When we last we saw Dr. Gregory House at the end of “House’s Head” (part one the House season finale), he was barely alive, lying on the floor of a bus. The entire episode was a weird and emotionally powerful rollercoaster ride, as we follow House (played to perfection by Hugh Laurie), while he tries to reassemble bits and pieces of his memory after being involved in a bus accident.
Using flashbacks, hallucinatory visions, and dreams to make sense of his foggy and fractured memories, House risks his life to identify a possibly fatally ill fellow passenger, knowing that the clock may be running out. A final and extremely risky attempt to recreate the scene just prior to the crash, which House enhances by using a dangerous Alzheimer’s drug, causes his memories to flood back, but also sends him into cardiac arrest. Cuddy and Wilson revive him and, in a very tense moment, House manages to croak out the words. “It was Amber. Amber was on the bus with me.” Part two which airs this Monday evening on FOX is sure to leave us with more questions than answers — and a whole summer to discuss and analyze what it all means for House and his colleagues.
I had the opportunity to speak with two of the finale’s writers, Garrett Lerner and Russel Friend (who are also series executive producers), to get their thoughts on the season finale, the character of House, and the future for the series, which is heading into its fifth season this September.
The season finale originated with a story idea from the creative mind of Doris Egan. “House wakes up in a coffee shop and doesn’t know how he got there," they explained. "He knows that something bad has happened: he’s seen a fatal symptom in somebody, but can’t access his brain.”
Everyone on the staff, said Lerner, thought it was a great story idea, and plans were made to craft it into a blockbuster two-part story. Part one was intended to get the coveted post-Super Bowl slot, taking advantage of the huge audience (and justify the equally huge cost). “People would then tune in Tuesday (the series regular time slot)” and hopefully continue to tune in weekly.
But Egan was already working on episode 12 (“Don’t Ever Change”) and was too busy to work on the two-parter. So Lerner and Friend along with David Foster and Peter Blake sat in a room and thrashed out the script. But, with the WGA strike looming, it became clear that there would be no time to ready it for the Super Bowl, so “Frozen” was substituted.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Josh Lasser
Congratulations! This article has been selected for syndication to the Advance family of websites and to Boston.com, which will allow even more readers to enjoy it.
2 - Sarah
“We know that people are missing some of the old team members (Chase, Cameron, and Foreman " who have been reduced to more marginal roles in most episodes). Frankly, we are as well. It’s a juggling act. We have only 42 minutes to tell a story.” And telling the story becomes paramount. “We have to service the story " the medical mystery. The people circling House and circling the medical mystery are going to get screen time. We’re bending our brains in knots trying to figure out how to get the other people into each episode. We’re still struggling. And it’s something on our minds.”
Great! that means we won't get to see much of Cameron and Chase in season 5 either, how much time do they need to figure out how to get them into each episode? It's been a year already. Add more clinic duty to this larger cast and the only way to see our favorite characters will be by looking at the promo picture released at the beginning of next season.
3 - Pat
Thanks for the interview.
Am I going to be watching next year? I doubt it. I haven't liked this season at all and I've only been hanging in to see the old show come back, and that means Chase and Cameron.
I don't care about Wilson's brother, I care about Cameron and Chase. I'd rather not see Cuddy debased any more and a Cuddy/House romance is something I'd wish were over quickly rather than being excited about it.
Lerner and Friend are offering what I don't care about and telling me that they don't have time to give me what I do want to see.
If that's the case, I don't have time for this show myself. NCIS is going to be on opposite and this attitude on the part of the writers makes the decision easy.
4 - Lilah
I love this season and appreciate what the writers have been trying to do. I kind of want them to put Chase, Cameron, and Foreman out of their misery. I don't really miss them and I do like Thirteen, Taub, and especially Kutner.
Wish we knew more about the finale. I'm petrified!
5 - RealDeal
I love Wilson!! and I love St. Doris for coming up with the idea for the S4 finale. I am loving S4 and don't miss CCF at all. After Amber, I like 13 and Taub and then Kutner.
AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WILSON'S BROTHER!!
6 - sassydew
Wow, Barbara! Thanks for another excellent article! It must have been great fun to interview Friend and Lerner! I am so psyched for both the finale tomorrow night and for Season 5 that my heart is pounding! Further exploration of what makes House tick personally, a 10-episode arc, the possibility of Wilson's brother coming up again, and, hopefully, allowing Cameron, Foreman, and Chase to move on is almost more excitement than I can handle! It's going to be a long summer...
7 - Boffle
Thanks for getting this interview, sasmom! Love to hear from these two wonderful writers and glad to see they have many of the same concerns as the fans. Big, big kudos to them for the first part of this finale (and I'm sure the second will be excellent as well: am terrifically excited to see that!). "House's Head" is a singularly fine piece of filmmaking, and if this fan could give them all Emmys, she certainly would!
I'm also thrilled to hear Lawrence Kaplow may be coming back: his was a wonderful contribution to the mix and I look forward to seeing where all the excellent House writers take the show next.
One minor nit: I think you meant "No Reason" rather than "Meaning" at the end of S2. ;-)
As for the earlier posters' comments regarding Cameron and Chase, well, I suppose no matter what you do some folks won't like it. That's just a given. I have been impressed that all the supporting characters had good moments in the last few episodes and think the writers are doing a great job giving screen time to each while keeping the focus on the main character, House. It's House that is truly fascinating and compelling and Hugh Laurie's performance that is so consistent and consistently dazzling. And that happens because the stories are so complex and the dialogue so very smart. It's the only show that I've ever felt so strongly about, and I think it's amazing they've been onfour four seasons and kept the quality so high and frankly, still have both the courage and the interest to keep upping the ante by taking the presentation to new places while keeping the character of House, the core of the story, both enigmatic and familiar. Brilliant!
8 - Jo
I've been eagerly awaiting this article in the hopes of being reassured that Chase and Cameron will finally be rescued from their miniscule roles on the periphery and return to House's orbit where they belong. Instead, I get the impression that the writers STILL don't know what to do with them or how to incorporate them into the main story. How can that be? They're the WRITERS, for heaven's sake. Were the writers caught unaware that Chase and Cameron have a big following? Did they never consider that fans loved the old team and their interactions with House, and that many of us were drawn to the chemistry of the six wonderful characters that helped make this show a great success? Did they think we all would welcome new cast members who are poor copies of the originals and who are viewed as replacements for those characters we love?
I find it ironic to read that Shore and other writers were concerned about the reality of keeping the original team on as fellows, yet reality flies out the window when it suits them. How did House run 8 miles with a missing leg muscle? How would House keep his job in the real world? How would an administrator who plays panty games keep her job in the real world? Wouldn't House have gone to jail in the real world?
I understand the writers can't say too much about the upcoming season, but from the way it sounds to me, we're going to have more of the same thing. Too much Thirteen, and too little Chase and Cameron. It's discouraging to know that the finale will not be resolving any of this.
9 - michelle
I might actually understand the problem of trying to get the old fellows into the story if this season had had one decent medical mystery, however the original fellows were not sacrificed for the sake of the medical mystery- they were sacrificed for gimmicky story lines and three far inferior characters.
Sadly, it looks as though they are still clueless as to what to do with them. You would think that they could have come up with some idea of what to do after a year.
It's funny that they chose to discuss House's "humanity", because I have personally found him far less human and less engaging a character since the old cast has been marginalized. There's a disconnect between House and the new fellows that makes him seem less like a tortured genius and more like an arrogant jerk.
Hugh Laurie is brilliant, but he's not a miracle worker. I beleive there will come a point where a show based primarily on House's wild antics and cutting wit will cease to be cute. Hopefully the show will rediscover that it has other interesting characters that they can spread the story lines out to before they run that well completely dry.
10 - Boffle
Wow, if people are not seeing House's humanity in this episode, I don't know what to say. It was there in the depth, subtlety and intelligence of Laurie's performance; it was in the story and the writing; it was there in the way the other characters reacted to him both in caring about him and in putting up with his jerkiness when they never know if he's just being a jerk or if it's headed somewhere they need to go. House's fundamental decency and commitment come through a prism of confusion and misdirection that he seems to have a habit of creating. Complicated? Oh yes.
11 - iamdaffodils
Thanks Barbara, great interview. I'm also thrilled to hear that Lawrence Kaplow is returning to the show. He's been missed. It does appear they still don't know how to incorporate the old ducklings into the mix. Hopefully it won't be too far into Season 5 before they can figure it out.
Regarding Kaplow - he didn't win an Emmy for "Autopsy", alhtough he should have. He won a WGA award and I think maybe a Humanitas award. Sadly, the show has only won 2 Emmys: the script of "Three Stories" for David Shore, and the special effects team won for the prosthetic fat suit in "Que Sera Sera". I'm hoping "House's Head" will increase the tally :)
12 - sassydew
It's House that is truly fascinating and compelling and Hugh Laurie's performance that is so consistent and consistently dazzling. And that happens because the stories are so complex and the dialogue so very smart. It's the only show that I've ever felt so strongly about, and I think it's amazing they've...kept the quality so high and ...have both the courage and the interest to keep ...taking the presentation to new places while keeping the character of House, the core of the story, both enigmatic and familiar. Brilliant!
Boffle, that's beautifully worded! I couldn't possibly agree with you more! I have NEVER been this involved with a TV show, ever, and I have never before spent so much time analyzing a fictional character in literature, film, or television.
13 - Mary Dagmar Davies
Thank you.
14 - sharp2799
Pat (comment no. 3) said EVERYTHING I would have said so I'm just adding, "Hear, hear!"
15 - Boffle
Aw, thanks, sassydew! It's true. I am consistently amazed that I continue to be so involved in a tv show and that the House folks are such a class act in every possible way.
16 - Narkito
I'm only half way through the interview but I noticed that you said "Season two also concluded with the unconventional “Meaning", the last episode of season two was "No reason" and the theme of both last episode of that season and first episode of season three was "Meaning".
(Gee, I feel like such a dork pointing this out xD)
17 - Jo
Barbara, I'm pleased that Lerner & Friend talk about House's humanity. He may not show it at times, but we've always known it was there. (I didn't really see it in Season 4 until "Frozen.") When Lawrence Kaplow was interviewed for last season's finale, I remember being a little shocked at reading, "...he balks at the suggestion that House shows glimmers of humanity, calling it an "odd" sort of humanity." I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to stay with the show if we didn't see House in episodes like "Autopsy" or "Kids."
18 - sdemar
Thanks, Barbara, for your review on this interview.
I'm thrilled to hear that Lawrence K is making his way back. He was my favorite writer and I was sad when he left last year.
Thanks for asking about the potential for further Cuddy/House exploration.
I think what we are witnessing here is the perfect storm: the incomparable David Shore, top-rated writers, talented cast, decent directors and a storyline being laid out by a talented and great looking Hugh Laurie. All of it comes smashing together to put forward the best show I have ever watched.
19 - Robin
I liked your interview but it didn't reveal as much as I have hoped. I am glad that Larry Kaplow is coming back and House will recover from his coma state. I agree that the show should be about the people who circle House and the medical mystery. But Jesse Spencer has said he was excited about the changes for Chase. He would not want his character back in House's dept. And Cameron's scenes with House are better when she is independent. They can't remain students forever or crowd one dept with 7 doctors for one patient. The writers are making bold moves and most of it feels right. But I wish Forman wouldn't be there in diagnostics. I think it just interfers with House working with his new team. Put him in the neurology dept. I think House is just as compelling now as in the beginning. He is still layered with subtlety, mystery and edginess. Long may it continue! I believe HL might have said there will be 28 episodes for season 5. I have heard some shows were increasing the number to cover what was lost in the strike.
20 - Brenda
Wonderful article! Well written and very informative.
I enjoyed this season's changes and like the new fellows, especially Kutner. He has been a great addition to the cast.
It's also nice to know that the writers are aware of past storylines and haven't left them in the trash to be forgotten. I'd love to see a story involving Wilson's brother some time in the future.
As long as Hugh Laurie is still on the show, I'll be there! Oh, and RSL needs to stick around too.
I just wish they weren't changing the time slot for next season. That means I'll have to record it and watch it after I put my son to bed. Oh well.
21 - londonbridge
It was very interesting to hear words from two of the stellar writers on this show. And that is GREAT NEWS about the return of Lawrence Kaplow! I was gratified to hear that Lerner & Friend miss Cameron and Chase, too. I am still perplexed as to why their screentime has been signficantly reduced in favor of Thirteen and Taub, who emanate no electricity and have no chemistry with the other cast members, most notably Dr. House. A return to more clinic scenes and more classic episodes in S5 sounds great ... this has been a tough season for me to get through (I think it has lacked the quality of the first three seasons in so many ways), but I remain hopeful, especially after seeing an increase in quality in the post-strike episodes.
22 - Barbara Barnett
Wow, Barbara! Thanks for another excellent article! It must have been great fun to interview Friend and Lerner! I am so psyched for both the finale tomorrow night and for Season 5 that my heart is pounding!
Thanks sassydew! It was fun (and terrifying) to interview them. They were really nice.
In response to concerns about what was covered and not covered, I was the one asking the questions and directing the conversation. The discussion's lack of one character or another doesn't suggest any sort of preference or lack of screen time for next year.
I have always believed that the series is about House (and how those in his orbit are affected by and affect House). In the writers' defense, people were also getting on their case when it was clear that the fellows were fellows for much longer than realistic (at least within the Houseverse).
I apologize for the couple of errors--I actually knew that Kaplow got the WGA award (and not the Emmy), so I stand corrected. (Chalk it up to graduation weekend madness--not me--my daughter). And you are correct about "No Reason." Another "oops."
I am also thrilled that Kaplow is returning to the staff. I can't wait for his first season 5 episode!
To me (and really a cornerstone of my column here at Blogcritics) House's humanity is one of the most interesting and important threads of the show. When it takes a back seat, as it had earlier in the season, the show loses a bit of its heart and soul. When it's there, the show is at its best, and we can forgive House anything (almost).
Thanks to everyone who contributed thoughts and questions before the interview. I really did try to get some spoilers, but they wouldn't bite. The Leonard Kaplow "spoiler" is the best I could do!
23 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks for pointing out the two errors in the article. They have been now duly corrected.
bb
24 - hl_lover
Barbara, you have nothing to apologize for! The interview and your article are both wonderful.
I have faith that all the writers, including Lerner, Friend, Kaplow, Egan, and Shore, know what is best for the show. Shore particularly will guide the storylines to follow his particular vision, and I'm willing to follow where that may lead. So far, they have not let me down, and here we are at Season 5 and it's 'full steam ahead'!
Really, I do not understand those who don't 'like' House because it isn't written to suit their personal whims. Seems quite egotistical to me, and yes, they should go watch something else. Perhaps this much-rumored spin-off should have a medical orientation and feature the original duckling trio in their own show. There appears to be an audience for that, from reading this blog's comments. Hey, I'd watch it, too! :)
Happy to hear about Kaplow, about the exploration of 'what makes House tick' in Season 5, and about additional clinic scenes!
Oh, and since we seem to be into correcting other's errors publicly, I'd like to mention that Hugh did not say that season 5 will be 28 episodes long. He was referring to the combination of filming season 4, episodes 13-16 and continuing straight through to the 24 planned for Season 5.
Let us all hope for a strike-less resolution to the SAG negotiations!
25 - Susanne
That was a wonderful article Barbara.
I am looking foreward to House/wilson. Not so much House/cuddy but I am willing to see it play out.
I had no problem with the old ducklings leaving as fellows but I did thought that some how they will come back into House's orbit and into full capacity at some point next season. There is so many things I want to know about Cameron and Chase since their backgrounds are so limited, I still think that they can bring more out of House, the characters didn't get boring I thought it was because they wrote the same thing for the characters over and over and I believe that there is more to a person then just one note, two note. So I hope we can dig in deeper to Cameron and chase and hopefully discover more about House through their relationships. That being said I think it will be interesting to see how cameron and chase can handle House now that they are not under his rule which is why I have been seeing their new postions more interesting and maybe a little wired cameron in the ER? Chase in surgery? They must have advanced super powers or something. But I hope to see more of them next season. I really don't want this season to be all House/wilson and House/cuddy it would just get boring.
Out of the new team I only like Kutner, he brings something new and refreshing to the table. The other two I don't care of because I would have fallen asleep by the time they finished their sentence (I am not kidding either, I really do fall asleep everytime I see them)
I was suprised that there are people saying that House has no humanity because it is there thanks to HL brilliant acting. Particuarly in the eyes and facial expressions.
I will be honest though I was a little bit surprised when they talk about reality but only go out of it when it suits them (survivor arc). I din't quite get it. I understood what they meant when the old team left and I agreed with them but when the survivor arc came out I began to question it. Because it was a little double standard.
But either way I am excited about this season finale. Thanks again for the review Barbara!