Driving The Ferrari
The New Jersey native joined the series in the second season and has become known for putting the House and Wilson friendship under the microscope. She's drawn to dissect the pair for an almost poetic reason. "I like their rhythm. I like a relationship with rhythm. I like Tracy and Hepburn. I like some of the old TV shows of the golden age that had rhythm, like Bill Cosby and Robert Culp, I Spy, The Wild Wild West, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. You throw in a couple of people, give them some good dialogue, and it almost doesn't matter what they're doing."
The House and Wilson rhythm comes not just from the dialogue itself, but from the chemistry between Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard and from their respective talents. "I know at last one writer referred to it as, 'it's like driving a Ferrari,'" she recalled. "You just trust it's all going to work out. It almost doesn't matter how you screw it up, it will all work out in the end."
"We are so well aware on this show of how lucky we are," she emphasized about the actors. "The only reason we ever put anything even in a parenthetical or an explanatory paragraph is to make sure people understand where the story is going. I think to myself, gee, it will be interesting to see what they do with that. I'm not going to tell them; I'm happy to see what they come up with."
Season four's Survivor arc – where House systematically pared down a pool of candidates to replace Foreman, Chase, an
d Cameron – appealed to her for the opportunity to inject new voices into an established series. "I was partial to the old guy especially, who House called 'Scooter.' Those aren't the kind of characters you can usually get away with putting into medical shows. Generally television is a young place, but since they weren't all staying you could stretch the rules a lot."
But will the now-expanded ensemble tip the balance of the medical/character drama or – gasp – detract from the House and Wilson dynamic?
"It would be a sin and a shame if anything took away from House and Wilson," she intoned mock-solemnly. "I personally wouldn't mind seeing more personal interaction with the other characters just because I'm interested, but the show is called House and there is always a medical mystery that needs to be served, so it's always what we can do within the context of that. And that's going to vary. I also kind of like the occasional off-template episode where you may learn a lot about one character or another. But you can't do them every week or they won't be off-template anymore."
Article comments
1 - Anoel
And Doris proves once again why she is our Saint. Thank you Doris and thank you Diane for this AMAZING interview that has made me insanely happy. I completely agree with her and support her in everything she does. And now I can't wait for House S5 even more!
2 - Lisa Solod Warren
Yay. Sept. 16. It is on my calendar. Tuesday night is my only television night.
BTW I KNEW they would have to patch it up. They need each other.
Thanks.
3 - Dedea
Grat, awesome, wonderful interview. I love you St. Doris!!!
4 - meme
looks like the House/Wilson reunion is going to me emotional!!! Doris Egan is the best!
5 - sUE
I hope Doris Egan reads the comments here, because I would like her to know how incredible I feel this show is. It is like nothing I have seen on television, and I am not a young person. I can watch episodes over and over, and never feel that I am bored or taken for granted. I would rather watch my House DVDs than programs that are not up to the standards this program has set. Except for the casting of the new ducklings, this show is perfect. Every actor seems to be their counterpart; Hugh Laurie just is House, Lisa is Cuddy, Robert is Wilson, etc. It is like both the actor and the character both live in this world as separate characters, and both are just as real as each other.
I know that not every fan feels the same way about the characters and the story. I would hope that TPTB consider the fans who take the time to post on message boards and forums like a focus group. If they went to an agency and tried to find a group of dedicated fans, it would not be as good the ones who post online. They are people of all ages and from all countries. They can quote lines from the show and answer trivia quizzes. I hope that when there is agreement among more than a majority of these people that they don't like some part of the show, TPTB take those opinions seriously. The most consistent comments I see concern the actors that play the new ducklings. Some people like Kutner, but most do not like 13 or Taub. Most fans want Chase and Cameron back to a greater extent than we have seen them. David Shore has said in interviews that fans don't really want what they think they want. I can see how this is true when discussing ships between characters. But when actors are not creating characters that die-hard fans find interesting,the fans are correct in believing the parts were miscast. Then, if you give those characters backgrounds and back stories, fans just don't care what those stories are. Fans couldn't wait to find out more about Chase, Cameron and Foreman, but we didn't get much. We really don't care about what we'll learn about the new ones.
I would love to know if she hears and sees the actors in her mind saying the words as she is writing them? Does it eventually sonund something like what you heard in your head?
6 - Diane Kristine
Thanks all. Sue, a partial answer to your last question is in a quote from her I didn't end up using about the actors:
"Again, it is wonderful just to be able to trust utterly with the people who are taking your material away. You know at the end of the day there may be something different here than what was in my mind, but there's no way it's going to be worse."
7 - Sue
I have not gotten the DVDs yet, because I will not pay a 24 episode price for a 16 episode DVD. So if this question is answered on the DVD, I apologize.
TPTB said that it was the writers who decided which new "characters" would be hired from the 40 candidates. I don't believe there is a fan out there stupid enough to really believe that. Did Doris Egan say anything regarding the part the writers played in the hiring of the new "characters?" It was obvious that Olivia Wilde was a choice of Fox, they were going to pick a minority, so Kal Penn had the biggest resume and was the best known minority. Of the others, Peter Jacobson was the only actor other than Scooter who was in his 40s, so it was obvious there was no other actor they were going to hire but him. The other remaining candidates were virtually unknown. Anne Dudek was not going to get hired because Fox wanted Olivia Wilde.
So, was there anything said in the interview about her impression of the actors that play the new duckling, or about her contribution to hiring these actors? I know the final decision is not hers.
8 - Diane Kristine
Not only would it not be her decision, but I can't imagine her contradicting what David Shore and Katie Jacobs (aka the bosses) have said many times. And yes, there's a lot on the DVD about it. Not that they were all contenders, but that they signed about 6 contracts to keep their options open, meant to keep 2 and ended up keeping 3.
But she was talking about all the actors when she gave the quote above, and she was talking about the expanded ensemble when she talked about being interested in exploring the personal relationships (and she added that she's looking forward to getting to know them better).
I personally do like 13 and Kutner - I'm interested in how they develop the idea of 13 knowing her fate - though I'm on the fence about Taub. So I'd challenge your assumption that there's one voice when it comes to what the fans like and don't like about the new characters, on the Internet or off. In fact I'd been hoping the ensemble would get pared down by eliminating the former ducklings, not because I dislike them but because I personally don't like the idea of the show getting soapier by focusing on so many secondary characters.
Your assertion that Kal Penn was hired because he's a minority is offensive - he wasn't "the best known minority," he was the biggest name of the bunch period, with the talent to back it up. So yes, I imagine he was pretty much a given unless the role just didn't pop onscreen. I can't see why being in his 40s would be a reason to hire Peter Jacobson either. Wilson and Cuddy cover that bracket well already, Fox still covets the younger demo, none of the original ducklings were in that age range and since it's a fellowship, nor do they realistically need to be. Not to mention Scooter was way older than 49, but I bet Carmen Argenziano would thank you for the compliment.
9 - Linda
Thankyou Diane for this wonderful interview. I've admired St. Doris for three seasons now, and considered her first among equals of the House writers. It's good to hear her speak as herself at long last. And you are obviously a terrific interviewer! I wasn't left wondering 'why didn't she ask ________?' Nothing was left out.
As for the new ducklings, I liked Kal Penn even before his first episode aired. I just hoped he wasn't too busy making movies to have time to work on House too. I'm glad he was chosen. And I wasn't interested in Taub until I realized that Peter Davidson was that same actor that I had seen before playing a sleazeball...that got me interested in watching him carefully steer himself away from that territory without losing his underlying prickliness, annoyance, jealousy... I really like watching actors work on their characters. And 13. I thought she was boring and just sleepwalking through her scenes until I was able to watch the reruns. The problem with 13 was me. I was unable to get a fix on her with all the breaks for holidays and the strike. It was too disjointed for my alleged brain to put together. But now I have seen the entire season week after week without interruption and I like 13 a lot. I see what Olivia Wilde and the writers were doing with her and I very much want to know what her Huntington's Chorea diagnosis does to her this season. I am happy with the new ducklings and look forward to seeing the old ones back. But mostly I want to see House and Wilson kiss and make up!
10 - Diane Kristine
Thanks Linda, though all credit goes to her for being generous with her thoughts and time.
I hadn't seen Peter Jacobson before (or at least hadn't registered him before) and I found Taub pretty unmemorable for the most part. Except he really stood out as intriguing in Ugly and Don't Ever Change, and he grew on me in the latter part of the season, so I figure he's got potential to sway me in time. But really it's all about House for me and everyone else serves to illuminate him, so as long as that remains the case, I'm happy.
11 - Jo
Diane, I thoroughly enjoyed the Doris Egan interview, just as I always enjoy her episodes. I love the way she writes the interactions between House and Wilson. "Son of Coma Guy" is my absolute favorite Doris Egan episode, and in my top 10 favorite episodes for the series.
I do want to respond to one of your replies, though. You wrote that you were "hoping the ensemble would get pared down by eliminating the former ducklings, not because I dislike them but because I personally don't like the idea of the show getting soapier by focusing on so many secondary characters."
Obviously, I can't disagree with your opinion, but I have to say that I find the character of Thirteen (and her upcoming storylines per the latest previews) to be "soapier" than anything I've seen on this show. The prospect of seeing more of this blank-faced actress in the new season considerably dampens my enthusiasm for September 16th, and Olivia Wilde should thank her lucky stars for her good fortune in not only being assured that she was hired right from the start, but in being given a substantial, continuing arc while characters like Chase and Cameron - who helped make this show the success it is - are practically invisible.
I don't dislike Taub, but I have no interest in him either. He would be a good periphery character, in my opinion, not a team member. I do like Kutner, and would have been delighted if they had simply added him to the original cast, rather than such a drastic shakeup. There are a lot of people very attached to the original team. Letting them go would be a big mistake, in my opinion, because not only would the show lose charismatic, interesting, and likeable actors, but that taking them away would leave the show with only the new team, and they pale in comparison. YMMV, of course.
12 - Diane Kristine
Thanks Jo! I've never found the individual duckling stories a very interesting part of the mix, but my own opinion is not my main point - they're clearly *not* getting rid of the original team, and this article is based on Doris Egan's opinions, not mine (for example: I have no patience for shipping, can't see Wilson and House as anything more than friends, hate fanfic, etc.).
My real point with those comments is that fans are all over the map when it comes to what the show "should" do. So I strongly object when someone tries to say there is fan consensus on anything. Because of that, and because if the loudest fans had their way the show would turn into the most awful parody of fanfic, I'm happy to put my faith in the writers, who in my opinion almost always take the show in unexpected and satisfying directions ... despite my nagging worry that the expanded ensemble means more soap.
13 - Sarah
Funny, I lost my faith in the writers when they decided to get rid of the duckings, one of the most stupid storylines after the survival arc. I lost my faith in the producers when they lied and lied about Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer being back in full capacity last season and the casting of Olivia Wilde, Kal Penn and the other one, whoever he is, and saying they didn't know who woul make the cut, but Olivia and Kal were the chosen ones since the beginning.
I recovered my faith in me when I stopped watching House.
14 - Diane Kristine
Yet you still read and write about it? You might want a new priest ;)
15 - Pat
Thanks for an interesting interview. Doris Egan has always been one of my favourite House writers, especially as she writes the House/Wilson relationship. Many of the writers enjoy putting in the banter but she's the only one really puts their relationship into a context.
I had mixed feelings as I was reading this. On the one hand, I'm glad she's proud of the show and enjoying being part of it. On the other, I thought season four was a vast drop in the quality of the show from what it was in the first seasons. Had I started watching season four, I doubt I would have stayed beyond an episode or two.
As someone else did, I want to comment on your wish for the show not to have so many characters to avoid getting soapier. A well written ensemble does not have to be like a soap opera; indeed, to write good stories for a number of characters could avoid the soap opera problem of throwing too much at a small group. I thought the show got a great deal soapier in season 4 as Amber died in a hour-long episode and everyone cried (and the angst will continue into next season), Wilson was once again estranged from House as he is every season (and every season they get back together), House yet again almost died (twice), Cuddy lost both her brains and her spine and ended the season as a sex object (there is a long list of impressive female bosses on TV but Cuddy is no longer on it) and Thirteen's many mysteries and Huntingdon's story would put any soap opera to shame. Maybe if Amber and Scooter had been hired instead of Thirteen and Taub (a more boring Foreman if that's even possible), it wouldn't have seemed so bad but other than Kutner the new team is so unoriginal and so unbelievable as doctors that every time I see them I find myself wishing that Shore and the writers would hurry and get Cameron and Chase back on the show instead.
I think those fans who watch the show primarily for House or House/Wilson/Cuddy don't mind the new show so much; many of us who watched for the complex interactions of all six original characters have been quite unhappy lately.
But good for Doris Egan for continuing to believe in her show.
16 - Diane Kristine
I don't disagree that season four was often too soapy, which is why I have those fears. I don't think ongoing relationship arcs have ever been the show's strength, but I include Chase and Cameron in that.
House has never been a true ensemble, since all paths lead back to House - the other characters never have stories that don't tie in to him. And that's not a complaint. If I wanted to watch Grey's Anatomy, I would. I want to watch one of the best character studies ever on TV, one that intelligently and thoughtfully explores issues without hitting you over the head with Important Issues.
So for me it's just math: if there are more characters to serve, there is either less screentime available -- spreading the characters so thin so we never care about any of them -- or there is less time for the medical mystery that fuels the ethical and philosophical issues at the heart of the show. The medical stories also fuel the character interactions that, in the best episodes, have incredible power because they are revealed slowly, in a more impactful way because they tie in to the themes of the episode.
17 - Pat
The show should be primarily a medical mystery (something that I think was lost last season) but it is also a character-driven show. I enjoy how the medical stories illuminate the primary characters (by which I mean the original six since the episodes for Taub and Thirteen didn't grab me).
I think the focus on House was what made the show in the beginning but by season 4 and certainly season 5, I think the show would be better served by giving more time to the other very capable actors (including JS and JM) and less to House.
There is only so much you can do with a character who doesn't change and consequently his interactions with those closest to him don't change either. House has now had an infarction and briefly died, had the angst of his old love returning and then losing her again, he's been shot, put in a ketamine coma, lost his pain and got it back again, got arrested, overdosed and was lying in a pool of his own vomit, faked brain cancer, lost the 3 who worked closest to him, "died" again sticking a knife in an electrical socket, and lost his memory and almost died yet again in a brain procedure. It was a character study, now it seems like a joke.
Even his interactions with Wilson, the backbone of the emotional part of the show, are in a rut. Every season they become estranged (each time worse than before) every season they get back together. I love Wilson's game-playing and angst around House and I love chocolate cake but a diet of either can pall. I thought Amber was the best thing to happen to the House/Wilson relationship in 3 seasons because the same old thing was getting boring.
As you said, the fandom for the show is diverse. On the part of this fan, who started watching from the pilot episode, I can pretty much predict what House will do and I'm not that interested in him any more. I will watch the start of the new season for the acting of HL and RSL but I'm pretty sure that story will be the same one that they have been telling for the past 3 seasons. I would have liked to have seen more of Wilson's relationship with Amber and how House dealt with it, more of how Chase grew and why, more of Cameron dealing with her issues and the reality of medicine. I'd even rather see Cuddy being a good administrator generally rather than always losing to House and loving it or Foreman doing something more than railing against being like House. The focus being so centred on House means that the other characters get short-changed in their stories but it also means that they ran out of things to do with House a couple of years ago and are going back over old ground again and again.
Hugh Laurie is a very good actor but after four seasons of the same thing taking 90% of the show, I'm bored by the character of House. I'm speaking heresy, I know, but less House would make the House scenes I would get more effective.
18 - Miranda
I'm sorry, I loved the first two seasons, but the show has been going down hill since the whole "tritter" arc and the three newbies soon after. Why not make house a single man team and cut the other three. They are boring, undeveloped and we were starting to know cameron. Olivia Wilde must be sleeping with shore because she's been heavily hyped and doing the same thing she did on the OC in the future kissing another female. I decided to give season 5 a shot but the first two episodes were rather Blah, nothing spectacular about it.