Much of the considerable praise attached to House M.D. has focused on Hugh Laurie's incredible performance of an incredible character - the caustic genius we should love to hate, but instead love to love. None of that praise is undeserved. Laurie adds the soul and the sublime finishing touches to Dr. Gregory House.
But there is also a team of writers constructing that character, led by Emmy-winning creator David Shore, and that team deserves equal praise. Lawrence Kaplow is among them, and even he sounded almost reverential in a recent interview as he struggled for words to describe how Laurie interprets their work.
“Hugh ... he is ... if you were to sit on the set and watch him, it is unbelievable the performance that he delivers day in and day out. It's just amazing,” Kaplow raved, demonstrating that proximity doesn't destroy the magic Laurie creates onscreen, in a performance that builds on the rave-worthy scripts.
Kaplow wrote some key episodes last season, including “Detox” (with Thomas Moran), where House's Vicodin use is explored, and season finale “Honeymoon” (with John Mankiewicz), which had House reluctantly saving the husband of the woman he loves. This season's poignant “Autopsy,” however, is the one he's most proud of so far. In it, House attempts to prolong the life of a nine-year-old girl with terminal cancer, after ensuring her wishes are considered.
“We see House in a different way in that episode than we've seen him in others. Generally he berates the patient, and yet in this one he just has a very frank conversation with her, and that conversation is incredibly emotional,” Kaplow explained. “I felt connected to the material from the very beginning.”
The Medicine: “Without that engine, it's a really boring show.”
Though there's a lot of research involved for the medical drama, “I do enjoy science, so that part comes easy to me,” said Kaplow, who ended up operating on sheep at a medical school during his high school summers. Abandoning his “pre-med moment,” he began his television career as an assistant on Clueless and Chicago Hope before writing for Family Law, where he met Shore, who later brought him to Hack, then House.
Kaplow described planning for the House season as a collaborative process. The writers map out the character arcs together, then the individual writers come up with patient stories for their episodes, assisted by three medical consultants.
The most crucial part is structuring the medical mystery, but “it's deceptive,” he said, “because if you look on the web or see what people are talking about, they're talking about character moments, which occupy not a lot of space.”
The medical mysteries, then, are the framework for character exploration. In “Detox,” for example, the tension of whether House's Vicodin withdrawal is causing him to make uncharacteristically bad decisions is what's most memorable about the medical aspect, not exactly what the bewildering array of wrong diagnoses are. However, it's the trail of symptom clues and diagnostic deductions that guides the audience through the episode and through the mind of House.
Article comments
1 - vikk
What a great . . . interview, essay, article, oh, all three. I thoroughtly enjoyed reading this.
2 - S. Savage
I suggesting the writer could have a seen with "The Rock". Dr. House's character it seems like no one could stand up to him but, I think the Rock could. Write something about how The Rock has to have surgery but really doesn't becauce Dr. House mis-diagnosed him and The Rock wants to Slam dunk him. Something like that. thanks
3 - May
Great article. It's really fun to hear from the writer's perspective and delve into the characters deeper than most of the interviews I read, it shows such a good insights of the house character of the writers. I noticed when the 2nd season starts House did act more recklessly than before, Hugh's performance more animated, and wonder where that will lead, now I got a peak, nice. I do agreed that because the medical elements are mixed with character elements, it makes the show so much relevent, and that's what makes it so great. Love the part that he can't praise high enough for Hugh either. He is "The Man".
Really love the article along with the Q&A. Thanks, and keep it up.
4 - treacle-a
Excellent interview.
It makes me sad though that Kaplow is willing to get out there and trawl the net to find out what the fans are thinking, but ends up at TWoP?!
It worries me because TWoP has a history of strong bias against Cameron, the writing of whom Kaplow has been criticised for in the past, and the idea that word might leak back that 'the fans are ANTI-CAM' fills me with dread. Maybe if Laurence reads this comments, he'll consider moseying on over to an LJ community like house_cameron and experience the flip-side :)
5 - deekay
Thank you, all! treacle-a, he mentioned a few places and I'm not sure it was a comprehensive list. TWoP stands out because I asked some follow up questions to it. And not everyone hates Cameron. As I said in the Humpty Dumpty review, I love one of her - I just think she's been inconsistently written. When I said she was "overly emotional" in this article, I meant that's what House was calling her by his comment ... though she was actually great in that particular episode (Autopsy).
6 - Phillip Winn
Since I see now that House is available on DVD, I think I need to check it out. Such devoted fans tell me something!
7 - deekay
I believe part of that "something" is "get the DVDs," Phillip, but the other part is "Tuesdays at 9." It's not a hard show to jump into midstream, since the episodes are largely self-contained. What you've missed in character backstory is made up for in viciously funny sarcasm.
Uh, really, I'm not employed by Fox!
8 - jac
Superb writing for a superb actor. For someone who rarely watches TV, then usually only views those old,wonderful English comedies on PBS, I am not qualified to critique TV dramas. But the few episodes I saw of the first year were so great I bought the DVDs, and actually remembered to watch the first of the season tonight. Now, I am afraid House may not be the man I thought he was. Tonight, he had lost his hair and his honesty! Please, don't make him physically unattractive and dishonest and lose the poignancy of his love scene with his lost love that everyone wants to see more of this year.
9 - mel
great interview!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the show house but i live in australia so we're only up to da carmen elektra one but i still love the show. OH and i need 2 know DOES HOUSE LOVE CAMERON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10 - AR
I have a great idea (medical case) for a show- which actually happened to me. Where can I submit this??
11 - Corrine
The show sometimes gives me sparks on how to making the life eaiser and how to achieve any goals in your mind. Just look how House made it.