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.
“We definitely marry the character elements to the story elements, which I think is what makes the character elements resonate,” said Kaplow. “What we do is layer it in through the mystery, so we're actually able to tell the character story through the medical mystery.”
The Character: “What he says doesn't necessarily follow what he does.”
Because of that medical and character story integration, we often learn more about House through his reaction to the patient of the week. In “Autopsy,” selfless nine-year-old Andie is determined to scrape as much time and as many moments of joy as she can out of her short and painful life. In contrast, House whines about his hayfever, acts defiantly reckless, and alienates his only friend. He also refuses to acknowledge that Andie could be self-aware enough to understand the limitations of her life and be willing to embrace it anyway, in a theme that illuminates his own issues and inability to do the same.
“Autopsy” has House at his most obnoxiously, deliciously Housian, making his usual cutting remarks about his team (to overly emotional Cameron: “You’ll just get all warm and cuddly around the dying girl and insinuate yourself, end up in a custody battle”) but also training his equal-opportunity sarcasm on the idealization of kids with cancer (“It’s basic statistics some of them have to be whiny little fraidy cats”). He doesn't make his “parade of the bald circus freaks” remarks in front of the patient, but he does hammer them home to oncologist Wilson, whose impression of Andie is ridiculed by his friend at the same time as he faces the heartbreaking possibility of losing her fight for life.
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.