We wrote four outlines that were all rejected, which was the first time in five years I'd ever had a story rejected. It was so humbling to hear, "Well, I don't really like the idea." "What? Of course you like the idea!" That was something, because we came up with four different medical stories, which isn't easy on this show, and we did it really fast. They were all different and fun and I'm looking forward to writing all of them eventually.
Then we found this one story that really works well. I can't let out what happens between our characters because the stories have gotten really busy with that sort of stuff, but the medical story is pretty cool and addresses some of the philosophical issues that House seems ... um ... I want to say prone? Leans toward? Can you come up with a better word? Fix it for me?
[I laugh.] OK then.
You can print all that if you want. I'm better with my fingers. I can't really talk.
Oh, you are so full of shit.
Print that, too.
[OK, but of course what I'd meant to say is "I disagree, Mr. Kaplow; as you know, I think you are quite articulate."] When is this episode going to air?
It's episode 13.
When you were writing the season three finale [with the departure of House’s original team], did you know then what was going to happen afterward, with the Survivor arc?
We had talked about it before I left. We didn't know who those characters were yet, but we knew that was how it was going to work, that we were going to do Survivor for seven episodes or something like that.
Has it been an adjustment to write for the expanded ensemble?
Yes, it was like coming into a new show. It was really hard writing the first episode back. The others had been with these characters for a year — well, a truncated year because of the strike, but 16 episodes, so they had a feeling for them. I came in almost like any new writer coming into a show. The structure of the show had changed. It's still the same show — I mean, there's still a mystery, someone's about to die, and House either solves it or doesn't solve it in the end. And it's primarily about House with these satellites of other characters. But with all these new people, I think in a good way it infused life into a show where we knew the characters who were already there. We gave House new shiny toys to play with.
Article comments
1 - 221b
I'm very excited that Mr Kaplow is back with House. I liked his writing best and am sure I will continue to do so. I'm so glad you got another chance to talk to him. Thank you for another great interview.
Now I'm even more looking forward to today's episode than I already was (and episode 13, of course). :-)
2 - NLP
Well, I'm with you when you say about Lawrence Kaplow: "He solidified his place in my interview hall of fame by sharing insightful anecdotes, refusing to tease the Cameron versus Cuddy factions . . . ."
I hate that there has been such animosity between the two factions. That's the one disagreement I have with Barbara Bennett's comments because, other than that, she is brilliantly insightful.
And it's too bad that lots of us Hameron people have just given up and left the Fox House Boards because we're tired of getting attacked.
It has been my feeling for a while that TPTB seem to be pulling a "House" on us, indeed "teasing" us and playing a cat-and-mouse/bait-and-switch game with those of us who watched the first 2 seasons and got sucked into the sexual tension between House & Cameron that THEY showed us. Not just on-screen, but in interviews too. We haven't enjoyed the game; we just feel betrayed.
3 - Habitusa
Diane, do you know if Shore/Kaplow REALLY abandoned their idea of a "story in flashback and present day, how House met Wilson the first time, how they became friends, with the parallel to how they were apart now" or can we expect something like this later in the season?
4 - Diane Kristine
Hi Habitusa, I believe he meant it was abandoned. I look at it this way: he doesn't generally give out spoilers and he knows I don't want to know spoilers, so if he knew they were going to revisit that idea later, he wouldn't have told me what the original plan was in the first place. There was no real reason for him to reveal it if it were a story that was going to come later.
On the other hand, while I don't believe this interpretation, you could look at it this way too: he might have simply withheld the information that it's still in the cards in order to not spoil.
So that's not very helpful, I know, but I'd say don't get your hopes up but don't give up hope completely either. My more hopeful take: even if they've decided to abandon it, they could always change their minds and revisit it later. I know I'm mourning the loss of that episode.
5 - Debbie
To David Shore and Kaplow,
Many us would love to see a story arc about how House and Wilson met. I hope you haven't given up on the idea.
6 - Tamora
I wish that Shore and Kaplow had given us the House & Wilson flashbacks episode. That sounds like it would have been fantastic! I hope we get an episode like that sometime in the future. I would hate to think they would just abandon such a great sounding episode.
7 - Sue
Not Cancer was Not Kaplow. This was not an episode like the ones he wrote in earlier seasons. This was a Shore dominated episode, in the vein of No Reason and One Day One Room. Loaded with dialogue trying to mean something other than what it sounds like, trying to make twists and turns, trying to impress someone with how complicated they can make it. That does not make for good television. Kaplow may want to learn from Shore, but he does a great job on his own. I hope Shore doesn't corrupt him. I would watch Autopsy a thousand times before I would watch a David Shore episode ten (other than Three Stories). When the show wasn't trying so hard in earlier seasons, the episodes were much better. Please let Mr. Kaplow know that he is a fan favorite doing what he does best, without help.
Not Cancer was received by fans like No Reason and One Day One Room were-HUH? What did that mean? If David Shore was not running the show, I believe these two episodes would have been rejected. No one singled these episodes out for superb writing.
I see Shore all over Not Cancer, but I don't see the Kaplow in it. As a junior writer, Kaplow doesn't have a chance of injecting much of his own ideas. It sounded like this episode's story was not his idea. I actually believe that Kaplow has a better understanding of House than Shore does. Kaplow makes House better, and Shore makes House weirder.
8 - Diane Kristine
I won't disagree that this wasn't a great episode, but to be fair, all episodes of House have Shore's "help." He's the final word and voice of all of it.
9 - Habitusa
Upon re-watching I have to say that I love this episode. How much closer to S1 formula can you get: understated and emotional, with House being restrained and dignified (vs. the outrageousness of last season) and actually taking a moment to connect with the patient, and with the team providing nice background without promoting their own story lines. I have changed my mind - I am not mourning the "story in flashbacks" any more. I think "Not Cancer" was a perfect combination of Shore's metaphorical and subtexted writing and Kaplow's ability to capitalize on emotional connections. Having said that, I will always prefer a Kaplow episode over a Shore one.
10 - Sarah
I'm glad he's back but Lawrence Kaplow needs to write more episodes, and on his own. He's one of the writers who makes House funny and sarcastic without making him mean, and brings the angst without making it melodramatic.
11 - Gloria
The season finally seems to be getting back on track and I knew it had to with the influence of Lawrence Kaplow back and getting into the House psyche and Doris Egan writing her usual House/Wilson greatness. Looking forward to the last part of the season now!
12 - weezy
Diane,
I just found your series of articles on House MD and am curious as to why you are no longer writing for this series? I love your insights and would appreciate your input on the episodes this season.
13 - Diane Kristine
Thanks! The regular reviewing was just too time consuming, life got too busy. I haven't found season 5 all that inspiring, but things have been looking up lately so I might write something by season end.
14 - weezy
I got hooked on House MD during a USA House marathon while recovering from my knee surgery and have been hooked every since. I agree that season 5 has been a bit lackluster; they went overboard w/ the Thirteen and 'Huddy' storyline and strayed from their core competence. However, I too am looking forward to the remaining episodes and hoping for a return to the series that got me hooked. Look forward to your reviews.
15 - Janer
You have to read this.
16 - Angeluska
God Salve Mr. kaplow!!!
Since 1a season, I have said that his is GREAT. I love his work. The dinamic beteewn the caracters.
The 4a season was not so good... So when I knew that his was out.. Some parte of it was compreensive.
And now with 523, Under my skin, everybody could see why he's so genius.
Mr. Kaplow 2 things:
1. More time in your Twitter and allowed me to fallowing you.
2. Hameron back. Your perfect with those two. Just perfect. Please, please.. Bring hameron back.
Best wishes from Brazil (and milions of hameron's fans)