However, the show rarely makes prognosticators' cuts for the top five dramas. With a surplus of exceptional, innovative dramas on the air — of which House is, of course, one -- it may suffer from a stigma against procedural shows -- of which House is not, exactly, one. However, its flaws may count against it more than, say, Lost's or Grey's Anatomy's, because of the procedural elements.

The charge is that it's formulaic, and while that's not completely untrue, I disclaim it some weeks, and dismiss it others. Because even when it's not breaking free of its template, what it does within that template reaches higher and takes more creative risks than can be shrugged off with accusations of simplicity. Complex characterizations and thoughtful presentation of issues combine with quality writing, where episodes are structured so that many of the character and plot revelations are both unexpected yet completely congruous.

House is also funnier than most comedies on the air — which I realize is a backhanded compliment these days, but I've given the show enough, um, forehanded compliments to get away with it. In a rather Housian dig at Desperate Housewives' Emmy success last year, Shore had joked that perhaps his show should have entered in the comedy category. That's not likely to ensure success either, but whatever the Emmy outcome next month, House is having a pretty good June.

News to get House fans through the summer: FOX is rerunning season two throughout the summer with two back-to-back episodes Tuesday evenings beginning at 8 p.m. The season two DVD is scheduled for release on August 22. The webcast of the cast and producers speaking at an Academy of Television Art & Sciences event is now online at the Emmys site.