Shonda Rhimes, ABC take medical series formula ‘Off the Map’

If you’ve seen “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private
Practice” you’re familiar with executive producer Shonda Rhimes’ potent
prescription for medical-drama success: Take a group of really hot
docs, plop them in a compelling, intense environment, mix in lots of
soapy tropes and gratuitous shirtless scenes, and — bingo — you’ve got
prime-time gold.

With “Off the Map,” a new ABC drama debuting Wednesday, Rhimes takes the formula and moves it out of the big city. Instead of Seattle or Los Angeles, we find ourselves trekking the halls of an understaffed, under-stocked clinic in a remote South American village.

Yes, it’s “Grey’s Anatomy” with a case of jungle
fever. Unfortunately, it’s also “Grey’s Anatomy” without the same kind
of magnetic characters, or sexy fun.

In Wednesday night’s pilot episode, we meet idealistic Dr. Lily Brenner (Caroline Dhavernas), who has just transferred from the states to the clinic with a couple of other wide-eyed young physicians, Mina Minard (Mamie Gummer) and Tommy Fuller (Zach Gilford).

Eventually we learn that they’ve all brought loads
of personal baggage to this beautiful, yet primitive, locale — but not
before making our way through a dense thicket of painfully earnest
exposition. Which reminds us, that’s another Shonda Rhimes trait:
impassioned dialogue that is meant to put a lump in your throat, but
too often has you rolling your eyes.

Anyway, these young pups immediately find themselves
bumping heads with the veterans of the clinic, including the hunky
founder (Martin Henderson) and his brusque right-hand man (Jason George),
who have their own personal demons. And then there’s the harsh
conditions, limited medical supplies and annoying language barriers.
This place isn’t exactly Margaritaville.

The “Off the Map” cast seems to be a fine ensemble
with some interesting backgrounds: Gilford won our hearts in “Friday
Night Lights” and Gummer is the daughter of Meryl Streep.
But at least early on, the emotional alchemy just isn’t there like it
was in the early days of “Grey’s,” when those young interns had us
instantly swooning over them. This bunch? Let’s just say they’re more
McDreary than McDreamy.

On the other hand, the medical cases are certainly
intriguing. One patient has a run-in with a stingray, and another has a
bloody mishap high in the sky on a zip line. And no one at Seattle
Grace was ever forced to use coconut water as an IV fluid to treat a
patient.

Also, the scenery is gorgeous. If it reminds you of “Lost,” it’s because, like that ABC drama, “Off the Map” is shot in Hawaii.
In fact, as the cameras swooped over glassy ocean waters and rugged
emerald mountains, I practically expected a Smoke Monster to appear.

That might have made the show more enticing.

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OFF THE MAP

10 p.m. EST Wednesday

ABC

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