I watched about eight episodes of House over the past couple weeks. I'd never really watched it before, and after the third episode, I suspected it was a pretty generic, formula for every episode. A friend confirmed this, and I asked him why he kept watching it. He said it's because Laurie is so great to watch.

I have to agree, his assholey behavior is infinitely entertaining, and a prime of example of one actor making a mediocre show worth watching.

So is this the consensus around here? Without Laurie the show wouldn't have lasted more than a season or two?

I suppose so. Although I don't think every show on the air today needs to be a soap opera to be any good. House seems to be moving in that direction, however. And I guess that makes sense, because Dr. House loves his soaps.

I agree, every episode seems the same. But unlike most people I don't find his "assholey" behavior very charming. Not a fan of the show.

Without the sharp dialogue crisp writing, even Laurie's performance wouldn't have been enough. It's a perfect example of the right person to say the right lines in the right plot lines.

This hits the nail on the head. He definitely owns the lines, but the lines are what are helping make the show and the characters.

And while it can be argued that it is a rather formulaic procedural, the show definitely has more storylines that move through multiple episodes/seasons than say Law & Order - see Cuddy and the foster baby, Chase and Cameron, Wilson and Amber, etc.

Honestly I'm not sure I genuinely understand the point of the thread. Either you like it or you don't. The way you've phrased the title of this thread, it seems like you're basically opening a door that just asks for House bashing. Considering all the new programming that is on to discuss, what difference does anyone else's opinion make if you yourself don't like the show?

I think the worst part about HOUSE is the medical mystery of the week... I only watch the show for the characters (all the supporting cast is just as good as Laurie IMO) and the 5-10 minutes of continuing storyline sprinkled throughout - I usually couldn't care less about the medical mystery - especially because House has to nearly kill them every time... if it isn't the last 10 minutes, he isn't right...but I still watch the show every week.

Don't forget the brunette, the blond and the redhead...

Laurie and the dialog are about the only reasons I watch the show. I agree w/ mdc3000 the actual plot of each eps actually gets kind of annoying at times. I guess they have someone who digs up (or makes up, I don't know how accurate the science on the show is) obscure medical problems to turn into eps. The fact it goes through the same routine/steps every time actually gets kind of annoying (problem presented, first 3-5 ideas/solutions fail & patient almost dies, inspiration hits in some tangental way and the mystery is resolved). I still enjoy the show and watch the new esp, but I already gave away the first two season sets and won't be buying/watching it again.

Of course. It is called HOUSE for a reason.

But the same could be said for shows that really rely on its main star/ co-stars.

If only seeing that 3-way was possible.

My wife has worked in the medical field for a decade now, so when we watch the show she has a tendency to talk to it. She gets caught up in the procedures and what the results are, what that means, that kind of thing. Of course, they could come on and say anything they wanted to as far as the difference it makes to me. Unless it's "The handbone isn't connected to the armbone," I'm not gonna get it.

I watch for the comedy of the show, and I would echo the sentiments of others who feel the supporting cast is pretty strong. I've even come to accept Kal Penn as a doctor. As for the formulaic aspect of the series, I think that's a non-issue. It's built into the premise of the genre--medical dramas have to, at some point, treat patients. If the doctors always had the answers right off the bat, the complaint would be about the unrealism of the characters being know-it-alls.

I just hope that in the final episode, the disease IS lupus.

Uhhhh, Hugh Laurie is the star and Executive Producer. I don't understand the point of this thread. It would be like asking "Is Tom Welling the only reason why Smallville is still on?" or "Is Kyra Sedgwick the only reason why The Closer is still on?" Of course, because this show centers on Greg House.

I don't think anyone would be tuning in if the show were called "Foreman" or "Wilson"

Yes without Hugh Laurie the show is dead

There are many many shows which rely on one character. This is nothing new

All three are the same woman, right?

Some friends of mine insisted I watch this show cos they say I have the same personality as House. I tried watching it, couldn't get into it, and don't know what my friends are talking about. I know I can be a dick but c'mon...

The weekly plots follow a basic formula, so someone watching it for the story and not the characters and dialogue clearly won't like it or even get the point of the show.

And it's not just Hugh Laurie's Gregory House that's important, it's also the surrounding characters too. In particular, without Lisa Edelstein's Lisa Cuddy and Robert Sean Leonard's James Wilson, the show would not be nearly as good.

And the main "shark jump" moment of the show so far in its run has not been due to some change in weekly plot formula, but due to a change in the characters of House's team because (IMO) the new team is not nearly as good or as interesting as the old team. Which simply drives home the point that the characters matter more than the plots on this show.

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Yes, all three photos are of the lovely Olivia Wilde (who really looks fetching as a redhead).

Too bad her character is the most boring aspect of the show.

I've often thought that the only way to enjoy the plot of the show is to know medicine.

I really don't like House character and don't watch this on a regular basis, but it is an ok show.

1. Patient #1 comes in
2. Treatment nearly kills patient #1
3. Patient #2 comes in; House gets an idea for treating patient #1
4. Patient #1 is saved

You have now seen every episode of House.

Jennifer Morrison should do a full episode in the nude for February Sweeps.


I don't understand why NBC does not carry it since it is produced by NBC Universal and USA Network (part of the NBC Universal family) shows the repeats of the FOX show that airs on Monday on Fridays at 8pm Pacific.

Another dumb programming decision by NBC?

Yes, for someone who watches something for plot only.

No, for someone who can watch something for the characters, not just the plot.

(BTW, pretty much every medical series is more character-driven instead of plot-driven, so the first type of viewer probably doesn't even like medical series to start with.)

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Hugh Laurie is the main attraction for the show. I mean, the show is called "House, M.D."

I like the banter, the relationships, medical mystery, etc. It's a well-done show. Though I don't believe it does a great job at the continuing storylines, the actors are so good and the characters are appealing enough that it almost makes up for the shortcomings in the plot.

House is produced by NBC/Universal or Universal Media Studios which is a separate entity from the NBC Network. FOX is probably paying a crap load in licensing fees to be able to air the show and probably spent alot in development fees as well. I don't think the NBC network was even approached about developing House.

Just to give you an example of how strange this licensing stuff works, a few years ago 24's licensing contract with the FOX network was ready to expire. 20th Century FOX TV was shopping 24 to other networks and NBC was interested, however FOX coughed up enough cash to re-sign the show.