TV Preview: House, M.D. – “Selfish”

There be spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution if you are spoiler-phobic.

With the emotional impact of last week’s House, M.D. season premiere, the series returns to more familiar ground Monday night with “Selfish.” Guest starring Alyson Stoner (Phineas and Ferb) as a roller blading teenager who collapses at a charity competition, House (Hugh Laurie) and company are confronted with balancing their usual risk-laden approach to medicine with House trying very hard to make his new relationship with Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) work.

Their relationship is immediately out in the open (really, did you expect House to keep his mouth shut?), as neither House nor Cuddy want it to remain secret. Wilson, who still believes that House is hallucinating the entire thing must be proven wrong (in the most direct way possible). The team’s reaction to the House-Cuddy thing is interesting, with little agreement from the fellows as to whether it’s good or bad for them. The episode also features one of the best clinic stories in several seasons.

I’m not going to spoil the episode (you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?), but I will say that the episode deals with the real-life issues confronting Cuddy as she needs to supervise the maverick doctor who is now her lover. But also the episode addresses how House’s practice is also affected. The problems are connected and the resolution is pure House. And just perfect. 

And as long as we’re talking about the future, and if you haven’t yet heard, Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown) has been cast as Cuddy’s mother for an upcoming story arc. Perfect casting if ever there was—Murphy Brown is certainly a Cuddy prototype). So, House, season seven seems off to a very good start; I can’t wait to see where it goes! 

Programming notes: Hugh Laurie is scheduled to appear on Tavis Smiley’s late night interview show on PBS late night tonight. It should be a great interview. Smiley is a thoughtful interviewer and a thought-provoking host. I would expect that Hugh will talk about House, but may also have something to say about his upcoming Blues album. Check your local PBS progam listings. In Chicago it airs at midnight on one PBS station and 1 a.m. on another. 

“Selfish” airs Monday, September 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox.