Time for surgery on "House"
Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 7:00 AM by Paige Newman
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TV
I love the predictability of “House” (which returns Monday, Jan. 19, with new episodes on Fox). The last time I was visiting my sister, as soon as the show's patient of the week walked in, I yelled out “lupus!” while my sister countered with “cancer!” and her housemate chipped in “brain tumor!” Maybe it’s not a game for everybody, but as a semi-hypochondriac, I enjoy it.
Fox |
When it comes to "House," my money is always on lupus.
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For me, “House” is the medical equivalent of a crime show. As with the Gil Grissoms of police drama, Dr. House never gets too worked up about any one case. “House” is the opposite of shows such as “ER” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Those shows revel in their “very special episode quality,” while it’s the routine (House’s consults with Wilson, the weekly house break-ins, battles with Cuddy) that make “House” seem more special than those other “it’s an emergency” type shows.
But it’s time for a bit of surgery on “House.” I never really understood why Chase, Cameron and Foreman were ditched for a new team, but I have to admit I do really enjoy Kutner and Taub. I love finding out little factoids about their lives -- whether it’s Kutner’s past as a bully or Taub’s problems with his wife. And the two of them together has created one of TV’s best new bromances.
However, it’s getting crowded at Princeton-Plainsboro, and personally I’d like to show two characters the door. Chase can go. Even when he was a full-time member of House’s team, he never managed to make an impression (and no, even his romance with Cameron wasn’t that interesting).
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If only Thirteen would leave "House," maybe there would be more time for Cameron.
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But the bigger nit to pick right out of this show is Thirteen. Maybe it’s because she used to play Marissa’s would-be lover on “The O.C.,” but I have never been able to buy Olivia Wilde as a doctor.
And the chemistry between her and Foreman (who deserves a better love interest) is zero -- and I don’t care how cute a name “Foreteen” is.
Thirteen brings out the cruel side of this TV viewer because I keep hoping her Huntington’s disease will progress to the point where she can no longer work for House. But mostly, I wonder why she can’t just go away so that Cameron can return to the team. Cameron was a better fit with a more interesting backstory. With Thirteen, between her illness and her would-be bisexuality, it’s as if the writers threw in every plot point they could think of. But that still doesn’t make her half as interesting as Cameron, Foreman, Taub or Kutner.
And while we’re at it … the Cuddy-House romance is starting to feel forced, we need more Wilson, and how about bringing House’s ex-wife Stacy back for a visit. But the main thing, dear “House” writers, is not to feel like you need to shake up the formula. Some of us like the formula.
Editor's note: Several readers have informed me Stacy and House were never married. Sorry about the error.
