- Combat Hospital
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For the military field hospital, see Combat Support Hospital.
Combat Hospital
Intertitle from first episodeAlso known as The Hot Zone Genre Medical drama Created by Jinder Oujla-Chalmers
Daniel Petrie, Jr.
Douglas SteinbergStarring Deborah Kara Unger
Michelle Borth
Elias Koteas
Terry Chen
Arnold Pinnock
Luke MablyLanguage(s) English No. of seasons 1 No. of episodes 13 Production Executive producer(s) Daniel Petrie Jr.
Jennifer Kawaja
Julia Sereny
Gub Neal
Justin Thomson-Glover
Patrick Irwin
Simon VaughanRunning time 42 minutes Production company(s) Artists Studio
Lookout Point
Sienna FilmsBroadcast Original channel Global Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)Audio format Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Original run 21 June 2011 – presentExternal links Website Combat Hospital is a Canadian medical drama television series, filmed in Toronto, that debuted on Global on 21 June 2011.[1] The series was known for a time by the working title The Hot Zone before reverting to its previous title, Combat Hospital.
The first season finale aired on September 6, 2011. Global has yet to announce either a renewal or cancellation.
Contents
Plot
Set in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2006, the series revolves around the life and work of doctors and nurses from the ISAF, specifically Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and other allied countries at a military hospital.
Cast
- Michelle Borth as Canadian Forces Medical Officer, Major Rebecca Gordon, Canadian Army;
- Elias Koteas as Canadian Forces Medical Officer, Commanding Officer Colonel Xavier Marks, Canadian Army;
- Terry Chen as United States Army Captain Bobby Trang, trauma team leader;
- Arnold Pinnock as Canadian Forces Nursing Officer, Chief of Nursing, Commander Will Royal, Royal Canadian Navy;
- Deborah Kara Unger as Australian Army psychiatrist, Major Grace Pedersen;
- Luke Mably as British neurosurgeon, Doctor Simon Hill;
- Ellen Wong as Canadian Forces Nursing Officer, Major Suzy Chao, Canadian Army;
- Hamza Jeetooa as Vans, Afghan translator;
- Gord Rand as Canadian Forces Medical Technician, Regimental Sergeant-Major, Chief Warrant Officer Graham Kelly, Canadian Army;
- Karan Oberoi as United States Air Force Pararescue Jumper, Talwar Mehra;
- Dwain Murphy as United States Air Force Pararescue Jumper, Terrel Ford.
Production
Jinder Oujla-Chalmers came up with the concept for Combat Hospital in 2008 and with Douglas Steinberg pitched the show to Canwest (now Shaw Media). After the show was picked up for development Oujla-Chalmers travelled to Afghanistan to research on location what it is like at a Role 3 hospital. Oujla-Chalmers and Steinberg brought the show to Sienna Films who agreed to produce it and set up funding as a Canadian-British co-production with Artists Studio and Lookout Point of the UK.[2]
Canwest announced on 9 July 2010 that Combat Hospital was slated for production in the 2011-12 season.[3][3] The budget for the first season was reported to be $2 million per episode.[4] During pre-production Morocco was considered as a possible location for filming the series.[4] Production on the series began in March 2011. The series is filmed at the former Consumers Glass factory in Etobicoke, Ontario.[5] The property has been converted into a 17,187 square metre indoor/outdoor set that recreates portions of the NATO Role 3 Hospital at Kandahar Airfield and its surroundings.[6] Filming was scheduled to continue through 27 July 2011.[7] Post-production work is done in London.[2] Combat Hospital is a production of Sienna Films of Canada, Artists Studio of Wales, and Lookout Point of England.[3] Daniel Petrie, Jr. is the showrunner.[8] The first season has 13 episodes.[4]
Reception
John Doyle of The Globe and Mail said that the show is neither the new M*A*S*H for its lack of "snarky chat about the stupidity of war and governments that encourage war" nor is it Grey's Anatomy-on-the-front-lines as there are no "lurid romantic entanglements". Doyle goes on to say, "It's the horrors of war and the awfulness of a combat hospital seen emphatically through the prism of TV drama." In concluding his review Doyle said, "In the matter of Afghanistan and military life there, if you want a gruelling experience, watch the news. Combat Hospital is the entertaining version."[9]
Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe found the show "is completely divorced from anything resembling real life." He said the premise is "exciting and, to some extent, incendiary" but that with "amateurish acting and paint-by-numbers writing" Combat Hospital and Rookie Blue "are summer filler of the laziest kind."[10]
David Wiegard of the San Francisco Chronicle found Combat Hospital "makes a pretty compelling attempt" at portraying "the bloody reality of war" while also having all of the typical characters of a medical drama.[11]
Broadcast
In early January 2011 ABC was in talks to purchase broadcast rights to Combat Hospital.[4] On 20 January 2011 it was reported that ABC had purchased broadcast rights to the then-untitled project.[12] On 25 March 2011 Shaw Media announced that the series will be simulcast in the United States by ABC.[6] Outside of North America the series is being distributed by Sony Pictures Television.[13]
On 24 August 2011 ABC announced that they were skipping the eleventh episode of season 1 and moving the season finale date by one week, from 13 September 2011 to 6 September 2011.[14] The eleventh episode was still shown in Canada, along with episode 12 on 30 August 2011.[15]
Shaw Media will be showing the series on both Showcase and Showcase Diva beginning in early September 2011.[16][17]
ABC announced that it would not be renewing Combat Hospital for a second season.[18]
Episodes
# Title Directed by Written by Original air date Canadian viewers
(million)1 "Welcome to Kandahar" Iain B. MacDonald Story by: Jinder Oujla-Chalmers & Douglas Steinberg
and Daniel Petrie, Jr.
Teleplay by: Daniel Petrie, Jr.21 June 2011 1.959[19] Canadian trauma surgeon Major Rebecca Gordon and American trauma team leader Captain Robert 'Bobby' Trang arrive at the NATO Role 3 Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield. 2 "Enemy Within" Iain B. MacDonald Gub Neal 28 June 2011 1.550[20] Dr Gordon and Captain Trang treat an Afghan National Army soldier for a serious infection that neither of them have encountered before. When another patient presents with the same symptoms a quarantine is declared. 3 "It's My Party" Christopher Menaul Sara B. Cooper 5 July 2011 1.525[21] With the blood supply depleted Colonel Marks calls for direct donors as Dr Gordon operates on a soldier with severe gunshot wounds. Major Pedersen inquires about the circumstances of the shooting and the wounded soldier's friends' stories are inconsistent. Photojournalist Jessica Draycott (Tia Carrere) rekindles her romance with Simon. 4 "Wrong Place at the Right Time" Christopher Menaul Angus Fraser 12 July 2011 1.481[22] Simon hitches a ride on a Medevac on a routine supply run when he finds out that it passes over the farm he has bought. However, they must stop and rescue a wounded person. Meanwhile, Rebecca must conduct a brain surgery following Simon's directions via satellite phone. Bobby and Major Pedersen evaluate the mental condition of an Air Force officer. 5 "Hells Bells" Stephen Reynolds Adam Pettle 19 July 2011 1.513[23] A civilian wedding party is caught in Taliban crossfire and treated at Role 3; Marks gets a troubling call from home and discusses it with Pedersen; and Rebecca and Bobby sit in on Pedersen's group-therapy session, and Rebecca wonders if she shared too much. 6 "Inner Truth" Stephen Reynolds Sara B. Cooper 26 July 2011 1.576[24] Seven injured soldiers anxiously anticipate the arrival of their lucky charm, 19-year-old Pvt. Henry Flax; Rebecca makes a confession to Simon. 7 "Reckless" Christopher Menaul Annmarie Morais 2 August 2011 1.409[25] Under intense investigation, Rebecca doubts her decision to withhold treatment to a soldier, which may have resulted in his death. 8 "On the Brink" Christopher Menaul Simon Block 9 August 2011 1.304[26] Bobby makes a decision that creates controversy between the doctors and nurses. 9 "Shifting Sands" Helen Shaver Angus Fraser 16 August 2011 1.375[27] One of Vans' friends comes under suspicion when he is injured by a bomb. 10 "Reason to Believe" Helen Shaver Story by: Jinder Oujla-Chalmers
Teleplay by: Lara Azzopardi & Will Pascoe23 August 2011 1.240[28] An Army chaplain (Camille Sullivan) is forced to deal with her lapse of faith when she is ordered to hold vigil with Simon during a surgery. 11 "Brothers in Arms" Paul Unwin Sara B. Cooper 30 August 2011[15] 1.210[29] A prank gone wrong reveals Simon's painful past; Pedersen must question children about a suicide bomber. 12 "Triage" Paul Unwin Gub Neal 30 August 2011 1.548[29] When Colonel Marks gets injured in an explosion away from the base, Rebecca takes control of triage and struggles to make a life-threatening decision that could affect the status of a critically injured soldier. 13 "Do No Harm" Ken Girotti Daniel Petrie, Jr. 6 September 2011 1.325[30] While working at a women's clinic, Captain Pam Everwood, Grace, Rebecca, Suzy, and Major Hasti Samizay are attacked by an unknown gunman. References
- ^ "Global Makes Its Mark This Summer With Two Signature Series..." (Press release). Shaw Media. 25 March 2011. http://shawmedia.ca/newsroom/pdfs/News_453.pdf. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Channel Canada's First Look: Combat Hospital". ChannelCanada.com. 19 June 2011. http://www.channelcanada.com/Article5789.html. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ a b c "Canwest producing a record number of scripted original projects slated for Global and Showcase" (Press release). CNW Group. 9 July 2010. http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2010/09/c3333.html. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d Vlessing, Ethan (6 January 2011). "ABC in talks to acquire Canada-UK drama Combat Hospital". Playback. http://playbackonline.ca/2011/01/06/abc-in-talks-to-acquire-canada-uk-drama-combat-hospital/. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ Brioux, Bill (21 June 2011). "M*A*S*H meets Etobicoke in Combat Hospital". TV Feeds My Family. http://tvfeedsmyfamily.blogspot.com/2011/06/mash-meets-etobicoke-in-combat-hospital.html. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Global's Original Drama Series The Hot Zone Begins Production" (Press release). Shaw Media. 14 March 2011. http://www.shawmedia.ca/newsroom/pdfs/News_433.pdf. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "OMDC MEDIA LIST – June 17, 2011: Productions currently shooting in Ontario.". Ontario Media Development Corporation. 17 June 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5zmBiwmHG. Retrieved 28 June 2011. This is an archive url because the document gets over-written with each new release every two weeks.
- ^ "ABC Announces 2011 Summer Schedule" (Press release). ABC Medianet. 25 March 2011. http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=032511_01. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ Doyle, John (21 June 2011). "On 'Combat Hospital,' war is heck but it's not controversial". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/john-doyle/on-combat-hospital-war-is-heck-but-its-not-controversial/article2068145/. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ Gilbert, Matthew (21 June 2011). "‘Combat Hospital’ infected with boring cliches". The Boston Globe. http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-21/ae/29684387_1_cliches-war-zone-rookie-blue. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ Wiegard, David (20 June 2011). "'Combat Hospital' review: 'MASH' with more blood". San Francisco Chronicle: p. E-1. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/19/DDAG1JUUGS.DTL. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (20 January 2011). "It's Official: ABC Picks Up Canadian/UK Medical Drama Series For Summer". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/its-official-abc-picks-up-candadianuk-medical-drama-series-for-summer/. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Original Drama Series “The Hot Zone” Begins Production Today" (Press release). ABC Medianet. 14 March 2011. http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=031411_01. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
- ^ "**EPISODE CHANGE** REBECCA IS TORN BETWEEN ORDERS AND INSTINCT WHEN SHE FINDS HERSELF IN CHARGE OF TRIAGE, ON ABC'S "COMBAT HOSPITAL"" (Press release). ABC Medianet. 24 August 2011. http://abcmedianet.com/assets/pr/html/082411_01.html. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ a b "TV Schedule - Globaltv.com". Shaw Media. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/61K4hOqKQ. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Shaw Media : Coming Attractions (Showcase)". Shaw Media. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5zmItrt0V. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Shaw Media : Coming Attractions (Showcase Diva)". Shaw Media. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5zmJDFMsH. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "ABC Not Renewing Combat Hospital". New York Times' TV Struggles to Bring War Zones to Americans article. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/arts/television/television-still-struggles-to-bring-war-zones-home.html. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ^ http://www.spoilertv.com/2011/06/combat-hospital-hit-in-canada-flop-in.html
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) June 27 - July 3, 2011" (Press release). BBM Canada. 8 July 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat06272011.pdf. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 4–10, 2011" (Press release). BBM Canada. 15 July 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat07042011.pdf. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 11–17, 2011" (Press release). BBM Canada. 22 July 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat07112011.pdf. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 18–24, 2011" (Press release). BBM Canada. 29 July 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat07182011.pdf. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 25–31, 2011" (Press release). BBM Canada. 5 August 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat07252011.pdf. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) August 1–7, 2011" (Press release). BBM Canada. 12 August 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat08012011.pdf. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) August 8–14, 2011" (Press release). BBM Canada. 19 August 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat08082011.pdf. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) August 15–21, 2011" (Press release). BBM Canada. 26 August 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat08152011.pdf. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) August 22–28, 2011". BBM Canada. 2 September 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat08222011.pdf. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) August 29 - September 4, 2011". BBM Canada. 9 September 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat08292011.pdf. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) September 5-11, 2011". BBM Canada. 16 September 2011. http://bbm.ca/_documents/top_30_tv_programs_english/2011/nat09052011.pdf. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
External links
Categories:- 2010s Canadian television series
- 2011 Canadian television series debuts
- American Broadcasting Company network shows
- Canadian drama television series
- Global Television Network shows
- English-language television series
- Medical television series
- Military television series
- Television series by Sony Pictures Television
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