Hugh Laurie's in the 'House' -- and so is Kumar
Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 9:57 PM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
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TV
In the season finale, "House" looked like it was divided against itself. Three major members of Dr. House's team -- Foreman, Chase and Cameron -- had moved on. But the three actors who play them (Omar Epps, Jesse Spencer, and Jennifer Morrison) all joined star Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Robert Sean Leonard and executive producer Katie Jacobs for a press tour panel. If that didn't soothe worries that they'd all eventually rejoin the show, the panelists' discussion went on to do just that.
"Everybody is back eventually," said Jacobs. "And everybody is back having changed and in
different capacities."
But they'll find some new faces when they do return. Said Jacobs, "In the first episode, House is alone and House is trying to solve cases by himself. Of course, Cuddy is pissed and Robert thinks he's losing his mind. And Cuddy will insist, and ultimately win, that -- she will insist that he hire a new team. But he will do it in a very Houseian way."
That Houseian way, Jacobs said, involves 40 candidates for the jobs playing "a 'House' version of 'Survivor'." Deals with five actors have been struck that could turn into new regular parts. Among the five will be Kal Penn (Kumar from "Harold & Kumar") as a young doctor with "a very cool procedure," Peter Jacobson as a plastic surgeon, and Olivia Wilde ("The O.C.," "The Black Donnellys"). In true House form, House will make all the candidates wear marathon-like numbers so he can tell them apart, and Wilde will play the mysterious "Number 13."
TIDBITS:
--Fox has the 2008 Super Bowl, and "House" has been given the plum spot right after the game. The show plans to use it for part one of a two-part episode. (Please, don't pull a "Grey's Anatomy" and put a bomb in anyone's body...Kyle Chandler is too busy to defuse it these days anyway.)
--Hugh Laurie was reminded that a British pal of his, the wonderful Emma Thompson, is a big "House" fan who has expressed interest in coming on the show. " I still don't think we could get her, but she did say it," said Jacobs.
