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Medical drama scores Uhm Tae-woong, loses broadcaster

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

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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.

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Damn! No Cha seung won? Too bad

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I say great move on "brain surgeons with guns"! I'd watch that. :)

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thanks gf,

Yeah ! forgetting his dialogue !.

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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.

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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

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or it could be a team of dorky surgeons with lots of bromance but no hope of getting married?

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Uhm Tae Woong in anything, Im IN!!!

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Yay!!! me tooo

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Dr Taewoong......treat me, cure me, heal me... please....

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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. ^^"

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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...

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Shin Ha Kyun reminded me of Mandy Patinkin.. The drama has no substance without them... they're irreplaceable..

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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...

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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

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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

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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?! :)

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I completely agree with you. Uhm Tae Woong should totally do a fluffy and fun RomCom for his next project!! :)

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Why are they always neurosurgeons... there are so many specializations. =_=

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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?

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High Kick 3! lol.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 (^+^)

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Medical drama, rom-com, thriller, historical drama, CF, who cares. The point is Mr Uhm...

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i hope they veer for the tight, comedic dialogue.

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I think UTW didn't achieve his full potential in Dr. Champ. Maybe Tower would be the drama.

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I agree - he's too much "House" copycat in Dr Champ

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Agree. But thank God, UTW looks much better than poor Laurie.

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i'll watch it for UTW : ) Thanks for the info.

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Wut Brain is an awesome drama!
If its gonna be like Brain i'll watch it!

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kyaaaaaa i love his smile!

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