With the ink barely dry on an agreement between Universal Media Studios and FOX to renew House, M.D. for an eighth season, I had the opportunity earlier this week to catch up with series executive producer Katie Jacobs. Jacobs acknowledged by phone that agreement was “quite a hurdle, and it’s not over yet.”
With not everyone yet signed for Season 8, “all the pieces necessary to live up to what I think this show can be next season are not quite in place.” But she is also hopeful that everything will be “any moment.”
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It’s been widely reported that Lisa Edelstein has not yet signed on for next season. But Jacobs is committed to “giving it my all” to sign the actress, who plays Dean of Medicine Dr. Lisa Cuddy. Jacobs agrees that Edelstein is a crucial piece of House’s (and House’s) world.
“Lisa is such a valuable member [of the cast]. I challenge any other actress on TV to do what she is so—does so, you know, seemingly effortlessly. She goes between drama, comedy, intelligence, sex appeal… It’s certainly not my plan or David’s plan or the creative team’s plan to not have Lisa in the show, and I can just say that I will not rest until I figure it out.”
But signing contracts with the network and the actors is just the start. “In terms of getting ahead of the storytelling” (which is where they need to be by the time they start shooting later this summer), there is much, much more to do. Until all the actors are on board and they know exactly what they are dealing with as far as budget and cast, it’s harder to sit down and plan out the season. And until negotiations with Edelstein are concluded, Jacobs is missing a very important piece of the Season 8 story. “When you don’t have a deal done, you can’t then go and do your job, which is to make the creative right. “If I know how much I have or don’t have, I can’t even begin to do my job.”
Although the series usually begins production in July, this year they’re starting a bit later—in August. A lot of fans read this news to mean the series would be airing later in the year, and not premiere, as it usually does, in September. According to Jacobs, “It was a personal request from [series star] Hugh Laurie, who very rarely makes personal requests. That’s why, I think, if he’s going to make one, he’s certainly entitled to it.” Laurie is releasing a Blues album, Let Them Talk this summer (it’s already out in Europe). He’s been touring Europe in connection with the release, and then he’s also filming a movie, Mr. Pip.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - MusicandHouse
So 22 episode but some actors are only signed for 18, that means all those actors will miss 4 episodes over the season. I guess that could work as long as they are not all missing at once.
2 - Switman
Good interview. Thanks. Again.
3 - sunnysea
Thank you for getting this interview out so quickly!
4 - El
Thank you Barbara, that's the way to do a write-up on an interview with Katie Jacobs, other critics should take notice.
5 - Sneaky Microbe
Excellent interview, Barbara! Have been holding my breath for this one.
Lisa E. is a MUST-HAVE for [H]ouse. I honestly don't think I could watch it without her. The chemistry between her and Hugh L. is the main thing that got me hooked to the show. There are sparks when those two are simply in the same room for whatever the reason.
Finally, it has hurt tremendously to watch House the character evolve over the last few seasons, find happiness, then come crashing down hard. And now he possibly has tumors secondary to dabbling in an experimental drug???!!! KJ obviously cares about the characters, so I simply don't understand why it feels like they are TORTURING the main character here at the end of Season 7. It's torture that is tortuous to watch.
6 - Betty
Thank you for the interview, Barbara and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this. I have to say I am once again disappointed to read that tptb really don't do change and happiness. So what's left to explore then? Does that really constitute creativity? I can only think of a couple of scenarios as the endgame with their way of thinking, and with that, they'll be losing yet another viewer for season 8. What a waste of a tremendous creative opportunity. It's cowardly of them. Sorry for the negativity but I've lost faith in them.
7 - Berta
This part killed me: "And so I’m told, he is quite the boxer, very good at it. He has incredible stamina, and the pain doesn’t seem to bother him at all.” lol! Thanks, Barbara, for a speedy job well done.
8 - Laura Saxon
I don't care about season eight at all at the moment. I'm mostly angry that it might be the last.
9 - Reality Check
The Cuddy character has been burned out; there is absolutely nothing left for her to do. If Lisa E was smart, she'd wave bye-bye to House and go off an get her own projects. Surely she has enough mojo in that town to score her own gig?
10 - Joan
Nice interview! I was curious to hear what KJ would say about this 'change' issue and I must say I don't understand why she and all tptb, and actors who toe the 'party line' all have to keep saying that no, no, no he really doesn't change and can't change etc.. I do not see what the big deal is, why they all 'protest too much' on this point.
KJ says that House has had these different experiences, that he is processing them and understanding himself better and may then make some different and better choices in his life. Umm, excuse me but is'nt that exactly how people (shhhh) change their lives? I don't even want to belabor the point but it is OBVIOUS to anyone who has watched the show that House has changed through the years, thru therapy, trying to live off drugs, being in a committed relationship, etc..and he did all of those things because he did'nt want to live the drug-addicted, lonely, miserable life he had before trying therapy, trying to be a good boyfriend, trying to be a better man. Who could see what he did with Hannah in Help Me and not see that he is not the man he was in season 1. What part of any of these big storylines did not show him changing? Its not just 'revealing' who he is -- Who House is changed a good deal since we first met him still licking his wounds over Stacy and hiding from patients.
If they admit that there has been incremental changes in the heart and mind of their lead will Fox implode? Have they convinced themselves we think House will change into a purple elephant or something rather than a 'slightly' evolved human being??!! I know I'm just being snarky now but I am tired of getting this odd and rather disingenuous line from everyone, esp. Shore, Lisa E. repeats it, Hugh, now KJ. If we all hold hands and take a deep breath I think we are all grown up enough to say that the character of House has changed over time and thats a good thing. And we all agree to the proviso (which seems to be the nub of the problem) that House will still always remain an arrogant, annoying, narcissistic, somewhat insane genius and an ass...but a noble ass...who has gorgeous blue eyes. OK? Come on, tptb, try it!
11 - Eileen
"Jacobs observed of her hero, “for House at this point it’s: ‘I’ve struggled with addiction. I’ve been sober. I tried love.’"
He tried love. Really? Wow, so that's how TPTB continue to look at season 7, even with the declining ratings since the Huddy breakup? How sad.
12 - Sam
He's "tried love"? The more the people from HOUSE talk about House/Cuddy the more disappointing it becomes. I am now convinced that they never saw what we saw with them. That it was just another arc to try, Cuddy and their love was just another lifeless tool to use to "explore" and dissect House. Now it's outlived its usefulness and has been tossed to the side in favor of another tool. It didn't feel like that to us as audience members but I guess it's hard as writers and producers of a show to see it from our side. I can see how they can do something like this and move on to the next exciting new thing as storytellers.
I just don't get how love is something you try like a different ice cream flavor or a new sport. House and Cuddy were the best ship on t.v., to me, the only couple worth shipping. They had a realness and an authenticity to them and yet were still cool and funny and sexy. All of these things they lost when they hooked them up. Well, they were funny sometimes, but rarely seemed to enjoy one another like they used to, except in the first three episodes and at the end of Larger Than Life, fought the whole way through, there was that awesome first episode but not even in that was there one shred of sexiness, which the couple was rife with before, or one decent kiss (you'd think at least in Now What we'd get one good one. This is not something I blame on the writers though. Many of us read the teaser for Bombshells and I have to say that "a little heat generates" did not happen. They wrote it in for us, but Hugh and Lisa didn't act it out well. I don't know what happened with Hugh and Lisa but in earlier seasons they used to do their jobs well at this. This season, not so much), and Cuddy didn't seem as smart as she was before they got together. We fans saw what House and Cuddy could be and what we got was not that. It could've been. Most of these writers are the same ones who gave us the awesome House/Cuddy of past seasons. I can't tell you how disappointing it is to know that's all we will probably get. I feel stupid for caring about a couple on a t.v. show more than their creators do. I hate starting out this comment with something negative but it's so frustrating to hear the way they saw House/Cuddy. I don't want to be ungrateful like we didn't get anything. I think the writers did give us some good moments for the 15 episodes they planned to give us.
To add in the more positive side, I'm glad she's being so nice about Lisa. That's another thing we've been asking about and it's nice to hear that at least one of the exec. producers (I don't know how David Shore feels about her or her character) values her. And I really hope Lisa re-signs for next season. I couldn't continue with the show if I didn't at least have her on my screen next season. I'm worried about where she's going to be delegated off to with these new negotiations and episode cuts. Is Cuddy going to revert back to season 1 with her relationship with House? How unsatisfying. Are they going to be largely boss/employee that with a few oblique, snarky references to their relationship as the only reminder that they were even together?
Tbh, I'm not really looking forward to the new season at this time. I really wish it were different. And I hope something happens in the finale to make me change my mind to make me excited about where he's going to be next season. I can't help but feel uninspired by whatever exploration they do of House. He's the same and everyone's the same and that's all they'll ever be. But it's not only that, because I do think that they have to stay fundamentally the same. It's also that their circumstances change for a little while but then like a giant rubber band, things snap back to the same-old, same-old. The change the character's lives, in their circumstances, is never permanent. All of the ducks are the same as they've always been with the same lives that they had at the beginning of the show-seven years ago. Taub is the only one who's a bit different, with his separation and getting some girl pregnant.
Another thing that makes me unexcited for the next season is Hugh. Hugh did interviews last season mostly for his new c.d. not because of us or the show. It's like he, the star of the show, has one foot out the door. He seems like he's phoning it in now, like he's just dutifully fulfilling his contractual obligation and then as soon as he's free, he's out of there. Like he doesn't care to do interviews anymore unless it serves his music career. How does he think that affects fans of the show when the main guy isn't invested in it anymore? How can we love the show if he doesn't seem to anymore, if in his mind he's already moved on to his music career? This season started out being the best season ever. I loved the show, the people behind the scenes who worked hard (and I still appreciate all the hard work they do, that hasn't changed at least) to bring us each new episode, the characters, I loved Huddy and thought Hugh was the best. Now it all seems tarnished with all the contract negotiations, Hugh half gone from the show in his mind, the way the season unfolded for Huddy, the fighting between Greg Y and the fans which have really strained relations with them and their fanbase, the dismal interviews about House's future and the future hope of Huddy, Lisa's not signed on yet and I'm just as a fan going through all of this for the past few months, after awhile, it gets to you.
I hope for all of us next season is better than this one turned out to be. And I hope Katie (and Amber Tamblyn) has great success with her new show. And thank you very much for doing this interview, Barbara.
13 - Eloise
What how can anybody critise Hugh he still keeps giving amazing performances no matter what! He does not owe anybody anything. He has given some recent interviews here in his own country and just this week he said he still loves playing House. I'm not a shipper of any kind I'm just for House and his struggles. But I'm fed up with the whole Huddy fallout, its called House MD and thats what its about. I'm fed up with everybody dissing this show, am I the only person still really enjoying it and excited for the final two of 7 and season 8? Surely not?
14 - Ladybelle Fiske
Thank you for this. I also think that they didn't give the love relationship enough time, though I feel they may have based it on the relationship between "Hot Lips" and Hawkeye on MASH. In that show, the 2, who were always attracted to one another, got together briefly, only to realize that it wouldn't work because she was bossing him around too much and he wasn't that kind of boy. However, assuming they get Lisa Edelstein back-- and I'm sure they will-- I wish they would try again and bring some other aspects in such as Lucas and possibly even Stacy. I realize this is unlikely. But you know, I think that the end of the show would be best with the two getting back together-- unless they have House die-- which would be sad. So there are all those possibilities and I'm sure Mr.Laurie will give the work his all, as he always does. He's a very great actor.
15 - Berta
Nope. You are most certainly not, Eloise. I'm very much looking forward to the finale and season 8. I'm glad Huddy is OVER. I'm not a shipper either and felt that Huddy was ridiculous. If TPTB had wanted to show House in a loving relationship, they should have brought in an new actress.
16 - barbara barnett
He's "tried love"? The more the people from HOUSE talk about House/Cuddy the more disappointing it becomes. I am now convinced that they never saw what we saw with them. That it was just another arc to try, Cuddy and their love was just another lifeless tool to use to "explore" and dissect House.
What she meant in the context of that sentence is that lots has happened to him. The choices he makes are going to be influenced by that. What's important to him--really important to him. Is love important enough to him to do whatever it takes? Is being sober worthwhile? Right now, apparently not for him. That's all she meant.
But I think at this point, no matter what any of the creative team say will be construed (or misconstrued) as a negative.
17 - Dalilita
Please KJ, DS and writers, if Cuddy comes back on season 8, would you mind giving her back the sense of humor she used to have (you know, that wonderful sense of humor that you inexplicably took away at the very beginning of season 6), and make her interactions with House sassy and fun again?
Also I entreat you to please, PLEASE, bring the clinic back as well.
Thanks a lot for the interview, Barbara, and thanks everybody for your comments :).
18 - barbara barnett
Dalilita and everyone,
Thanks for your kind comments. I agree: bring back the clinic!
19 - Committed
"... I think that at its best, House will sort of understand himself better, and understanding himself better, maybe make choices that serve him in whatever it is he wants out of life. It’s up to him now. What does he choose?”"
That's the most positive statement I have heard in a long time. If they go this route we might see what he really wants, not what he thinks he wants or thinks will lead to greater happiness. All that has done is led him on the trail of self-destruction.
A greater degree of happiness - that's really all I want for him whatever that may be.
Barbara - Thank you, thank you. I have new found hope for season eight.
20 - Doreen
Thanks for the nice interview Barbara
This is music to ears regarding where they are going with season 8.
BACK TO THE STORY so less of the silly visual hi-jinx.
DELVING MORE INTO HOUSE'S MIND i've been waiting for this since at least season 5.
I also completely agree when she states that he won't change but understanding himself better may make his life better. I have never thought it would be believable to his story if they fixed him by the end and he would be happy so i am glad she has clarified this also.
21 - Tourmaline
Thank you for bringing us this interview, Barbara. It sounds like so many people central to the show are ready to move on to new projects, so ending the show with an eighth season would be a good idea in my opinion. Best to go out while still popular than fade away. But, TPTB - it may be a logical conclusion to the show but please don't kill off Greg House!
22 - a small microbe
am i the only one that heard: damage control in between the lines spoken in the interview.
i am tired of them trying to justify hose tried love and it didn't work. that is what happens when you rigidly plan something and don't give yourself space to breathe. characters have a life of their own. i am almost positive that house in the written word borders in unbearable, yet, when hl breathes life in to him, house becomes a different person. the same way if a different actor played house, it would be a different house. what i did notice was that in s7 the sparks between hl and le were not there. how sad. it would have been so novel to see a relationship between 2 painfully flawed adult characters develop on screen. all you get to see are 20 year olds in relationships. they had a 50 and a 40 year old couple to break the mold and what did they do: they broke and killed the relationship while mocking the viewers. smart move!!
23 - The Other Barnett
"But, by and large, I don’t think House changes. I think that at its best, House will sort of understand himself better, and understanding himself better, maybe make choices that serve him in whatever it is he wants out of life."
I know this was an interview, so KJ did not have to give incredibly well-thought-out answers...but that comment either gives an insight to the attitude the creative people at House about life....or it is not as deeply considered as it should be (and may explain the inconsistent quality of this season). House has changed. Maybe he has not made the "Damascus Road" changes that people expect to see, but tell me that he is not living his life in a different way because of what he has experienced and what he has determined to be where his weaknesses/strengths are. Part of change is adapting and that is what Jacobs described in that quote.
Delving into House's head. Are we talking about the end of season 5? Are we talking about seasons 1-4? Are we looking into his head or seeing his being through his work? If it is outside in, then all will be enjoyable for the viewer....if it is inside out....then it may be another irritating experience and a tiring one at that.
24 - Celia
Sometimes I'm appalled when I hear how much detail goes into producing the Teasers for each episode , which with few exceptions, are the same thing over and over again. Perhaps there's money to be saved there and originality to be explored. I think the stories should take precedence over the Sets. LE was quoted as saying " nobody wants it to be over" and I would hate to see her exit before the [H]ouse ring cycle was completed. She's a fine actress and a fan favorite. I'm also going to miss Wilson presence, although sometimes it's felt like he was only in 18 episodes this Season. He's a mensch and his scenes with Laurie are so terrific. But 'all in all' I'm delighted to have a Season 8 and I wish the cast & crew terrific Season.
25 - Harley
No damage control witnessed by me and also the mocking that was done was by GY which even though he is an ass was partly justified since some fans think the show is Huddy MD instead of HOUSE MD.