the baton to the series creator and showrunner Jenna Bans. “It’s really Jenna’s characters and I’m just lucky enough to get a part of it.”
Bans elaborated:
“On a character level, you’re getting a huge difference. And the jungle is their pharmacy. They don’t have the technology or resources on ER or Grey’s or any other medical show and it allows us to delve into stories we don’t normally get to do.”
Also, with Map set in a fictitious South American country, the show will eventually get into the area’s politics — something different than the usual turf explored by the staff of Seattle Grace.
“Its a mix of action adventure and does get a little political toward the end … in a way you probably haven’t seen on TV before,” Bans says.
The season will be a “50-50 mix” of episodes that have close-ended stories vs. episodes dedicated to bigger over-reaching storylines.
Also, Rhimes gave a bit of detail about her ABC series in development about a Washington DC “professional fixer.” The character is based on Judy Smith, a political image consultant who worked with Monica Lewinsky.
Says the ever-multi-tasking Rhimes: “I very much wish I had a clone.”
Anything that Rhimes about medical profession is not based on reality! I would not watch anything she makes
While I personally don’t have any interest in watching Off The Map (or even Private Practice), a show doesn’t have to be based in reality to be entertaining.
Grey’s used to be excellent, though.
And is excellent again …
No B. USED to be excellent.
No Jonathan. EXCELLENT AGAIN.
Agreed. Excellent again.
I was on Team Excellent Again until the [SPOILER ALERT] “Teddy offers to marry a dying patient she just met” storyline kicked in. That one is not sitting well with me…
@teekay – im holding out hope that she gets busted for insurance fraud and goes to jail and we don’t have to see her face anymore
The last episode was a bore, but the rest of the season has been great. It’s time is almost over though. And I love the idea of Teddy getting caught.
Shonda Rhimes’ shows suck.This one shouldn’t be any different. I love her answer to how this isn’t Grey’s in the jungle: “because it’s not.” Good one.
From some of the reviews I’ve read, not good at all.
This may be an obscure TV reference for some, but didn’t I see this show about 15 years ago when it was called Going To Extremes?
I’m just…really not interested. I’m sure that fans of GA and PP will like it, though.
I’m a Grey’s fan, and I’m not interested in it either. I don’t really want to see medicine performed in the jungle, and I have no confidence that the political aspects will be handled correctly.
It’s get political at the end?!?!? Pffff… boring!!! South American dictator goes wild, revolutionary hijnks ensues, (blond) bombshells fly around, all set in a very unrealistiv jungle setting. Thanks, but no thanks! I’m outta here!
Man that woman is so well versed and brilliant i mean her reasoning is just flawless!
“Cause it’s not”
Hard not to see the logic in that!
Has EW let go all of their editors??
“the show will eventually get into the area’s politics — something the usual turf explored by the staff of Seattle Grace.” & “Also, Rhimes gave a bit of detail about her ABC series in development a Washington DC “professional fixer.”
He always makes mistakes. How long would it take to proofread a few paragraphs? I have no interest in watching this show by the way.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed that. I may give the show a chance, but I’m already just watching Grey’s out of habit more than anything else.
I wanted to like Grey’s but find the characters unlikable, annoying and selfish. I miss ER.
I miss ER too!!
No, its that other medical drama set on an island from about 15-20 years ago–”Going to Extremes”.
I am not a fan of Greys or Private Practice, but I think this one looks interesting. Maybe that is just because of the actors in the show, but I will watch the first episode just to see if it is good!
Too funny – I told someone TODAY that this show looked like Grey’s Anatomy trying to look like Lost.
i wish people knew that it’s not shonda rhimes-influenced the way GA & PP are. whether it succeeds or not, the credit/failure won’t go to shonda rhimes. it’ll go to jenna bans. shonda’s just producing it. oh and grey’s anatomy (and PP too) is awesome.
and what i REALLY can’t figure out is why people are saying it looks like lost. wtf? what? because they both shoot in tree-filled places? the lost comparisons should be for other big sci-fi shows, not any show set in tropical places. cus then hawaii five-o is another lost copycat. don’t get it at all.
anyway, i’m excited. looks interesting to me. i hope it’s good. i’ve liked most of the stuff i’ve seen in trailers and heard the second episode is even better. the location lets it open up to so many possible different stories.
But why are they then interviewing Shonda Rhimes about that show?! She is making it to be “her show”, even if it’s not.
I don’t care what it looks like or whatever. Look at that cast. I’ll be tuned in.
I just want to see Zach Gilford.
I plan to give OTM a chance. The preview looks good and, like someone said, look at the cast-Zach Gilford, Mamie Gummer, the guy who looks like Sawyer in Lost.
Hhaha, i thought that was Sawyer too at first! I like Zach Gilford, so i’ll give it a chance.