Okay, House, M.D. fans. The House folk are back to work filming the new season, and I’m back from my little hiatus. So let's get the conversation flowing as we count down to the start of Season 8 (October 3) when House will premiere at a new time (at least for the first half of the season): 9:00 p.m. ET. There are a few spoilers herein (nothing big, since I don’t know very much—and nothing that hasn’t been already reported elsewhere), so if you be a spoilerphobe, then stop reading…now! But be sure to take the poll on the last page.
Most of us mourn the loss of Lisa Edelstein from the House cast and wish her well as she steps into The Good Wife. She will be missed.
From what I’ve heard, there are significant changes afoot on House this season (besides, of course the disappointing loss of Dr. Lisa Cuddy) and there is much secrecy on the set at this point. Of course many of us have heard that House (Hugh Laurie) begins the season in jail, paying the price from the disastrous events of the Season 7 finale. There is also reporting that Season 8 opens a year into the future, and that House's year in prison is told in flashback. But we shall see.
While in jail, evidently House meets a prison doctor with whom he forms a connection. Played by Odette Annabelle (Brothers and Sisters), the new doc reportedly will be signing on as the newest member of House’s Princeton-Plainsboro diagnostics team as well.
Also joining the team will be another new female physician played by stand up comedienne Charlyne Yi. But if the Diagnostics department seems a bit overstaffed with two new additions, it may be because Oliva Wilde’s film commitment will keep Thirteen on a part-time status during Season 8.
There will clearly be a new dynamic on the diagnostics staff with five or six doctors under House's command. If, indeed, he has command at all. Once House is freed from prison, will he even have a remote chance of regaining his license? Will he simply be a consultant? Or will he have paid his price and step right back into his old role (and his old ways)? I sincerely hope it's not quite that easy. (But that's fodder for my next article, so stay tuned for that.)
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Oversimplified
Hi Barbara! It's good to have you back.
Honestly my gut feeling is Foreman for DoM, and like you I can't say I'm massively happy about it, but it does sort of make sense in terms of how ambitious he is. I think Chase's role will have changed though and he'll either be heading up the diagnostics department or have shifted to a leadership role in surgery. More likely the latter. Out of the team Chase is also the most likely to be hacked off with House which means he'd be less likely to want to work under him anymore I think. As for Taub I'm guessing he's the most likely to basically stay where he is and actually still be willing to work alongside House because he needs the money what with the tinier Taubs.
There's no way they'd go there with Wilson I don't think. They've already blown up one of the core relationships and I doubt they'd want to fundamentally change the dynamic of the other this late in the game, even though it really should be effected by what happened at the end of season 7. (I really hope that they don't just gloss over how much the 'crash' would have messed up Wilson too. He's lost one of his best friends, as well as having to witness what House was capable of. Shore's recent interviews haven't given me much hope on that front.)
2 - Charlotte
I wonder if Dr. Hourani could possibly be in the running for the new Dean??
3 - barbara barnett
Charlotte--Like Dr. Simpson, Hourani has been around since Season 1!
4 - Shane
I'm not sure the DoM position is actually the biggest question. After three months, a lot of fans still believe (even after "re-watch and reflection") that the humanity and heart of House was stripped away in that finale and he is no longer a man we can root for on a journey. And, since DS has let us know it's not really a journey anyway, but a series of situations that test the subject for a socio-phychological study to see how he reacts, it feels a little useless to follow House the character. The House audience has always been very thinking and analytical, as you have proven through your studies and writing. Knowing that, it would seem the bigger question is who is this House that isn't on an epic journey to find a semblance of peace, but exists only as a lab rat on a treadmill?
I would hope TPTB are more challenged to address those concerns than to touch on the superficial stories.
5 - barbara barnett
Shane, you are right of course. That is a huge, looming and critical question for those of us who watch House for his journey. I am very much hoping that the writers (whom I do trust) will make the disastrous events of the finale a cornerstone for the next leg of that journey to find elusive happiness.
The finale must have changed him in some very fundamental ways.This is something I'll discuss in much more detail in the next article.
6 - Shane
DS doesn't seem to feel it is a journey, though. That burns a lot of us who have followed it as a journey. Most of us didn't expect happiness, but just him finding the right path. Now, DS says it's more about just putting him in situations to watch him act and there's not a lot of planning involved. That doesn't bode well for S8. It would be nice to believe they are going to make that a cornerstone of that journey, but his interviews of late have only suggested a glossing over. After faith and trust was ruptured in that finale (I'm glad you still have that trust, but a lot of people need reassurance from them) this brand of talk isn't the best course of action and certainly doesn't give any indication that they understand the severity of the damage as being about House and not about LE/Huddy.
They admittedly didn't look at all aspects of the violence or anticipate the reaction, and they seem to be asking for grace while they deal with the loss of LE/Cuddy. What they are not doing is suggesting any change in House. Ironically, LE is the only one who has suggested that at all. Guess what, she's not there to know. And, if they had "planned" (which we now know they don't) for change, the wisest course of action would have been to use that line in all it's vagueness in their forward campaign. They have not.
I hope you're right because it they fail to address this properly, it will be a disappointing final season for this series and that's not fair - especially to Hugh Laurie.
7 - barbara barnett
Shane, David Shore has always said that about watching House react--since Season one. We just don't know at this point what to expect for Season 8. All we can do is guess (which I hate doing). So I guess we're going to have to wait and see what they have in mind to deal both with the finale and with Lisa's departure.
8 - MusicandHouse
AUsiello said that the new dean would definately be on of these 6 people (there may have been a 7th choice but I can't remember it)
Sam Carr
Foreman
Wilson
Big Love (Cole)
Vogler
Chase
As much as I agree with your points, I think it will be Wilson or Foreman. No one else has the experience or skill. I really wish they had just created a new character for the role, although I can see their logic in promoting within.
9 - barbara barnett
It's not going to be Vogler. That much I can guess. He's not a doctor.
Hadn't thought about Cole. Hmmm. Interesting choice.
Don't like either of those two as dean, but it depends on what they do with whomever is chosen.
10 - Earth Orbiter
Sorry, I gotta agree with Shane. David Shore has ALWAYS said "Its about House's JOURNEY." Even YOU have written that, Barbara, especially with respect to House+Cuddy; you claimed you weren't necessarily a "Huddy," you watched for "House's journey." Hugh Laurie, on the other hand and if he can be believed, just comes to work and does what he's told. He's getting PAID a WHOLE LOT MORE money than last season (hence LE's departure) and therefore probably doesn't particular give a righteous rat's @ss, at this point. After all, come next spring, he's gone.
As for DoM, Foreman is my choice. I don't think there's anyone who knows House better than Foreman (except for Wilson) and he is probably the only one who would have a chance at either out-witting House or saying "no" and sticking to it. Cuddy always caved in the end, always.
11 - barbara barnett
Earth Orbiter: The two aren't mutually exclusive. And Shore often says things that his work does not affirm. Yes. The show has ALWAYs been about House's journey. ALWAYS. Whether Shore has said it or not.
HL has always said he just comes in and reads out the lines. Again, viewing experience simply does not bear this out. (I talk about this a lot in Chasing Zebras). There is much that goes into Hugh's performance.
Hugh is still working off the contract he signed back at the start of S. 5. He did not sign anything for this year. His salary for S8 has nothing to do with LE's departure.
12 - Lisa
It really doesn't matter to me if it's a journey or a treadmill. The violent act forever altered my perception of House. When I look at reruns, I don't see the sarcastic, bitter, yet somehow noble House. Now I see the man who drives a car into an occupied home because it will make him feel better. That man who had the presence of mind to plan trajectories and controlled enough to veer the car away should he see people in the room (according to the writers), but lacked the dignity and self-control to stop his anger from almost running his friend over while destroying the home of someone he "loves." There may have been evidence of anger brewing for years, but what made it part of what was endearing was that he didn't let it go in such a disgusting manner. He understood the depths of pain and anger, without resorting to the lowest level that he often mocked. Now I view House with a different set of glasses, and he's not the man I love. I am heartbroken and saddened, but putting him in jail to punish him doesn't change the fact that they added an element to his character that removed the balance of good and evil. The scales are heavily tipped now. DS wants to go back to the roots (the past), but the roots have been forever altered by the present. You can't go back. Perception is reality to the viewer; and the preception now is not the same as the perception in earlier seasons.
None of the people suggested really fit the role of DoM. They all have points against them, so it will just be playing with power dynamics as a creative choice, not a story of any believability. The new dynamics and new cast will provide fun and a sense of change and perhaps possibility for POTW, but House the character remains tarnished as long as this act was real, which apparently it was.
Gearing up for Season 8 is much more difficult for some fans than others, obviously.
13 - Jane E
What a great article to start the season. I totally agree with your thoughts on the House Wilson relationship. I would want that to stay the same. Taub is a definite no. My two choices are Foreman and Chase. Foreman is hands down the more intelligent of the choice. I always considered him near House's level in that area. When we first were introduced to the House/ Chase relationship it was Cuddy her self who said Chase would do anything to prove you right. But over these last years, we have seen Chase grown as a person. He learned to stand up to House and say no and one example is in Last Resort when he would not consult on that case. I was first so upset over Lisa, I never thought I could watch it again. But, I have view the episodes over the summer and will give it a chance. But, if they do get House back on track, I would love to see it go more than one more year. It is hands down the best show ever on TV and I will watch reruns of House before other new shows. I look forward also to your weekly blogs.
14 - Mike
Regretfully, I feel the same as Lisa. This was their creative choice, but it was the game changer, not the Huddy story as they seemed to predict. They didn't take that story serious and thus failed to engage non-huddies, and they didn't explore it with authenticity, which failed to engage Huddies. Since it was all for a plot device to get House to his lowest level to reveal this side of him - a side that a lot of fans didn't see and certainly don't appreciate in any form - the entire "journey" has fallen short. Their journey took him down a path that has alienated a lot of fans. It is a good thing they didn't show the "layer" early on; the show wouldn't have lasted as long.
I'll play the game, though. The DoM role doesn't fit anyone they have listed, but I agree Wilson would be the worst choice. It would kill the bromance. But maybe they are headed that way. Sink all ships and end the series alone. I could see Sam with some creative adaptation, especially since Wilson and House seem to be the only two who know she altered the meds on her patients, so House could blackmail her to get his job back. I really think they'll toy with several of these people and none of them with really stick. It won't be a focus anyway. Just a support story. Too much focus on that role would be detrimental.
15 - Mary Jane
@ # 10 Earth Orbiter
He's getting PAID a WHOLE LOT MORE money than last season (hence LE's departure)....HENCE LE'S DEPARTURE??.. You actually think she left because he got a raise in his salary?
She has done nothing but praise him for the hours and work that he put's in so i do not think this had anything to do with her CHOOSING not to renew her contract.
16 - Earth Orbiter
Mary Jane: Yup. That's exactly what I think and here's why:
The scuttle is that Hugh Laurie was making $400K per episode for the past 4 seasons per his renewed 5-year contract that he signed 4 years ago. Now its all over the 'net that he's being paid $700K per episode, the same as Ashton Kutcher. That's a $300K per episode bump in salary from Season 7 to Season 8. On top of that, Lisa Edelstein, RSL, Omar Epps and Jesse Spencer were all asked to take a pay- and episode cut, and all of them were making substantially LESS per episode than HL's salary INCREASE. So, of COURSE Lisa Edelstein walked and good for her. She gave FOX millions of dollars of FREE publicity over the past couple of years and got hosed in the end. So, yeah, I think she left because HL got his raise, directly or indirectly. I didn't say she was running around bad-mouthing him, but she certainly cannot be happy with the way FOX treated her, especially since RSL basically said, "Screw you, pay me what I want or I'll walk," and FOX did. So pull your panties out of your crack and look at the big picture. You've no reason to be indignant.
Lisa & Mike: I like what you both had to say. Good job, you two.
17 - housemaniac
Hi Barbara,
Welcome back! I take it as a good sign that I checked this site today after a couple of weeks off and...there you were.
I want to pick up on a different point in your excellent preview, which is that of the consequences of House's actions in the finale. This is what I was obsessed with at the end of last season, and apparently I still am. You mentioned that it is hard to imagine House getting back his medical license, or that at least it should be hard for him to get it back. In theory, I agree. However, I have come to believe that *House* does not work if it rigidly adheres to so-called "reality," whatever that is. (For what it's worth, I had this epiphany after re-watching the entire run of *Twin Peaks* this summer. And, no, I am not suggesting that *House* veer off into surrealism, but watching TP did make me realize that perhaps we don't know as much as we think we do about what is in or out of character for one as complex as House.) For the sake of House's journey, for the sake of the storyline, I hope that he *does* get his license back and we can still watch a crazy, wonderful series about DOCTOR crankypants. Anything less than House as a medical doctor would be a disappointment and a huge alteration in the dynamics of the show. Besides, wouldn't they have to change the name of the show, which, in full, is House, M.D., no?
p.s. Earth Orbiter: can you please keep your disgusting language ("pull your panties out of your crack") off this blog and save it for the locker room or some blog where graphic language such as this is deemed appropriate. It offends me, and I imagine I am not alone. Thank you.
18 - Earth Orbiter
Housemanic: Lighten up.
19 - AreKay
"HL has always said he just comes in and reads out the lines" is just Hugh's always low-keyed "aw, shucks" way of semi-dismissing the enormous talent that we all know he possesses.
IMHO, he is worth every penny of whatever his salary is, which I believe also includes his dual role of actor and executive producer. And in that position he has input regarding the direction of the show and particularly that of his character.
After last season's "what the heck were they thinking" finale, while I'm looking forward to season 8 I'm doing so with extreme trepidation. Cuddy's line at the end of season 6 seems to sum up my feelings..."I love you. I wish I didn't but I can't help it."
20 - AreKay
P.S. - Note to TV Academy voters: Please, please award an Emmy to Hugh Laurie, who has more than earned it for his years of brilliant performances as House!!!
21 - DanieGermany
First of all: Great article, Barbars, as always !
I think that no one will be able to fill the now vacant Dean of Med. spot as well as Lisa Edelstein did.
Her chemistry with Hugh Laurie got me hooked to the show right in the very first episode years ago and I was conviced that their bumpy relationship would eventually lead to a good ending by the finale of the show. Well, whishful thinking :-(
When I heard that Lisa Edelstein was leaving, for me it had the same impact, that Edie Falco would have done if she left The Sopranos, or if Courteney Cox would have left Friends.
Just devestating if that happens to your favorite show!
Now, that Lisa's gone, my enthusiasm about the show has plummeted quite a bit. That sparking electricity between House and Cuddy will be gone and only the onther key cornerstone, Wilson, is left to do some good old sparring with House.
I would hate to see Forman as DOM, because I never liked that character and seeing him have even more power over House would just suck. I'd be OK with Chase as DOM, because, like Cuddy he knows how House ticks and is able to play him and persuade him in critical situations to do the right thing.
But, beyond that, I don't really know.
Actually I really don't care who's going to be the new Dean of Med or who the other new Team Members are, because the show's never gonna be the same again to me.
IMO, the show's mojo was the dynamics between House and Cuddy, House and Wilson, House and his team to keep up the exceptionally great quality it once had. But now one of the pillars has been removed from ths show House and I don't think it's gonna work that way... Don't get me wrong, I'll keep watching the show til the very end, because I just love Hugh Laurie, but I think the ratings will further decline...
22 - Daniel
Your article got me excited for the House return ....
As for the new Dean of Medicine? My prediction is Dr. Hurani. Remember him? House pretended to be him in the episode where he went to the school and it had all the movie scene parodies ... Anyway, in a few episodes after that, if you look close at House's prescription bottles, it has Hurani's name on them ... meaning Hurani either wrote the scrips for House or (more likely) House forged them ... either way, a character like that seems much more likely than any of the regulars.
23 - John
I have a feeling that season 8 it's gonna be much better than season 7!!! Hugh Laurie is an amazing actor -personally I believe that he is one of the best actors on Tv ever! BUT David Shore and writers/producers must understand that Hugh is tired,he said it many times .What they do for that?HL is so brilliant person,gentle soul and if people still watching House is for Hugh ... I think that Emmy awards are gonna show if Hugh it's gonna stay or leave House and the show will end.... He deserves the award 5 seasons now when all critics said that he was amazing and so talented! The Emmy award I think is gonna give Hugh and all the team the fire to continue in a good way!
24 - maria-eleni
Thanks to Barbara Barnett for her new article. It was a nice surprise this morning.
However, as I was thinking over the article and gathering my own thoughts, I made the mistake of strolling down the comments. I had a second surprise, a nasty one this time. All my well organised thoughts scattered. So I need to comment on this before restarting:
16 - Earth Orbiter
I really do not understand this bashing of Hugh Laurie lately because of Liza Edelstein leaving the show of her own accord. It seems to me you spend time “orbiting” on other sites where the language and tone of comments is not consistent to what we are used here.
1. It is well documented and undisputed how hard working HL is and that the actual creation of the character House is due a lot to his own input.
2. And yes, he is paid a lot more but, comparing his screen time and contribution to that of his coworkers, $400.000 per episode to their $175.000 is being grossly UNDERPAID.
$700.000 is more appropriate to what he is worth.
3. I like LE and I shall miss her character. I also enjoy her interviews, even her more risque comments. However to imply that [H]ouse owes its international success to her promotion just because she went around in Spain or Malaysia giving interviews is taking it too far. Actually it is the other way round, promoting [H]ouse, she was the one who mostly benefited.
25 - Tina
And here we go. People have become adept at blaming the actors and spinning Cuddy/Wilson into bad guys all to deflect from the seriousness of the violence and hide from the overwhelming discomfort in the House the writers revealed. Contracts negotiations fail, but were there not already some fundamnetal issues in characterizations and story plot, there would have been a little less frustration, just a lot a sadness. These actors/producers don't resent or hate each other for collateral damage in a network's laughable negotiations and limited vision. They understand the business. The fans are the ones reading so much between the lines. This story brought out the worst in House and the worst in the fans. It's no wonder the excitement is waned. And this idea of trusting the writers, just not what they say is a kind of reverse cultish effect. After the car crash and relief-at-the-beach ending, these people need to be beliavable in their talk. They have to sell their show now. No more taking the fans for granted. They should accept some accountability for the numerous fails last season, starting with the redirection from Mr. Shore and moving down the list. They are not going to reignite the fans with a sad list of a possible DoM and talk of new people who the fans have no connection with. For the fans that will follow HL anywhere, they don't have to work, to get the other fans back they. Have to work. Too bad for DS because it will require speaking.