Though she's already heavily involved in all aspects of the show, directing gave her a slightly different perspective on the action, bolstered by the fun of doing something different. "We were all kind of excited about my trying out this new role. So it was very cool."
Her enthusiasm about the atmosphere of the show isn't limited to the novelty of her first foray into directing, despite the challenges of churning out 24 hours of high-quality television each year.
"We have a great workplace in terms of the synergy between (creator and fellow executive producer) David Shore, Hugh (Laurie), the actors, the other writers, the producers and myself," she enthused. "We're all on the same team. We're all trying to climb this mountain together and make it better and better and better."
"Songs have become an important signature to every show, ours included."
Jacobs is also in control of the music for the show, both the score and song selection, and even that is a product of teamwork. "I get a lot of great suggestions from people around me and I sit on it, stew, worry and obsess, as I am right now — I have a mix later today — and then I decide at the last minute which song I'm going to use," she revealed.
She's particularly excited right now because they're preparing the first House soundtrack CD. It will contain songs from all three seasons, plus a couple of tracks covered by star Hugh Laurie's Band From TV, which also boasts Greg Grunberg of Heroes, James Denton of Desperate Housewives, Bonnie Somerville of Kitchen Confidential, and Bob Guiney of The Bachelor. When we talked, Jacobs wasn't sure if the rights had been secured yet for Elvis Costello's rendition of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful," which he recorded specifically for the show, but she is hopeful it will be included — as will be fans who have hunted for the elusive track since "Autopsy" aired.
"The more you show about the characters that relate to him, the more you expand our world."
Article comments
1 - amysusanne
congrats on the great interview. excellent news in the casting of jane adams. that's awesome. i miss seeing her on my television.
2 - Grace
I hope when they are busy developing a new show for FOX, that HOUSE won't suffer because of it.
3 - Methuselah
Once in a while TV produces a good adult program, and that's what "House" has been for me since I first encountered it during the first season. Reminds me a bit of the old 50s series "Ben Casey" about another megalomaniac doctor focused on solving problems.
But the ongoing success of an episodic TV dramatic series depends more on the quality of the guest characters and their situations than on the core characters and their relationships. Thus the great success of series like "The Fugitive", "Route 66", "Dragnet", etc., where the guest bit actors were always vastly better than the hacks in the principle roles and their stories much more interesting.
Unfortunately, modern junk TV like CSI and the offshoots of L&O soon become obsessed with the private lives of the principles and quickly exhaust those possibilities and degenerate into repetition.
4 - Lisa McKay
Congratulations! This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States.
5 - Methuselah
I watched "Half-wit" with great hope, but sadly concluded that "House" is getting too self-involved to be sustaining. Using Dave Mathews added nothing.
I fear that this will be the last season for this program.
6 - Diane Kristine
It might be the last season you'll be watching, but it's far from the last season for the show. It's been getting series high ratings and it's already been announced that it's renewed for a fourth season.
7 - Mahwash
Any latest updates on the writer's strike or on how the plot will develop further? The interview here was great, btw.