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I am – Hercules!!
Confusingly, “House” is not another home-improvement show. It is a hugely entertaining medical drama from director-producer Bryan Singer (“The Usual Suspects,” 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 (Hugh Laurie) 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. It’s certainly much better than those “You’re risking a patient’s life” promos would suggest.
What’s good?
* The terrific face-offs between the title character (Hugh Laurie) and his hospital boss (the always reliable Lisa Edelstein) over House’s reticence to indulge in-person consultation;
* House pocketing the Vicodin for himself;
* the explanation House gives his beautiful underling with regard to her hiring;
* our being left to wonder what it was that damaged said beautiful underling; and
* the depiction of the ailing kindergarten teacher (guest star Robin Tunney), which actually left the Mighty Hercules a little weepy.
But what matters Herc’s opinion? The first episode was included as a DVD in a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, and Coaxial News readers were asked to forward their appraisals.
“Beachwood” writes:
House combines the best of the character-driven serials with the satisfying self-closure of procedurals. The characters are people (not just traits) and there is none of the tiresome walking and talking that has been so played out by The West Wing and E.R. Any time the prickly main character is not on camera, you're waiting for his next appearance. He's written and acted that well. Sound like a plant? I'm not. Just a television writer looking for a good drama to spec. Found one.
“Maria” adds:
I have to say I enjoyed the episode. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Brian Singer directed it and thought I might be in for something interesting. I was right. Although the "patient of the week" premise is similar to every other cop show on television, I found the idea of this team that investigates special cases intriguing. I am a fan of Hugh Laurie. I enjoyed his take on the gruff but lovable guy in charge. He is definitely gruff and not so lovable. I enjoyed his constant battle with the hospital administrator fun and was surprised to see how she dealt with her problem with House. She hit him where he lived in a really creative way. I like his medical team and the way he deals with them. I enjoyed the way they interacted with each other too. And I enjoyed how House interacted with patients in the clinic. I will take a look at this show again and see if it keeps my attention.
“Chaz” opines:
I liked it! Not only did I like the moments you mentioned in your story, but I think the rest of the cast were well chosen.
The reasons he hired them was great! He has a work ethic that I think many of us secretly want too. The Jagger/Stones reference was cool & then the bit of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" played at the end was wonderful! I think this has potential.
But, it's on FOX, and I thought that of "WONDERFALLS".
“Chow” writes:
Good: The best part of the show, aside from the
performances, was the fact that House was wrong the
first two times he tried to diagnose Robin Tunney. It
hints that the show won't turn into endless steadicam
shots of House striding down the hospital corridors,
handing out "I never would have thought of that!"
diagnoses without missing a beat to previously-stumped
underlings and hangers-on, who look after him as he
walks away.
Ehh...: Not so much a fan of the clashes between Hugh Laurie and Lisa Edelstein. It's a rehash of Kolchak &
Vincenzo, Chief & McCloud, Ross & Weaver, etc. "He
doesn't play by the rules, but he gets results." Also, why anybody would cast someone as talented as
Omar Epps and reduce him to the angry-black-guy-who-
feels-he-has-to-prove-himself role is beyond me.
(Especially since Epps already played this very role
years ago on "ER".) House gives a prickly yet
surprisingly complimentary answer to Jennifer
Morrison's character, but his remark that he hired a
black guy with "street smarts" is too much. It
endangers what remains of audience sympathy. The show
gives hints it won't go down this road, but one never
knows with network TV. These are quibbles, but have more to do with the fact that I only saw the pilot. Laurie's performance was nearly flawless, as was, surprisingly, Robert Sean
Leonard's, an actor whose previous high-water marks
were "Dead Poets Society" and the fact he got to hang
out with Kate Beckinsale back in the day. In
particular, the interactions of House and his patients
was spot-on. If the show is smart enough to avoid hanging on to the cliches mentioned above, and its pedigree indicates it
is, I'll have no difficulty squeezing it in. It's
certainly more enjoyable than "Jack & Bobby" or the
current season of "West Wing".
“Mario” says:
I saw the free DVD that came with the current Entertainment Weekly and the main question that I have for Bryan Singer is why bother? I'm sure he has enough on his plate with Superman than to worry about some CSI knockoff that will quickly get canned. First off, Hugh Laurie's gruff but brilliant Dr. House is too off-putting to be interesting. "I'm an asshole, but I'm brilliant!" Who the hell cares? The supporting cast is left to having to do these sitcom-like reactions like rolling their eyes and saying "that's our Dr. House!"
“Doc Brown” writes:
I don't know what it was, I just didn't feel House was on fire. (I read too much EW) Which is weird, considering:
- Bryan Singer, with The Usual Suspects and the X-Men movies rocks my socks
- I loved the cinematography (I love that whole soft-focus/upped-exposure gig that they do to make it look like the world's just glowing)
- I dig mystery shows in general (CSI, The X-Files, the L&O franchise)
But for all that, I was bored by House. Why? I guess I found the 'witty banter' somewhat forced, and the characters just not all that engaging. The pilot just lacked immediacy from the get-go, which is either the fault of the execution or the premise in general. I think the final nail in the coffin, for me, was the use of the CSI tracking-up-the-nose shots. Yeah, they didn't necessarily invent it, but the frank truth is, they popularized it, so for the time being, the folks at CSI have almost a cultural patent on it. I dunno. Maybe I was a little harsh on House, but that's just me.
Talkbacker “Johnny Friendly” adds:
… my verdict is that it's way too smart for Fox viewers, in fact for the majority of network TV watchers today ( i.e. mouth breathers who will be turned off when they hear the title and find out it's not a reality-remodel show ) When I say it's too smart I don't mean that as a bad thing, I mean that I don't think it will survive. I liked the style, I liked Hugh Laurie and his character, I liked that it takes place in NJ ( Jersey represent ! ) but I give it half a season.
Talkbacker “Louis P” wrote:
With the exception of the lead character, the rest of the cast is pretty flat. The storyline is interesting though.
Talkbacker “Hacker2093” said:
I watched the House pilot and I really liked it. It's like ER before people started getting stabbed in the hospital and crushed by helicopters.
What say the pro critics?
TV Guide was the first to opine, way back in its Sept. 12 fall-preview edition:
… Laurie is terrific as the prickly center of a refreshingly unsentimental medical drama. The cast is strong, the writing sharp and the visuals often startling …
… a mesmerizing Hugh Laurie … Dr. House is a diagnostic genius whose numerous character flaws can be tolerated - and sometimes even embraced - because he is remarkable at what he does. The stories are intriguing, but it is House that gives this series such a strong pulse. …
… A well-made medical hour with an intriguing star … Despite a strong creative pedigree, there's also cause for skepticism over whether viewers will bond with an ill-tempered doctor who makes a habit of avoiding patients, unless people are more thrilled with their HMOs than polls indicate. … everything else about the show feels utterly familiar …
USA Today gives it three and a half stars (out of four) and says:
Any series that matches a great actor with a great character is halfway home. ... where NBC's Medical Investigation is basically a plot-driven procedural, House is driven by its oddly appealing main character and is more willing to delve into his eccentricities. ... House probably would never leave his office if he weren't forced to by his boss (Lisa Edelstein), who, in a twist on the usual administrative bean-counter cliché, is more reasonable than her employee. ...
Herc’s rating for “House” 1.1?
****
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins
9 p.m. Tuesday. Fox.
I am – Hercules!!
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