“In the upcoming episode “Unfaithful,” revealed Jacobs, giving me a bit of a mini-scoop for fans, “there’s a piece of music so beautiful so evocative and amazing — and composed by Hugh Laurie!” House fans do notice (and covet) those too-rare moments when House plays piano or guitar (or even sings). Of course, Jacobs acknowledged, Laurie has contributed musically to the show several times, but not quite in this way.
“Hugh has contributed not only in front of the camera, but has contributed in a way nobody else could. He is such a partner.” When Laurie signed on for an eighth season, he was made an “official” executive producer. In fact, early on during this season, he is doubly credited as both star and “executive producer.” Some very observant fans noticed that soon thereafter, his executive producer credit mysteriously disappeared from the opening credits. Although Jacobs isn’t involved in that part of the process, she explained that, true to very modest Laurie’s nature, “he probably doesn’t want the double credit up on the screen. He’s much more demure about these things. He is an executive producer, and rightly so. I don’t think that Hugh even knew it was going to be there; and when he saw it said…no, no, no…don’t want another credit up there! “The truth of the matter is,” Jacobs acknowledged, “there are three people who run this show: David (Shore), myself, and Hugh. Hugh has been contributing in so many ways from the very beginning, which is why the show is so successful. He’s really been an executive producer from the start.”
House airs Mondays on FOX at 8:00pm ET.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Manu
Thank you SO much, Barbara. Very interesting reading. They seem really invested in House and Cuddy's relationship, and that's enough for me to care, even if recent events turned me off a little. I'm sure it will pay off in the end.
Great news about HL. I guess episode 15 will be directed by Yaitanes? I remember him talking about a long scene he shot of House on the piano back in october. I can't wait.
2 - Orange450
Barbara, thank you so much for this wonderful interview and article! What a great behind-the-scenes view " I don’t think KJ would have been so forthcoming for anyone else! I *love* the esthetic feel and look of the show, which is one of the most attractive productions I’ve ever watched " so I hope you told her she’s doing a great job with that. And I think she does an outstanding job on the music, as well.
The conflicts involved in combining motherhood with an intensely challenging career will certainly resonate with me. The practical critic in me wonders why Cuddy hadn’t already lined up some very good childcare options when she thought she was going to adopt (I know it’s not fair of me to assume that she hasn’t, but somehow I don’t think she has.) It may be sacrilegious to make this comparison " but in the few episodes of Sex in the City that I saw, I thought that the difficulties of single motherhood combined with challenging, time-consuming profession were depicted quite realistically. And Miranda had a working mother’s dream of a babysitter! It’ll be interesting to watch Cuddy (and House) work it out.
3 - cath
Thanks for sharing the interview Barbara! Hugh Laurie is such a sweet and humble person! I love him even more after reading the last paragraph!
4 - to21be
Thanks, Barbara. That was a nice treat.
I look forward to HL's upcoming musical composition. And it's nice to get an answer on the mysterious exec producer credit.
5 - Orange450
Oh, and I forgot to say that when I first saw that picture of House going eye to eye with the baby, I burst out laughing. We have a picture of my husband holding our newborn (now 25 year old) daughter in the *exact* same position, with the *exact* same expression on his face. And with me in the background looking on adoringly - but unfortunately - looking nowhere near as good as Cuddy does! Labor and delivery do a number on one's photo-readiness.
I think that House and the baby look like equally worthy competitors - let the games begin!
6 - Luna
I had to skip some of the article (spoilerfobe, sorry!) but I loved the part about the music. She does make a great job picking the songs and styles, doesn't she?
Even if the songs on their own may or may not be outstanding, they always fit perfectly in the edit.
There was only ONE song that I can recall asking myself... what the devil is that? and it was Line in the Coconut, because I didn't know it, didn't recognize it as the one the Kutner's "patient" was singing, and the style of it clashed horribly to that Cuddy moment, to my ears.
Other than that. All the music from House has always been great!
7 - cath
ah..the Lime in the Coconut song at the end of Let Them Eat Cake reminds me of how Barbra Streisand sings cheerful songs and make them sound so sad..
8 - Alice
Thanks for the interview, but except the tidbit about the music the rest is much of the same, Cuddy or House and Cuddy, quite uninteresting.
9 - Gerry
Wonderful interview Barbara--I always love learning about the music of the show, because I love it but have little background to really discuss it. And I love knowing that Hugh Laurie is now officially an executive producer and really always has been. I'm hoping the continuing exploration of House and Cuddy brings in a few more elements of caring than we've seen so far and that we see a little more of House dealing with what he wants, rather than characterising what's going on between them as what Cuddy wants. The writers usually end up going some very interesting places, so I expect I'll enjoy this ride, too, in the end.
10 - Sera G
Hello, Barbara!
Thanks for the lovely surprise. I enjoyed the interview with Katie Jacobs very much. One small problem, the (adorable) photo of the "Huddy Family" (wishful thinking) covers part of the interview. I am unable to read from, "The tension...actually looking to fess-up to looking for a relationship..."
Is there anyway you could fill in the blanks?
Again, thanks for the wonderful forum you provide. Can't wait for Monday night.
Sera G
11 - flippet
Oh, yay for more music from Hugh! That's very exciting. He's so unbelievably talented, and it really is a treat to hear anything he does. And it's fabulous for House, too...his music reveals a side of his inner thoughts that he really doesn't share anywhere else.
12 - Manu
Hey, Sera G. It says: “The tension and chemistry are still there. Neither one of them is actively fessing-up to looking for a relationship, but they are drawn to each other. None of the flirtatiousness is going to go away. The stakes are very high for them. The attraction is still there. We are absolutely going to continue that. It’s real and it’s palpable. And it’s who they are.”
13 - Sera G
Thans, Manu!
Sera G
14 - barbara barnett
Thanks for all of the kind words, guys. Just got in from a very long drive home (from Bloomington Indiana) in an ice storm. Sheesh. But it was nice to come home to your warm words. Katie was gracious and kind enough to continue the interview past the time agreed upon with the PR person arranging it. Really a delight to interview.
15 - Grace
That was GREAT, Barbara!!! Such a pleasure to read! I think this is the first KJ interview where she didn't go on and on about 13!!
My favorite song in HOUSE, as far as I can remember, was BEAUTIFUL, sung by a guy who's name escapes me at the moment. I'm sure someone here will know it. :) I loved "Lime in the Coconut" but I couldn't get it out of my head for several days. I'd be going along minding my own business and it would just pop right out of my mouth!!
I can't wait until Monday. Oh how I've missed Hugh. I just LOVE him to death.
Hope you all caught him and BFTV on LENO Friday night! If you missed it, it's all over the internet. :)
Thanks again, Barbara!
16 - Grace
P.S. HOUSE and HUGH are up for SAG Awards next Sunday, Jan. 25th at 8 and 11 p.m. EST on TNT and TBS. I don't know about a pre-show or red carpet show. Could be one on E!
FINGERS CROSSED ya all.
17 - Sue
Barbara, this was a nice interview. I think they do a great job choosing the music for the show. I wouldn't listen to most of the songs they use on a regular basis, but they do choose music that fits the episodes.
I posted in another article you wrote that I don't think bloggers or critics who choose to interview producers can be as critical as they might otherwise be. I am not saying anything specifically about you, but in general, can bloggers bite the hands that feed them? If you were as critical as some fans have been, would Katie Jacobs have given you the interview? The publicists check out anyone who their client will eventually speak to. I am respectful of what you write.
I live in chronic pain. The 16th of January was the 16th year anniversary of my accident. I am very interested in how they will handle the Painless episode. There are many aspects to living in pain; most of the time people who don't have it don't understand it. None of the writers or producers have this condition. I want to see if they hit all the relevant points of what this kind of life involves. There are times when Wilson made some valid points to House about his pain; there are just as many times Wilson made invalid points as well.
Katie said that Hugh has been involved in the show since the beginning. I see it in a lot of things, but two things I don't see Hugh's association with are the hiring of the new actors and the 13 story. Maybe a reason I don't see it is because House has changed since the old team left, and the change is not for the better. The lack of talent in the new actors and the lack of chemistry with them and Hugh have changed a huge part of the show. I think these decisions are made independent of Hugh. While Hugh is acting, the producers are making these decisions. I see Hugh having input in the process as it is taking place. I perceive that Hugh is not happy with the changes, and it comes out of House in a noticeable way.
I don't know how familiar KJ is with the online remarks about 13. Here's hoping she really does know and is going to do something with her.
18 - Bertha S.
Thank you!!! I hadn't planned on watching Painless or the next episode since it appears to be a continuation of Cuddy's baby momma drama, which I absolutely detest. And no, I don't identify with Cuddy's stupidity and lack of planning. This is something one would expect from young mothers with very, very few internal and external resources. The storyline is simply ridiculousn for a highly-educated professional woman in her mid-forties.
I just can't believe DS or HL is coming up with this stuff. House was a great show. Maybe S6 will be better.
19 - Eve K
Great interview! I do not agree that you have to be nice and bias to interview the producers. I also think that a lot of the crazy people on the internet wouldtnt last one day as a writer, so they should just shut up with their banter. Jacobs and Co does an amazing job!
Elvis Costello made the version of "Beautiful" exclusively for House MD. This was meant to mirror the little girls version of the song in the beginning of the show, but give it a more Housian male sound.
I love the musical part of the show. It reminds me of another favourite show of mine, dare I say it - Gilmore girls - a show I loved for the music and cultural references. They had a lot of indie music and of Elvis Costello. They also had a lot of musicians as guest actors. (Sparks, Sonic Youth)
I think that because HL is a musician with a very good taste and Katie Jacobs also has great taste, that side of the show is excellent. Using contemporary hits can make the show sound "dated" when you view it later, I love that they use old songs from The Who, Boomtown Rats, ans so on. And the classical music and jazz is always a pleasure. (Although using Bachs Prelude in "Informed Consent almost ruined it for me, I couldn't stand that nazi scientist with the rats, all though I did GET the episode) I love a good soundtrack, and Gravity was a heart-wrenching song that fitted perfectly to the scene.
I could go on an on about the music, but I will say that this season I shall try to watch the show spoiler free! I have got the spoilers for the first three episodes but that's it! My New Year's resolution. Have you read the interview with Laurie in Playboy? The URL will take you to it. I don't think there is any spoilers there.
20 - Eve K
I hope you get that I dont mean the commenters on this blog! To discuss things in a good way is always interesting.
21 - Elaine
Like Katie Jacobs, I love the pilot episode, but whenever I see it and compare it to a Season 4 or 5 episode, I find House so completely different - the man AND the show - that I can't understand why Katie Jacobs can't see it. Viewers can see it and continually point it out on message boards, but KJ never seems to address these changes. It wasn't the Princeton 90210 version that we seem to be seeing these days.
My only other comment is that I'm sorry to read that David Shore chose not to make the 100th episode special. The 100th episode is a rare milestone, both for the cast and the fans, and ALL members of the cast who made it special should have been represented in it. I'd elaborate further, but don't want to spoiler it for anyone.
22 - Alex
Elaine, I agree with you, ALL the members of the cast who made the show special should have been represented in the 100th episode, but Shore chose not to put Cameron and Chase in it. I'm sorry for Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer, they deserve better.
23 - dilara altinbasak
Hugh Laurie is adorable with his humble character and gorgeous appearance! HOUSE and HUGH are up for SAG Awards next Sunday, Jan. 25th at 8 and 11 p.m. EST on TNT and TBS.
24 - Sue
Someone commented that Cuddy should have been prepared with child care before she got the baby. Remember, in Joy, Cuddy said she was done with the quest to get a baby. This baby came to her so unexpectedly, she did not have time to prepare. Plus, even if she had a perfect plan in place, no new working mother can anticipate all of the problems that can arise. When you add an 8 year old, snarky, sarcastic misanthrope to the mix, no one can be prepared.
25 - barbara barnett
It's interesting. I still see House as fundamentally the same as he was in the pilot. He has been consistently written (as consistent as his his paradoxical personality can be). Not all viewers dislike what they see this year. I think that this year has had some of the best episodes of the series. But not everyone is going to see things through my POV. It's all a matter of perspective and perception.
I also think that part of it is expectation. Some one made a comment above regarding leaving people out of a forthcoming episode. When people base their expectations on spoilers, clips or otherwise incomplete knowledge they can't help but be disappointed. I remember the bitterness that preceded the finale episodes, which turned out to be two of the best episodes in the history of the series, if not THE best.
Every season people hate something or another, and it's human nature to do that. In season one, people thought the series was too predictable and formulaic. Then came Vogler, and some people hated him and breaking into the screentime of the main cast. then came Stacy. I remember the terrible bitterness at her insertion into the story with people threatening to leave the fandom because of her. Then there was Tritter. Etc., etc.
From my own POV, I disliked most of the beginning of season 2 (except for Autopsy, where I felt we got MY personal version of House back briefly.) I disliked Acceptance, Spin, TB. House was too sarcastic, too mean for no reason...
But season two turned out to contain some of favorite episodes as well. Like any other show, they will have eps we like and some we don't and that will be different for everyone else.
As far as the bias of a writer or interviewer, noted above and biting the hand that feeds it. Would you say the same thing of any news person? I don't write news, but neither am I beholden to FOX, NBC or the show. I write opinion pieces, essays and interviews. I'm not part of the show, not paid by the show and derive no benefit from it, other than occasional access to people who run , act and write for it. If I didn't try to do that, I wouldn't be doing my job.
Am I 100% objective? Probably not, but I have my own perspective, even if no one else shares it. )I'm going to write what I see, good or bad, and as far as House is concerned it is still far and away the best (in my opinion). Your mileage may vary.