Medical drama scores Uhm Tae-woong, loses broadcaster
by girlfriday
What is it with medical dramas and their behind-the-scenes drama? There’s an upcoming medical series by Taewon Entertainment (the people behind the IRIS franchise), that was originally set to air on SBS in March and star Cha Seung-won as the lead: the once-generically named Third Ward. Cha eventually never sealed the deal and so the drama managed to sign another leading man — Uhm Tae-woong — and changed its title to the equally-vague Tower (not to be confused with the reigning popular medical drama of yore, White Tower).
And now, Tower‘s been dropped by its broadcaster two months before the premiere. So in the span of a week, it’s gone from having a broadcaster and no leading man, to having a leading man and no broadcaster. Apparently you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
It’s looking more and more like SBS dropped the show because Cha Seung-won dropped it, and the production quickly changed its title to shed any negative associations with previous bad press (a common tactic when dramas suffer pre-production woes), in an attempt to revive it. Now with Uhm Tae-woong attached to the project, it’s in talks to try and find a home at KBS.
The drama is about a neurosurgery department in a hospital that serves as a battlefield for warring surgeons. The war is of course over Eastern vs. Western medicine, and the lead is a doctor forced into Western medicine by his father. So, basically, it’s just another Brain, which is already airing on KBS? Sure, Brain is doing well, scoring high ratings and winning a Daesang for Shin Ha-kyun, but that’s a whole lot of neurosurgeons running about on one network. Maybe they can be funny brain surgeons. Or brain surgeons with guns.
If it manages to stay on schedule and just hop stations, Tower will air in the spring. Let’s hope they don’t make us wait too long to see Dr. Tae-woong again.
Via DongA
RELATED POSTS
- Cha Seung-won considers medical drama
- Lee Seon-kyun to cameo on 1N2D
- Stills from Uhm Tae-woong and Han Ga-in’s new film
- Uhm Tae-woong cast in third film this year
- Uhm Tae-woong cast in melodrama
- Dorky Uhm Tae-woong being (what else?) a dork
- Introducing 1 Night 2 Days: Episode 324
- Dr. Champ: Episode 1
Tags: Uhm Tae-woong
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
Hello Dramabeans series
![[2022 Year in Review] The Bean Count](https://www.dramabeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/beancount_2022.png)
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 ChoiSun
January 3, 2012 at 5:13 AM
Can't wait to see another medical drama. There are not many of them, so it is always nice to hear some developments in that way.
But I have to admit that it will be difficult to beat Brain.
I mean this medical drama is by far the best I have ever seen.
Required fields are marked *
2 meo2
January 3, 2012 at 5:17 AM
Damn! No Cha seung won? Too bad
Required fields are marked *
3 michiko
January 3, 2012 at 5:31 AM
I say great move on "brain surgeons with guns"! I'd watch that. :)
Required fields are marked *
4 Silver
January 3, 2012 at 5:37 AM
thanks gf,
Yeah ! forgetting his dialogue !.
Required fields are marked *
5 Mystisith
January 3, 2012 at 5:40 AM
K dramas are my ultimate crack. Except for medical dramas. In that field, american shows deliver better. It feels like medical k dramas are a bit shamefull, or second choices for actors. Honestly, i don't find Brain that good : medical cases are uninteresting and characters are overacted imo.
The only medical drama i enjoyed actually was Ob / Gyn : well acted, interesting societal issues, some scenes very sad and others ultimately funny. But neurosurgeons, no thanks, enough of that, i agree. Even if CSW were part of it i would have passed.
Required fields are marked *
Opal
January 3, 2012 at 11:25 PM
Intersting we have so much opposite preference. Ob&gyn is my least fave, acting poorly. Brain is much better though still can't beat the white tower. Love cho inpyo there
Required fields are marked *
6 mary
January 3, 2012 at 6:13 AM
or it could be a team of dorky surgeons with lots of bromance but no hope of getting married?
Required fields are marked *
7 Tha
January 3, 2012 at 6:26 AM
Uhm Tae Woong in anything, Im IN!!!
Required fields are marked *
Maricel
January 3, 2012 at 9:20 AM
Yay!!! me tooo
Required fields are marked *
8 lazyocean
January 3, 2012 at 6:39 AM
Dr Taewoong......treat me, cure me, heal me... please....
Required fields are marked *
9 Arhazivory loves UTW
January 3, 2012 at 6:45 AM
I do love my Tae woong, but why does this drama sound like too much drama for me to be into it? I'm yet to watch Brain (its on the list) because I've heard that it has an Iryu feel to it, and if that's the case then I'm in.
For Taewoong though, I'll watch anything. ^^"
Required fields are marked *
10 sherry_laruku
January 3, 2012 at 6:46 AM
Seriously how many neurosurgeon cases are there per day in the hospital? Another ER, another Grey Anatomy with added hospital chaebol and dying relative/loved ones again?
No thanks.. especially not another neurosurgeon cases... so far, all K-drama medical drama is one big yawn... Same goes for Brain. The only thing I can tolerate Brain is because of crazy Dr Lee Gang Hoon, superbly perform by Shin Ha Kyun... His character is too bizarre to be realistic but so damn interesting to watch...and that's about it. Thankfully, the romance is down-play and hence created tension, less is more i presume in this case...
Required fields are marked *
sherry_laruku
January 3, 2012 at 7:09 AM
Shin Ha Kyun reminded me of Mandy Patinkin.. The drama has no substance without them... they're irreplaceable..
Required fields are marked *
sherry_laruku
January 3, 2012 at 8:19 AM
Come to think of it, plastic surgeons would be more interesting.. I believe there should be a lot of interesting plastic surgery cases in korea. I would watch Uhm Tae Woong in a light-hearted, rom-com version of Nip/Tuck...
Required fields are marked *
Mystisith
January 3, 2012 at 8:27 AM
MBC tried it in 2008, with " Before and after : Plastic surgery clinic " : not good.
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Before_and_After:_Plastic_Surgery_Clinic
Required fields are marked *
11 Hallyusurfer
January 3, 2012 at 6:49 AM
I hope KBS would not take this, it will get compared to brain..
I do agree with Mystisth that the medical cases are boring..but I love Shin Ha Kyun's acting, it didn't matter to me.
Medical dramas are kinda love-hate thing for me. Especially House and Grey's
Required fields are marked *
12 Cynthia
January 3, 2012 at 7:35 AM
Isn't it time that our Tae-Woongie takes on a rom/com? I want to see him pulling off the funny and silly with a leading lady. He's so sweet and dorky, why not showcase that aspect of his personality? He can't leave it all on the 1D2N set.
This particular confusion sounds like a "Poseidon" in the making. And we all know how that turned out. Siwon must still be licking his wounds after that one.
Not a fan of medical dramas - either K or U.S. The last one I watched was "Doogie Houser" and enjoyed it because....well, it was Doogie Houser....
Oh, and E.R., because it was George Clooney. And season 1 of Grey's, because of McDreamy....
God, am I shallow or what?! :)
Required fields are marked *
Betsy
January 4, 2012 at 6:41 PM
I completely agree with you. Uhm Tae Woong should totally do a fluffy and fun RomCom for his next project!! :)
Required fields are marked *
13 Chorda
January 3, 2012 at 7:46 AM
Why are they always neurosurgeons... there are so many specializations. =_=
Required fields are marked *
sugarpunch
January 3, 2012 at 9:26 AM
i don't mind watching one about butt specialists;) haha kidding. but I do agree. If i'm not wrong there's one about gynaes already right?
Required fields are marked *
annie
January 3, 2012 at 11:47 AM
High Kick 3! lol.
Required fields are marked *
14 observantzani
January 3, 2012 at 8:17 AM
This isn't the only medical drama coming out. Later in the year, jTBC is releasing one as well. It's called "Syndrome". And guess what? Dun dun dun dun..... It's about neurosurgery again! Seriously they can come up with better concepts. The medical field has so many interesting facts that screenwriters aren't tapping in.
Required fields are marked *
observantzani
January 3, 2012 at 8:22 AM
Actually I forgot it's going to premiere after Padam Padam. Anyway, if they change the name to Tower.... wouldn't it be compared to the White Tower (2007)? I heard it's the best medical drama ever. Sad that it'll get compared to that and Brain if ever it ends up in KBS. They should try cable, maybe they'll have better luck.
Required fields are marked *
15 hwa
January 3, 2012 at 8:40 AM
First class man, first class actor. And he can sing too (omg...that ODI, and Impression, or Haruga) Full of surprises. Love him so bad.
Required fields are marked *
16 foolmoon
January 3, 2012 at 9:58 AM
when it comes to medical drama, so far I only go watching US or J drama. Try Brains once, up to 4-5 (?) episodes, but losing my interest because I felt like the focus shifted too much to the love triangle... I always have a soft spot for med-dramas, guess I'll try watching this one (^+^)
Required fields are marked *
17 24points
January 3, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Medical drama, rom-com, thriller, historical drama, CF, who cares. The point is Mr Uhm...
Required fields are marked *
18 crazedlu
January 3, 2012 at 11:01 AM
i hope they veer for the tight, comedic dialogue.
Required fields are marked *
19 Damselfly H
January 3, 2012 at 11:09 AM
I think UTW didn't achieve his full potential in Dr. Champ. Maybe Tower would be the drama.
Required fields are marked *
Kate Cee
January 3, 2012 at 4:16 PM
I agree - he's too much "House" copycat in Dr Champ
Required fields are marked *
helga
January 5, 2012 at 6:04 AM
Agree. But thank God, UTW looks much better than poor Laurie.
Required fields are marked *
20 yong in
January 3, 2012 at 3:03 PM
i'll watch it for UTW : ) Thanks for the info.
Required fields are marked *
21 Gustave154
January 4, 2012 at 6:17 AM
Wut Brain is an awesome drama!
If its gonna be like Brain i'll watch it!
Required fields are marked *
22 Sarah
January 6, 2012 at 9:44 PM
kyaaaaaa i love his smile!
Required fields are marked *