originally ran on the Fox network for eight seasons, from November 16, 2! to "ay 21, 212# $he show%s main character is &r# 'regory (o)se (()gh *a)rie), a +ain medication, de+endent, )nconventional, misanthro+ic medical geni)s who leads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional -rinceton.-lainsboro $eaching (os+ital (--$() in New /ersey# $he show%s +remise originated with -a)l Attanasio, while &avid 0hore, who is credited as creator, was +rimarily res+onsible for the conce+tion of the title character# $he show%s exec)tive +rod)cers incl)de 0hore, Attanasio, Attanasio%s b)siness +artner 1atie /acobs, and film director 2ryan 0inger# 3t was filmed largely in 4ent)ry 4ity# (o)se often clashes with his fellow +hysicians, incl)ding his own diagnostic team, beca)se many of his hy+otheses abo)t +atients% illnesses are based on s)btle or controversial insights# (is flo)ting of hos+ital r)les and +roced)res fre5)ently leads him into conflict with his boss, hos+ital administrator and &ean of "edicine &r# *isa 4)ddy (*isa 6delstein)# (o)se%s only tr)e friend is &r# /ames 7ilson (8obert 0ean *eonard), head of the &e+artment of 9ncology# &)ring the first three seasons, (o)se%s diagnostic team consists of &r# 8obert 4hase (/esse 0+encer), &r# Allison 4ameron (/ennifer "orrison), and &r# 6ric Foreman (9mar 6++s)# At the end of the third season, this team disbands# 8e:oined by Foreman, (o)se grad)ally selects three new team members; &r# 8emy <$hirteen< (adley (9livia 7ilde), &r# 4hris $a)b (-eter /acobson), and &r# *awrence 1)tner (1al -enn)# 1)tner makes an a++earance late in season five and then rea++ears in season = e+isode 22# 4hase and 4ameron contin)e to a++ear in different roles at the hos+ital )ntil early in season six# 4ameron then de+arts the hos+ital, and 4hase ret)rns to the diagnostic team# $hirteen takes a leave of absence for most of season seven, and her +osition is filled by medical st)dent "artha "# "asters (Amber $amblyn)# 4)ddy and "asters de+art before season eight> Foreman becomes the new dean of medicine, while &r# /essica Adams (9dette Annable) and &r# 4hi -ark (4harlyne ?i) :oin (o)se%s team# House was among the to+,ten rated shows in the @nited 0tates from its second thro)gh its fo)rth season# &istrib)ted to 66 co)ntries,House was the most watched television +rogram in the world in 2=# A1B $he show received n)mero)s awards, incl)ding five-rimetime 6mmy Awards, two 'olden 'lobe Awards, a -eabody Award, and nine -eo+le%s 4hoice Awards# 9n Febr)ary =, 212, Fox anno)nced that the eighth season, then in +rogress, wo)ld be HouseCs last# A2B $he series finale aired on "ay 21, 212, following an ho)r,long retros+ective# Contents AhideB 1 -rod)ction o 1#1 4once+tion 1#1#1 8eferences to 0herlock (olmes o 1#2 -rod)ction team o 1#D 4asting o 1#! Filming style and locations o 1#E 9+ening se5)ence 2 0eries overview D 4haracters and story arcs o D#1 "ain characters o D#2 8ec)rring characters ! 6+isodes E 8ece+tion o E#1 4ritical rece+tion E#1#1 4ritics% to+ ten lists o E#2 @#0# television ratings o E#D Awards and honors 6 &istrib)tion F "erchandise = Footnotes G 4itations 1 8eferences 11 F)rther reading 12 6xternal links ProductionAeditB ConceptionAeditB 3n 2!, &avid 0hore and -a)l Attanasio, along with Attanasio%s b)siness +artner 1atie /acobs, +itched the show ()ntitled at the time) to Fox as a CSI,style medical detective +rogram, ADB a hos+ital whod)nit in which the doctors investigated sym+toms and their ca)ses# A!B Attanasio was ins+ired to develo+ a medical +roced)ral drama by The New York Times Magazine col)mn, <&iagnosis,< written by +hysician *isa 0anders, who is an attending +hysician at ?ale,New (aven (os+ital (?N((), and -rinceton,-lainsboro $eaching (os+ital (--$() is modeled after this teaching instit)tion# AEB Fox bo)ght the series, tho)gh the network%s then,+resident,'ail 2erman, told the creative team, <3 want a medical show, b)t 3 don%t want to see white coats going down the hallway<# A6B /acobs has said that this sti+)lation was one of the many infl)ences that led to the show%s )ltimate form# A6B <7e knew the#network was looking for +roced)rals, and -a)l AAttanasioB came )+ with this medical idea that was like a co+ +roced)ral# $he s)s+ects were the germs# 3 mean, germs don%t have motives#< H&avid 0hore to Writer's Guild magaIine AFB After Fox +icked )+ the show, it ac5)ired the working title Chasing Zebras Cir!ling the "rain A=B (<Iebra< is medical slang for an )n)s)al or obsc)re diagnosis, while <circling the drain< refers to terminal cases, +atients in an irreversible decline)# AGB $he original +remise of the show was of a team of doctors working together trying to <diagnose the )ndiagnosable<# A1B 0hore felt it was im+ortant to have an interesting central character, one who co)ld examine +atients% +ersonal characteristics and diagnose their ailments by fig)ring o)t their secrets and lies# A1B As 0hore and the rest of the creative team ex+lored the character%s +ossibilities, the +rogram conce+t became less of a +roced)ral and more foc)sed )+on the lead role# A11B $he character was named <(o)se<, which was ado+ted as the show%s title as well# A=B 0hore develo+ed the characters f)rther and wrote the scri+t for the +ilot e+isode# ADB 2ryan 0inger, who directed the +ilot e+isode and had a ma:or role in casting the +rimary roles, has said that the <title of the +ilot was %6verybody *ies%, and that%s the +remise of the show<# A11B 0hore has said that the central storylines of several early e+isodes were based on the work of 2erton 8o)echJ, a staff writer for The New Yorker between 1G!! and 1GG!, who s+ecialiIed in feat)res abo)t )n)s)al medical cases# A!B 0hore traced the conce+t for the title character to his ex+erience as a +atient at a teaching hos+ital# A12B 0hore recalled; <3 knew, as soon as 3 left the room, they wo)ld be mocking me relentlessly Afor my cl)elessnessB and 3 tho)ght that it wo)ld be interesting to see a character who act)ally did that before they left the room#< A1DB A central +art of the show%s +remise was that the main character wo)ld be disabled in some way# A1!B $he original idea was for (o)se to )se a wheelchair, b)t Fox re:ected this# /acobs later ex+ressed her gratit)de for the network%s insistence that the character be reimaginedH+)tting him on his feet added a cr)cial +hysical dimension# A11B $he writers )ltimately chose to give (o)se a damaged leg arising from an incorrect diagnosis, which re5)ires him to )se a cane and ca)ses him +ain that leads to a narcotic de+endency# A1!B References to Sherlock HolmesAeditB 0herlock (olmes serves as an ins+iration for the series# 'regory (o)se was based on the famo)s fictional detective 0herlock (olmes created by 0ir Arth)r 4onan &oyle a++ear thro)gho)t the series# A1EBA16B 0hore ex+lained that he was always a (olmes fan and fo)nd the character%s indifference to his clients )ni5)e# A1DB $he resemblance is evident in (o)se%s reliance on ded)ctive reasoning A1EB and +sychology, even where it might not seem obvio)sly a++licable, AGB and his rel)ctance to acce+t cases he finds )ninteresting# A1FB (is investigatory method is to eliminate diagnoses logically as they are +roved im+ossible> (olmes )sed a similar method# A=B 2oth characters +lay instr)ments ((o)se +lays the +iano, the g)itar, and the harmonica> (olmes, the violin) and take dr)gs ((o)se is de+endent on Kicodin> (olmes )ses cocaine recreationally)# A1EB (o)se%s relationshi+ with &r# /ames 7ilson echoes that between (olmes and his confidant, &r# /ohn 7atson# A=B 8obert 0ean *eonard, who +ortrays 7ilson, said that (o)se and his characterHwhose name is very similar to 7atson%sHwere originally intended to work together m)ch as (olmes and 7atson do> in his view, (o)se%s diagnostic team has ass)med that as+ect of the 7atson role# A1=B 7ilson even has a dead,beat brother who may be dead, like 7atson%s dead alcoholic brother# (0eason 1, 6+isode 1) 0hore said that (o)se%s name itself is meant as <a s)btle homage< to (olmes# A=BA1GB (o)se%s address is 2212 2aker 0treet, a direct reference to (olmes%s street address# AGB 7ilson%s address is also 2212# A2B 3ndivid)al e+isodes of the series contain additional references to the 0herlock (olmes tales# $he main +atient in the +ilot e+isode is named 8ebecca Adler after 3rene Adler, a character in the first (olmes short story, <A 0candal in 2ohemia<# A21B 3n the season two finale, (o)se is shot by a craIed g)nman credited as <"oriarty,< the name of (olmes%s nemesis# A22B 3n the season fo)r e+isode <3t%s a 7onderf)l *ie,< (o)se receives a <second edition 4onan &oyle< as a 4hristmas gift# A2DB 3n the season five e+isode <$he 3tch,< (o)se is seen +icking )+ his keys and Kicodin from the to+ of a co+y of 4onan &oyle%s The Memoirs o# Sherlo!k Holmes# A2!B 3n another season five e+isode, </oy to the 7orld,< (o)se, in an attem+t to fool his team, )ses a book by /ose+h 2ell, 4onan &oyle%s ins+iration for 0herlock (olmes# A=B $he vol)me had been given to him the +revio)s 4hristmas by 7ilson, who incl)ded the message <'reg, made me think of yo)#< 2efore acknowledging that he gave the book to (o)se, 7ilson tells two of the team members that its so)rce was a +atient, 3rene Adler# A2EB $he series finale +ays homage to (olmes%s a++arent death in <$he Final -roblem<, the 1=GD story with which 4onan &oyle originally intended to concl)de the (olmes chronicles# A26B Production teamAeditB 2ryan 0inger directed the+ilot e+isode and the third e+isode, <9ccam%s 8aIor<# A2FB House was a co,+rod)ction of (eel and $oe Films, 0hore L -rod)ctions, and 2ad (at (arry -rod)ctions in association with @niversal "edia 0t)dios for Fox# A2=B -a)l Attanasio and 1atie /acobs, the heads of (eel and $oe Films> &avid 0hore, the head of 0hore L -rod)ctions> and 2ryan 0inger, the head of 2ad (at (arry -rod)ctions, were exec)tive +rod)cers of the +rogram for its entirety# A12B *awrence 1a+low, -eter 2lake, and $homas *# "oran :oined the staff as writers at the beginning of the first season after the making of the +ilot e+isode# 7riters &oris 6gan, 0ara (ess, 8)ssel Friend, and 'arrett *erner :oined the team at the start of season two# Friend and *erner, who are b)siness +artners, had been offered +ositions when the series la)nched, b)t t)rned the o++ort)nity down# After observing the show%s s)ccess, they acce+ted when /acobs offered them :obs again the following year# A2GB 7riters 6li Attie and 0ean 7hitesell :oined the show at the start of season fo)r# 0ince the beginning of season fo)r, "oran, Friend, and *erner have been credited as exec)tive +rod)cers on the series, :oining Attanasio, /acobs, 0hore, and 0inger# A2=B ()gh *a)rie was credited as an exec)tive +rod)cer for the second ADB and third AD1B e+isodes of season five# 0hore is House%s showr)nner# AD2B $hro)gh the end of the sixth season, more than two doIen writers have contrib)ted to the +rogram# $he most +rolific have been 1a+low (1= e+isodes), 2lake (1F), 0hore (16), Friend (16), *erner (16), "oran (1!), and 6gan (1D)# $he show%s most +rolific directors thro)gh its first six seasons were &eran 0arafian (22 e+isodes), who was not involved in season six, and 'reg ?aitanes (1F)# 9f the more than three doIen other directors who have worked on the series, only &avid 0traiton directed as many as 1 e+isodes thro)gh the sixth season# ()gh *a)rie directed the seventeenth e+isode of season six, <*ockdown<# ADDB 6lan 0oltes has been the vis)al effects s)+ervisor since the show began# AD!B *isa 0anders, an assistant clinical +rofessor of medicine at the ?ale 0chool of "edicine, is a technical advisor to the series# 0he writes the <&iagnosis< col)mn that ins+ired House%s +remise# ADEB According to 0hore, <three different doctors### check everything we do<# AD6B 2obbin 2ergstrom, a registered n)rse, is the +rogram%s on,set medical adviser# AD6B CastingAeditB <3t wasn%t a massive move when 3 first considered AdoingHouseB# 7hat )s)ally ha++ens is yo) do a +ilot and of the very few +icked )+, only abo)t a 5)arter go to a second year# 0o 3 tho)ght 3%ll have three f)n weeks# 3 never dreamed 3%d be here three and a half years later#< H()gh *a)rie ADFB At first, the +rod)cers were looking for a <5)intessentially American +erson< to +lay the role of (o)se# AD=B 2ryan 0inger in +artic)lar felt there was no way he was going to hire a non, American actor for the role# A1B At the time of the casting session, actor ()gh *a)rie was in Namibia filming the movie $light o# the %hoeni&# (e assembled an a)dition ta+e in a hotel bathroom, the only +lace with eno)gh light, AD=B and a+ologiIed for its a++earance ADGB (which 0inger com+ared to a <bin *adenvideo<)# A!B *a)rie im+rovised, )sing an )mbrella for a cane# 0inger was very im+ressed by his +erformance and commented on how well the <American actor< was able to gras+ the character# A1BA!1B 0inger was not aware that *a)rie was 6nglish, d)e to his convincing American accent# *a)rie credits the accent to <a miss+ent yo)th AwatchingB too m)ch $K and too many movies<# AD=B Altho)gh locally better,known actors s)ch as &enis *eary, &avid 4ross, 8ob "orrow, and -atrick &em+sey were considered for the +art, 0hore, /acobs, and Attanasio were as im+ressed as 0inger and cast *a)rie as (o)se# A!2B *a)rie later revealed that he initially tho)ght the show%s central character was &r# /ames 7ilson# (e ass)med that (o)se was a s)++orting +art, d)e to the nat)re of the character, )ntil he received the f)ll scri+t of the +ilot e+isode# A!DB *a)rie, the son of a doctor, 8an *a)rie, said he felt g)ilty for <being +aid more to become a fake version of AhisB own father<# AD=B From the start of season three, he was being +aid M2FE, to MD, +er e+isode, as m)ch as three times what he had +revio)sly been making on the series# A!!BA!EB 2y the show%s fifth season, *a)rie was earning aro)nd M!, +er e+isode, making him one of the highest,+aid actors on network television# A!6B ()gh *a)rie made his own a)dition ta+e while shooting a film in Namibia# 8obert 0ean *eonard had received the scri+t for the 420 show Numb'rs, as well as that for House# A!FB *eonard tho)ght the Numb'rs scri+t was <kind of cool< and +lanned to a)dition for the show# A!FB (owever, he decided that the character he was )+ for, 4harlie 6++es, was in too many scenes> he later observed, <$he less 3 work, the ha++ier 3 am<# A!FB (e believed that his House a)dition was not +artic)larly good, b)t that his lengthy friendshi+ with 0inger hel+ed win him the +art of &r# 7ilson# A!FB 0inger had en:oyed *isa 6delstein%s +ortrayal of a +rostit)te on The West Wing, and sent her a co+y of the +ilot scri+t# A!=B 6delstein was attracted to the 5)ality of the writing and her character%s <sna++y dialog)e< with (o)se, and was cast as &r# *isa 4)ddy# A!=B A)stralian actor /esse 0+encer%s agent s)ggested that he a)dition for the role of &r# 8obert 4hase# 0+encer believed the +rogram wo)ld be similar in style to General Hos(ital, b)t changed his mind after reading the scri+ts# A!GB After he was cast, he +ers)aded the +rod)cers to t)rn the character into an A)stralian# AEB -atrick &em+sey also a)ditioned for the +art of 4hase> he later became known for his +ortrayal of &r# &erek 0he+herd on Gre)'s *natom)# AE1B 9mar 6++s, who +lays &r# 6ric Foreman, was ins+ired by his earlier +ortrayal of a tro)bled intern on the N24medical drama +,# AE2B /ennifer "orrison felt that her a)dition for the +art of &r# Allison 4ameron was a com+lete disaster# AEDB (owever, before her a)dition, 0inger had watched some of her +erformances, incl)ding on "awson's Creek, and already wanted to cast her in the role# AEDB "orrison left the show when her character was written o)t in the middle of season six# AE!B At the end of season three, (o)se dismisses 4hase, while Foreman and 4ameron resign# AEEB (o)se m)st then recr)it a new diagnostic team, for which he identifies seven finalists# $he +rod)cers originally +lanned to recr)it two new f)ll,time actors, with Foreman, who ret)rns in season fo)r%s fifth e+isode, bringing the team back )+ to three members> )ltimately, the decision was made to add three new reg)lar cast members# AE6B (Along with 6++s, actors "orrison and 0+encer remained in the cast, as their characters moved on to new assignments#) &)ring +rod)ction, the show%s writers dismissed a single candidate +er e+isode> as a res)lt, said /acobs, neither the +rod)cers nor the cast knew who was going to be hired )ntil the last min)te# AEFB 3n the season%s ninth e+isode, (o)se%s new team is revealed; Foreman is :oined by doctors *awrence 1)tner (1al -enn), AE=B 4hris $a)b(-eter /acobson), AEGB and 8emy <$hirteen< (adley (9livia 7ilde)# A6B $he candidates re:ected by (o)se have not ret)rned to the show, with the exce+tion of the last one c)t; Amber Kolakis (Anne &)dek), who a++eared for the rest of season fo)r as 7ilson%s girlfriend, A61B and in season five as a hall)cination of (o)se%s# A62B 7hile -enn and 7ilde had higher +rofiles than the actors who +layed the other finalists, /acobs said they went thro)gh an identical a)dition +rocess and stayed with the show based on the writers% interest in their characters# AEFB 1)tner was written o)t of the series in e+isode 2 of season E after -enn took a +osition in the 7hite (o)se 9ffice of -)blic 6ngagement and 3ntergovernmental Affairs# A6DB $he contracts of 6delstein, 6++s, and *eonard ex+ired at the end of season seven# As a cost,c)tting meas)re, the three actors were asked to acce+t red)ced salaries# 6++s and *eonard came to terms with the +rod)cers, b)t 6delstein did not, and in "ay 211 it was anno)nced that she wo)ld not be ret)rning for the show%s eighth season# A6!B Filming style and locationsAeditB Frist 4am+)s 4enter is the so)rce of the aerial views of --$(# House is often filmed )sing the <walk and talk< filming techni5)e, A6BA1FB +o+)lariIed on television by series s)ch as St- +lsewhere, +,, S(orts Night, and The West Wing# A6EB $he techni5)e involves the )se of tracking shots, showing two or more characters walking between locations while talking# A6EB 6xec)tive +rod)cer 1atie /acobs said that the show fre5)ently )ses the techni5)e beca)se <when yo) +)t a scene on the move, it%s a### way of creating an )rgency and an intensity<# A6B 0he noted the significance of <the fact that ()gh *a)rie s+ans 6%2< and is taller than everybody else beca)se it certainly makes those walk,and,talks +o+<# A6B Nancy Franklin of The New Yorker described the show%s <cool, %Fantastic Koyage%.like s+ecial effects of +atients% innards# 3%ll bet yo) didn%t know that when yo)r kidneys sh)t down they so)nd like b)bble wra+ +o++ing#< A66B <4ameras and s+ecial effects travel not only down the throat< of one +atient, another critic observed, <b)t )+ her nose and inside her brain and leg<# A6FB 3nstead of relying +rimarily on com+)ter,generated imagery, the interior body shots tend to involveminiat)re effects and motion control +hotogra+hy# AD!B "any of the sets are dressed with a variety of )nscri+ted +ro+s that allow *a)rie to +hysically im+rovise, revealing as+ects of his character and the story# A6B 'ale $attersall, House cinematogra+her from 2F, 212 was widely recogniIed for shooting the season 6 finalJ entirely on the 4anon E& &0*8 , the first time a network television show was shot on an )nder M2 +ros)mer camera# $he +ilot e+isode was filmed in 4anada> +rimary +hotogra+hy for all s)bse5)ent e+isodes has been shot on the Fox lot in 4ent)ry 4ity# AD6B 2ryan 0inger chose the hos+ital near his hometown, 7est 7indsor, New /ersey, as the show%s fictional setting# A12B -rinceton @niversity%s Frist 4am+)s 4enter AaB is the so)rce of the aerial views of -rinceton,-lainsboro $eaching (os+ital seen in the series# A6=B 0ome filming took +lace at the @niversity of 0o)thern 4alifornia for the season three e+isode <(alf,7it<, which g)est,starred &ave "atthews and 1)rtwood 0mith# A6GB -art of House%s sixth season was filmed at the abandoned 'reystone -ark -sychiatric (os+ital, in -arsi++any,$roy (ills, New /ersey, as the fictional "ayfield -sychiatric (os+ital# AFB Opening sequenceAeditB $he o+ening se5)ence begins with an "83 of a head with an image of the boxed <(< from the logo (the international symbol for hos+ital) in the foregro)nd# $his is then overlaid with an image of &r# (o)se%s face taken from the +ilot e+isode with the show%s f)ll title a++earing across his face# (o)se%s head then fades and the show%s title is )nderlined and has the <"#&#< a++ear next to it, +rod)cing the entire logo of the show# $his was the f)ll extent of the title se5)ence in the +ilot e+isode# AF1B All s)bse5)ent e+isodes contain a longer se5)ence incl)ding the names of the six feat)red cast members and creator &avid 0hore# *a)rie%s name a++ears first, followed by the names of the five other feat)red cast members in al+habetical order (6delstein, 6++s, *eonard, "orrison, 0+encer, then 0hore)# AF2B After the show%s title fades, there is an aerial view of --$( (act)ally vario)s -rinceton @niversity b)ildings, +rimarily Frist 4am+)s 4enter)# A6=B $his is followed by a series of images accom+anying each cast member%s name> most are shown next to, or s)+erim+osed )+on, ill)strations of the h)man anatomy# *a)rie%s name a++ears next to a model of a h)man head with the brain ex+osed> 6delstein%s name a++ears next to a vis)al effects.+rod)ced gra+hic of an angiogram of the heart# 6++s%s name is s)+erim+osed )+on a rib cage N,ray> *eonard%s name a++ears on a drawing of the two hemis+heres of the brain# AF2B $he +rod)cers originally wanted to incl)de an image of a cane and an image of a Kicodin bottle, b)t Fox ob:ected# "orrison%s title card was th)s lacking an image> an aerial shot of rowers on -rinceton @niversity%s *ake 4arnegie was finally agreed )+on to accom+any her name# AFDB 0+encer%s name a++ears next to an old,fashioned anatomical drawing of a s+ine# 2etween the +resentations of 0+encer%s and 0hore%s names is a scene of (o)se and his three original team members walking down one of the hos+ital%s hallways# AF2B /acobs said that most of the backgro)nds have no s+ecific meaning> however, the final imageHthe text <created by &avid 0hore< s)+erim+osed )+on a h)man neckHconnotes that 0hore is <the brain of the show<# AFDB $he se5)ence was nominated for a -rimetime 6mmy Award for 9)tstanding "ain $itle &esign in 2E# AF!B $he title se5)ence contin)ed to credit 0+encer and "orrison, even when their characters were red)ced to backgro)nd roles d)ring seasons fo)r and five, and "orrison even after hers was written o)t# A new o+ening se5)ence was introd)ced in season seven to accommodate the changes in the cast, removing "orrison%s name and incl)ding /acobson and 7ilde%s# AFEBAF6B $he series% original o+ening theme, as heard in the @nited 0tates, com+rises instr)mental +ortions of <$eardro+< by "assive Attack# AFFB $he +iece was )sed in +art beca)se of the distinct tem+o which ro)ghly mimics the so)nd of a beating h)man heart# AF=B An aco)stic version of <$eardro+<, with g)itar and vocals by /osJ 'onIOleI, is heard as backgro)nd m)sic d)ring the season fo)r finale# AFGB Series overviewAeditB See also. /ist o# House e(isodes <Anytime yo) try to s)mmariIe a show in one word, yo) so)nd like an ass# 3t%s abo)t tr)th#< H&avid 0hore A=B 'regory (o)se, "#&#, often constr)ed as a misanthro+ic medical geni)s, heads a team of diagnosticians at the -rinceton,-lainsboro $eaching (os+ital in New /ersey# AF1B "ost e+isodes revolve aro)nd the diagnosis of a +rimary +atient and start with a +re,credits scene set o)tside the hos+ital, showing events ending with the onset of the +atient%s sym+toms# A1FB $he ty+ical e+isode follows the team in their attem+ts to diagnose and treat the +atient%s illness, AFFBA=1B which often fail )ntil the +atient%s condition is critical# AFFB $hey )s)ally treat only +atients whom other doctors have not acc)rately diagnosed, A6=B and (o)se ro)tinely re:ects cases that he does not find interesting# A1FB $he story lines tend to foc)s on his )nconventional medical theories and +ractices, and on the other characters% reactions to them, rather than on the details of the treatments# ADB $he team em+loys the differential diagnosis method, A=1B listing +ossible etiologies on a whiteboard, then eliminating most of them, )s)ally beca)se one of the team (most often (o)se) +rovides logical reasons for r)ling them o)t# A=2B $y+ically the +atient is misdiagnosed at least once and accordingly receives some treatments that are at best )seless> A=1B this )s)ally ca)ses f)rther com+lications, b)tHas the nat)re of the com+lications often +rovides val)able new evidenceHevent)ally these hel+ them diagnose the +atient correctly# A1FB (o)se often tends to arrive at the correct diagnosis seemingly o)t of the bl)e, often ins+ired by a +assing remark made by another character# A=1B &iagnoses range from relatively common to very rare diseases# A=DB $he team face many diagnostic diffic)lties from +atients% concealment of sym+toms, circ)mstances, or +ersonal histories, so (o)se fre5)ently +roclaims d)ring the team%s deliberations, <$he +atient is lying<, or m)tters <6verybody lies<> s)ch an ass)m+tion g)ides (o)se%s decisions and diagnoses, AGB and makes the co)ntermeas)re of ho)sebreakinga ro)tine +roced)re# 2eca)se many of his hy+otheses are based on e+i+hanies or controversial insights, he often has tro)ble obtaining +ermission for medical +roced)res he considers necessary from his s)+erior, who in all b)t the final season is hos+ital administrator &r# *isa 4)ddy# A=!B $his is es+ecially the case when the +ro+osed +roced)res involve a high degree of risk or are ethically 5)estionable# $here are fre5)ent disagreements between (o)se and his team, A=EB es+ecially &r# Allison 4ameron, whose standards of medical ethics are more conservative than those of the other characters# AFFB *ike all of the hos+ital%s doctors, (o)se is re5)ired to treat +atients in the facility%s walk,in clinic# AF1BA=6B (is gr)dging f)lfillment of this d)ty, or his creative methods of avoiding it, constit)te a rec)rring s)b+lot, which often serves as the series% comic relief# AFFBA=FB &)ring clinic d)ty, (o)se confo)nds +atients with )nwelcome observations into their +ersonal lives, eccentric +rescri+tions, and )northodox treatments# AF1B (owever, after seeming to be inattentive to their com+laints, he reg)larly im+resses them with ra+id and acc)rate diagnoses# A1EB Analogies with some of the sim+le cases in the clinic occasionally ins+ire insights that hel+ solve the team%s case# A1FBA==B <3t%s not a show abo)t addiction, b)t yo) can%t throw something like this into the mix and not ex+ect it to be noticed and commented on# $here have been references to the amo)nt of his cons)m+tion increasing over time# 3t%s becoming less and less )sef)l a tool for dealing with his +ain, and it%s something we%re going to contin)e to deal with, contin)e to ex+lore#< H0hore on (o)se%s Kicodin addiction A=GB A significant +lot element is (o)se%s )se of Kicodin to manage +ain, ca)sed by an infarction in his5)adrice+s m)scle five years before the show%s first season, which also forces him to )se a cane# AGB 3n the first season> eleventh e+isode <&etox<, (o)se admits he is addicted to Kicodin, b)t says he does not have a +roblem beca)se the +ills <let me do my :ob, and they take away my +ain<# AbB (is addiction has led his colleag)es, 4)ddy and &r# /ames 7ilson, to enco)rage him to go to dr)g rehabilitation several times# AG1B 7hen he has no access to Kicodin or ex+eriences )n)s)ally intense +ain, he occasionally self,medicates with other narcotic analgesics s)ch as mor+hine, AG2B oxycodone, AGDB and methadone# AG!B (o)se also fre5)ently drinks li5)or when he is not on medical d)ty, and classifies himself as a <big drinker<# AGEB $oward the end of season five, (o)se begins to hall)cinate> after eliminating other +ossible diagnoses, he and 7ilson determine that his Kicodin addiction is the most likely ca)se# AG6B (o)se goes into denial abo)t this for a brief time, b)t at the close of the season finale, he commits himself to "ayfield -sychiatric (os+ital# AGFB 3n the following season%s deb)t e+isode, (o)se leaves "ayfield with his addiction )nder control# AG=B (owever, abo)t a year and a half later, in season seven%s 1Eth e+isode, <2ombshells<, (o)se reacts to the news that 4)ddy +ossibly has kidney cancer by taking Kicodin, AGGB and his addiction rec)rs# A1B Characters and story arcsAeditB Main arti!le. /ist o# House !hara!ters Name Portraye d by Occupation Seasons 1 ! " # $ % & &r# 'regory (o)se ()gh *a)rie Former (ead of &e+artment of &iagnostic "edicine 'ain &r# *isa 4)ddy *isa 6delstein &ean of "edicine 'ain &r# /ames 7ilson 8obert 0ean *eonard (ead of &e+artment of 9ncology 'ain &r# 6ric Foreman 9mar 6++s Ne)rologist, &ean of "edicine 'ain &r# 8obert 4hase /esse 0+encer 0)rgeon, A11B 3ntensivist, A12B (ead of &e+artment of &iagnostic "edicine 'ain &r# Allison 4ameron /ennifer "orrison 3mm)nologist, &iagnostic "edicine 'ain (uest &r# 4hris $a)b -eter /acobson -lastic 0)rgeon, A1DB &iagnostic "edicine )lso Starring 'ain &r# *awrenc e 1)tner 1al -enn 0+orts "edicine s+ecialist, A12B &iagnostic "edicine )lso Starring (uest &r# 8emy <$hirteen < (adley 9livia 7ilde 3nternist, A12B &iagnostic "edicine )lso Starring 'ain )lso Starring &r# "artha "# "asters Amber $amblyn &o)ble,-h#&# in A++lied "athematics and Art (istory, A1!B "edical st)dent 'ain (uest &r# /essica Adams 9dette Annable -rison clinic +hysician, A1EB &iagnostic "edicine 'ain &r# 4hi -ark 4harlyne ?i Ne)rologist, A16B &iagnostic "edicine 'ain 'ain charactersAeditB $he original lead characters ofHouse M-"-; 7ilson, 4)ddy, 4hase, (o)se, 4ameron, and Foreman# $hro)gho)t House%s r)n, six of the main actors have received star billing# All of them +lay doctors who work at the fictional -rinceton,-lainsboro $eaching (os+ital (--$() in New /ersey# AF1B &r# 'regory (o)se (()gh *a)rie), the title character, heads the &e+artment of&iagnostic "edicine# A1FB (o)se describes himself as <a board,certified diagnostician with a do)ble s+ecialty of infectio)s disease andne+hrology<# A1=B &r# /ames 7ilson (8obert 0ean *eonard), (o)se%s one tr)e friend, is the head of the &e+artment of 9ncology# A1GB &r# *isa 4)ddy (*isa 6delstein), an endocrinologist, A11B is (o)se%s boss, as she is the hos+ital%s dean of medicine and chief administrator# A111B (o)se has a com+lex relationshi+ with 4)ddy, and their interactions often involve a high degree of inn)endo and sex)al tension# A112B 3n the sixth e+isode of season five, </oy<, they kiss for the first time# A11DB $heir +hysical relationshi+ does not +rogress any f)rther d)ring the fifth season> in the finale, (o)se believes he and 4)ddy had sex, b)t this is a hall)cination bro)ght on by (o)se%s Kicodin addiction# AGFB 3n the finale of season six, 4)ddy tells (o)se she loves him# $hey kiss and agree to try being a co)+le# A11!B $hro)gho)t season seven, (o)se and 4)ddy try to make their relationshi+ work# (o)se%s original team of diagnosticians consists of &r# 6ric Foreman (9mar 6++s), a ne)rologist> &r# 8obert 4hase (/esse 0+encer), anintensivist> and &r# Allison 4ameron (/ennifer "orrison), an imm)nologist# A111B 3n the season three e+isode <Family<, Foreman anno)nces his resignation, telling (o)se, <3 don%t want to t)rn into yo)<# AcB &)ring the season finale, (o)se tells 4hase that he has either learned everything he can, or nothing at all, and dismisses him from the team# 4ameron, who has develo+ed an affection for 4hase, soon resigns# AEEB $his leaves (o)se witho)t a team for the season fo)r +remiere# A11EB @nder orders from 4)ddy to recr)it a new team, (o)se considers forty doctors# AGEB 0eason fo)r%s early e+isodes foc)s on his selection +rocess, str)ct)red as a reality $K.style elimination contest AGEB (/acobs referred to it as a <version of Sur0i0or<)# A116B (o)se assigns each a++licant a n)mber between 1 and !, and +ares them down to seven finalists# A11FB (e assesses their +erformance in diagnostic cases, assisted by Foreman, who ret)rns to the de+artment after his dismissal from another hos+ital for (o)se,like behavior# A11FBA11=BA11GB 7hile Foreman%s ret)rn means there are only two o+en slots, (o)se tricks 4)ddy into allowing him to hire three new assistants# A12B (e )ltimately selects &r# 4hris $a)b (-eter /acobson), a former +lastic s)rgeon> &r# *awrence 1)tner (1al -enn), a s+orts medicines+ecialist> and &r# 8emy <$hirteen< (adley (9livia 7ilde), an internist (nicknamed for her n)mber in the elimination contest)# A12BA121B 3n the season finale, $hirteen discovers she has, as she had long dreaded, ()ntington%s disease, which is inc)rable# AFGB 3n the eleventh e+isode of season five, </oy to the 7orld<, Foreman and $hirteen engage in a +assionate kiss# A2EB $hirteen is at first rel)ctant to start a relationshi+ with Foreman, b)t the two event)ally begin dating and are still together at the end of the season# AGFB $hey break )+ early in season six# 3n the twentieth e+isode of season E, <0im+le 6x+lanation<, 1)tner is fo)nd dead in his a+artment with a g)nshot wo)nd to the head# 2eca)se 1)tner left no note, (o)se s)s+ects fo)l +lay, tho)gh the death is acce+ted by the other characters as a s)icide# A122B 3n the seventh e+isode of season two, <()nting<, 4ameron and 4hase have a one,night stand# A12DB 3n the middle of season three, they initiate a sex)al relationshi+ that 4ameron insists be cas)al> A11B when 4hase declares that he <wants more<, 4ameron ends the affair# A12!B 2y the end of the season, however, 4ameron recogniIes that she has romantic feelings for 4hase and they begin a serio)s relationshi+# AEEB After leaving the diagnostic team, they ass)me different roles at the --$(, 4ameron as a senior attending +hysician in the emergency room AdB and 4hase as a s)rgeon# AGEB $hey become engaged in the season five e+isode <0aviors< (the e+isode immediately following 1)tner%s s)icide) A62B and are married in the season finale# A12EB 7hen 4hase re:oins (o)se%s team in season six, 4ameron leaves her h)sband and the hos+ital in <$eamwork<, the season%s eighth e+isode# A126B 0he ret)rns as a g)est character in <*ockdown<, nine e+isodes later# A12FB 6arly in season seven, $hirteen takes an )nex+lained leave of absence# 4)ddy orders (o)se to fill her +osition with another woman, A12=B b)t event)ally makes the choice for him; medical st)dent "artha "# "asters (Amber $amblyn), who makes her first a++earance in the season%s sixth e+isode# A12GB $hirteen ret)rns in the <$he &ig<Hthe season%s 1=th e+isode and the show%s 1EthHin which the reason for her absence is revealed; she was in +rison for six months for having hel+ed e)thaniIe her brother, who was s)ffering from advanced ()ntington%s# A1DB 7hile /acobson and 7ilde +lay central characters (as did -enn), they did not receive star billing )ntil season seven# $hey were credited as <Also 0tarring<, with their names a++earing after the o+ening se5)ence# A1D1B 3n season seven, /acobson and 7ilde received star billing> new reg)lar cast member $amblyn did not# A1D2B Recurring charactersAeditB $he first six seasons of House each incl)ded one or more rec)rring feat)red characters, who a++ear in m)lti,e+isode story arcs# A1DDB 3n season one, 6dward Kogler (4hi "c2ride), the billionaire owner of a +harmace)tical com+any, a++ears in five e+isodes# A1D!B (e donates @0M1 million to the --$( in ret)rn for chairing its board# A1DEB Kogler re+resented an attem+t to introd)ce a villain, a move )rged by Fox# 2y the time the Kogler e+isodes began to air, the show had become a hit and the character was soon dro++ed# A1D!B 0hore said the conce+t of a villaino)s boss was not really viable for the series; <3t%s called House# $he a)dience knows he%ll never get fired#< AGB 0tacy 7arner (0ela 7ard), (o)se%s ex,girlfriend, A1D6B a++ears in the final two e+isodes of the first season, and seven e+isodes of season two# AGB 0he wants (o)se to treat her h)sband, "ark 7arner (4)rrie 'raham), whom (o)se diagnoses with ac)te intermittent +or+hyria in the season one finale# A1D6B 0tacy and (o)se grow close again, b)t (o)se event)ally tells 0tacy to go back to "ark, which devastates her# A1DFB "ichael $ritter (&avid "orse), a +olice detective, a++ears in several season three e+isodes# (e tries to extract an a+ology from (o)se, who left $ritter in an examination room with a thermometer in his rect)m# A1D=B After (o)se ref)ses to a+ologiIe, $ritter brings him )+ on charges of )n+rescribed narcotics +ossession and forces him to attend rehab# 7hen the case reaches co)rt, 4)ddy +er:)res herself for (o)se and the case is dismissed# $he :)dge re+rimands $ritter for +)rs)ing (o)se to excess, and tells (o)se that she thinks he <has better friends than he deserves,< referring to 4)ddy%s 11th,ho)r testimony on his behalf# (o)se is sentenced to one night in :ail for contem+t of co)rt and finishes his rehabilitation )nder the infl)ence of Kicodin# AG1B $he candidates for (o)se%s new diagnostics team are season fo)r%s +rimary rec)rring characters# A1DGB 3n addition to the three who are chosen, the other fo)r finalists are /effrey 4ole (6di 'athegi)> $ravis 2rennan (Andy 4omea)), an e+idemiologist> A1DGB (enry &obson (4armen ArgenIiano), a former medical school admissions officer> AGEB and Amber <4)t,throat 2itch< Kolakis (Anne &)dek), an interventional radiologist# A121B 6ach of the fo)r de+arts the show after elimination, exce+t for Kolakis, who a++ears thro)gho)t the season, having started a relationshi+ with 7ilson# A1!BA1!1B 3n the two,+art season finale, Kolakis attem+ts to she+herd a dr)nken (o)se home when 7ilson is )navailable# $hey are involved in a b)s crash, which leads to her death# AFGBA1!2B 0he rea++ears late in season five among the hall)cinations (o)se s)ffers# A62B -rivate investigator *)cas &o)glas ("ichael 7eston), a character ins+ired in +art by 0hore%s love of The ,o!k#ord $iles, a++ears in three e+isodes of season five# A1!DBA1!!B (o)se initially hires &o)glas to s+y on 7ilson, who has ended their friendshi+ after Kolakis%s death (the friendshi+ is s)bse5)ently rekindled)# (o)se later +ays &o)glas to look into the +rivate lives of his team members and 4)ddy# A1!EB 3f the character had been acce+ted by the a)dience, +lans existed to feat)re him as the lead in a s+in,off show# A1!6B 3n 0e+tember 2=, 0hore s+oke to +ntertainment Weekl) abo)t his vision for the character; <3 don%t want to do :)st another medical show# 7hat does excite me in terms of writing is the choices +eo+le make and the nat)re of right and wrong### and a +rivate investigator can a++roach that 5)estion m)ch more readily than a doctor can#< A1!FB $here was no show feat)ring &o)glas on the fall 2G network television sched)le# A1!=B (e ret)rns to House in season six as 4)ddy%s boyfriend# A1!GB $hey are briefly engaged )ntil 4)ddy breaks it off, realiIing that she is in love with (o)se# A1EB