Alex O’Loughlin’s Year in Review: 2009

The year 2009 was a hectic one for Alex O’Loughlin and his fans alike! We were treated to a lot of anxiety and excitement, and also had to deal with the cancellation of Three Rivers. Some occasions you may have already forgotten, so here’s a rewind of the past year’s most memorable moments!

January 20 – Moonlight: the Complete Series is released on DVD in North America and makes the #1 position on Billboard’s Top DVD Sales list in the first week of February.

February 5 – After a long absence, the message the fans across the globe have been waiting for appears when Alex O’Loughlin blogs “I’m back!”

February 11 – Michael Ausiello and Matt Mitovich report that Alex is returning to CBS starting with a guest starring role on an episode of Criminal Minds… as a serial killer!

March 6 – A three-month drought comes to an end when the first new photo of Alex appears, taken on the set of Criminal Minds.

March 11 – Moonlight earns a nod from The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films when the nominations are announced for the 35th Annual Saturn Awards. The show is up for an award in the category “Best Television Series Release on DVD”.

March 12 – An article said to have been published by Melbourne’s Herald Sun triggers rumors in the fandom about Alex winning the lead role in the CBS pilot for Three Rivers. The article itself never surfaces on the newspaper’s website and CBS stays mum on the topic the pilot.

March 17 – The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirms that Alex is in negotiations about his role in the Three Rivers pilot.

March 26 – After two long weeks of sitting on pins and needles, fans are relieved and elated when Alex himself confirms his Three Rivers plans.

April 7 – While Alex is in Pittsburgh shooting the Three Rivers pilot, reports surface on the web that he is either in negotiations for or has been cast as the male lead in CBS Films’ feature, The Back-up Plan, opposite Jennifer Lopez.

April  15 – TV Guide Magazine publishes the first quality interview of the year with Alex, who talks about his upcoming projects and more.

April 21 – CBS Films send a message to several fan sites confirming the casting of Alex O’Loughlin in The Back-up Plan and provides us with the official synopsis.

April 25 – TV Guide Magazine shares some hot outtakes and behind the scenes images from Alex’s photoshoot for their “sexiest” May 2008 issue.

April 29 – Criminal Minds episode The Big Wheel with guest star Alex O’Loughlin airs on CBS and his inspired performance receives, ah… killer reviews.

May 2 – Alex shares a quick update on MySpace with his fans.

May 9 - Alex attends the Noche de Niños Gala 2009, an annual charity event benefiting Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. It is his first official public appearance of the year and TV Guide captures him briefly on video.

May 13 – Three months of manic movie madness kick off when The Back-up Plan goes into production! It begins when Alex O’Loughlin and Jennifer Lopez are captured on video leaving a filming location: video 1, video 2.

May 14 – Alex (wearing a T-shirt with the caption “No Pictures”) and Jennifer are shooting at the Elements Kitchen in Pasadena today and paparazzi are the source of photos from the rehearsals, the night shoot and video 1 and video 2.

May 15 – The night shoot continues, but filming moves to the backyard of the Elements Kitchen for a different scene.

May 17 – Alex shows up at the Crustacean Beverly Hills where The Bash is held, a benefit for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The Shield stars Walton Goggins and Michael Chiklis are also present.

May 20 – CBS announces Three Rivers‘ pickup at the network’s upfront presentation in New York City. Alex chats with E! Online about playing a (hot) doctor and is snapped by a paparazzo when he leaves his hotel, looking very cute wearing glasses.

May 25 – Enjoying a break on Memorial Day, Alex goes to Culver City to see a man about his bike…

June 3 - Entertainment Tonight airs an interview with Jennifer and Alex on the set of The Back-up Plan.

June 5 – Two unique photos of a bearded Alex taken at Pebble Beach in August 2008 are kindly provided for publishing by Python Racing Australia.

June 9 - The trailer for Australians Hit Hollywood, a documentary by Kalee StClair, is discovered on YouTube. It also features Alex, with footage dating from his Moonlight days. Three more videos with Alex follow later: advice, slang and accents.

June 13 – At the Donate Life Hollywood Film Festival, the Three Rivers pilot is honored with the Inspire Award.

June 16 – Paparazzi are ready to snap pictures and video tape the arrival of Jennifer Lopez on the Elks Lodge set of The Back-up Plan in Pasadena. The Whiteout trailer first surfaces on the web, two years after the movie was shot.

June 17 – Alex attends a screening at LA’s Harmony Gold Theater of The Tender Hook, a movie with fellow Aussie Matt Le Nevez,  a familiar face from Man-Thing and FEED.

June 18 – Alex and Jennifer return to the Elements Kitchen to rehearse and reshoot some scenes. The Aussie speed demon also finds the time to pick up his revamped  bike!

June 19 – Another scene involving spilled wine and an accidental fire is shot in Pasadena.

June 24 - With a press release CBS communicates the premiere dates for the Fall shows. Three Rivers will air on October 4th… a Sunday. In Burbank, California, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films announces that Moonlight has won the Saturn Award in the category “Best Television Series Release on DVD”. Not bad for Alex’s “little show”!

July 5 – The first of 26 non-episodic commercials for Three Rivers is aired.

July 16 – The Back-up Plan production moves to New York City and mere hours after they’re made, the first paparazzi photos of Alex and Jennifer appear on the internet. Many more photos and videos follow while they are in New York.

July 24 – Jennifer Lopez turns 40 and Alex toasts her on the set of The Back-up Plan at midnight. Celebrating is done in style at the Hotel Griffou in Greenwich Village later that evening.

July 25 – The last day of filming takes Alex to Forest Park in Queens. That night he attends An Evening for Lola at the Edison Ballroom in NYC, where Jennifer is treated to a surprise party organized by hubby Marc.

July 30 – Back in LA to start work on Three Rivers, Alex blogs about shooting The Back-up Plan and expresses his gratitude to his fans for their support.

July 31 - Three Rivers kicks off the TCA Summer Press Tour for CBS from the show’s Paramount set.

August 3 – Alex attends CBS’ TCA Summer Tour All-Star Party at Pasadena’s Huntington Library.

August 5 – The first official stills of Alex O’Loughlin are released by CBS Films to AlexO’LoughlinRocks and Stan on a tractor causes quite a stir!

August 16 – Alex returns to Pittsburgh to film more scenes for Three Rivers, including a rugby scene and the local CBS affiliate airs a segment.

August 24 – Alex turns 33 today and celebrates his “best birthday ever”!

August 29 – Two excerpts about Alex from a book written by The Casting Company are found on the web. The authors are full of praise when they write about his “hotness factor” and his James Bond audition in 2005.

September 6 – It’s him again: Alex blogs!

September 7 – After two years, Alex returns to chat with Craig Ferguson on the Late Late Show – check out the video, the parts that weren’t aired and the pictures!

September 8 – The Season 4 DVD set is released of Criminal Minds and “Working the Scene” is a special feature in which Alex O’Loughlin and Simon Mirren talk about The Big Wheel.

September 9 – After its release was postponed several times, Whiteout finally premieres in LA, with pictures galore of a gorgeous and relaxed Alex on the white carpet.

September 15 – With some practice with Dodgers’ trainer Todd Tomczyk under his belt, Alex braves the crowds at Dodger Stadium to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the LA Dodgers versus Pittsburgh Pirates game. CBS Films releases another shirtless still of Alex O’Loughlin, this time to LovelyLopez.net.

September 16 – Alex attends CBS’ New Season Premiere Party at MyHouse Nightclub in Hollywood.

September 19 – Alex is spotted at GBK Productions’ 2009 Emmy Gift Lounge, A Bazaar for the Senses, held at a private estate in Beverly Hills.

September 29 – Alex delights the audience and talk show host Bonnie Hunt when he appears on her show. His account of throwing the ceremonial first pitch for the Dodgers’ game is comical and the guest himself is absolutely charming.

September 30 – To support The Back-up Plan director Alan Poul, who receives a Special Outie Award, Alex is present at the Outfest Legacy Awards at the Directors Guild of America in LA.

October 1 – Alex’s first ever live chat with fans lasts 62 minutes, but the fans are left with memories that will last a lifetime. In a press release, CBS announces its partnership with Donate Life America.

October 2 – The mutual respect between Alex and Dr. Gonzo is apparent when they both appear on The Doctors.

October 4 – Three Rivers premieres on CBS, but the ratings are disheartening.

October 5 – A video message from Alex is shown at an international convention about organ donation in Berlin.

October 12 – Various media outlets report that the 2010 US release date for The Back-up Plan has been pushed back from January 22 to March 12, in favor Harrison Ford’s movie, Extraordinary Measures.

October 16 – Alex blogs about Three Rivers.

October 29 – One of several PSAs that Alex made for Donate Life airs tonight.

November 10 – Alex attends TV Guide Magazine’s Hot List Party at LA’s SLS Hotel. The Aussie hunk is also one of TV Guide’s Sexiest Stars of 2009.

November 11 – Watch aficionado and IWC timepiece owner Alex is part of the group of celebrities attending an exhibition of Michael Muller’s Galapagos Islands photographs. The event is organized by Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen in support of The Charles Darwin Foundation and takes place at Milk Studios’ Hollywood branch.

November 13 – WHO magazine’s annual “Sexiest People” issue hits the newsstands in Australia and Alex is featured with a smoking hot new picture!

November 18 – Shortly after CBS Films announce having signed an international distribution deal with Sony Pictures, the release date for The Back-up Plan is once again changed on the movie’s official site. The film is now set to open on April 16.

November 25 – The first movie poster for The Back-up Plan is spotted, displayed in a mall.

November 30 – THR’s James Hibberd reports that CBS has pulled Three Rivers, effective immediately, but that all episodes of the initial order of 13 will be completed. Episode 8 was the last one aired. According to various sources, CBS says the show is “on hiatus”.  Alex himself, however, blogs that the show is cancelled and that he is beginning his “process of detachment and will be in touch soon”.

December 3 – Looking fit and relaxed just days after the news broke of the cancellation of Three Rivers, Alex enjoys An Intimate Evening with Alex Band, a Donate Life Rocks event benefiting Donate Life at Cafe Was in Hollywood. He has confirmed his intention to continue his relationship with the charity. CBS Films releases the first movie poster for The Back-up Plan online.

December 14 – An HQ version of a second movie poster for The Back-up Plan is released.

December 15 – This marks the last day of production for Alex on Three Rivers, although for many other cast members, December 14 was their final day on the set.

December 16 – The Elephant Project posts a picture of Alex on Twitter. Taken on December 15 at Paramount, Alex’s photo will be auctioned on eBay with the proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association.

December 17 – Alex dedicates a Donate Life float Family Circle Rose in memory of Fernando Fernandez Alejandre.

December 18 – Yahoo! Movies has the premiere for the first official trailer for The Back-up Plan in HD.