I am – Hercules!!

The current Entertainment Weekly (the one with Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts on the cover) is difficult to fold into one’s back pocket this week because it contains a DVD of the first episode of the new Fox medical hourlong “House.”

Confusingly, “House” is not another home-improvement show. It is a hugely entertaining medical drama from director-producer Bryan Singer (the “X-Men” movies) and longtime TV writer-producer David Shore (“The Outer Limits,” “Family Law,” “Century City”). It’s about an ill-tempered diagnostic genius named Dr. Greg House who hates dealing with patients because they lie like dogs and confuse him. Along with “Lost,” “Veronica Mars” and Glenn Gordon Caron’s soon-to-debut NBC sci-fier “Medium,” “House” is easily one of the best new hourlongs airing this season. At least in Herc’s opinion. But what matters Herc’s opinion?

Got a copy? Review it.

Email me or use the talkback. Just before “House” premieres on Fox Nov. 16 we will gather up some of the more coherent comments and post them alongside those of the big-deal magazine and newspaper critics.

If you do turn in opinionage, I’d advise concentration on two questions: “What was good?” and “What was not so good?”

Personally, I would have difficulty finding much to put in the “not so good” column. If memory serves, here’s what I loved about the pilot:

* The face-offs between the title character (Hugh Laurie) and his hospital boss (Lisa Edelstein) over House’s reticence to indulge in-person consultation;

* House pocketing the Vicodin for himself;

* the explanation House gives his beautiful underling (newly brunette Jennifer Morrison) with regard to her hiring;

* our being left to wonder what damaged said beautiful underling; and

* the depiction of the ailing kindergarten teacher (guest star Robin Tunney), which left the Mighty Hercules a little ... choked up.

Hop to.

I am – Hercules!!