Fox and MH television

[Jozanny]

Well I took a vacation day just so I could watch the season premiere of House.

That's dedication! Laurie and Braugher are, arguably, two of the strongest television actors to emerge within the last 20 years, which is why I was disappointed that "Broken" was not better written, took a few more risks, and kept Braugher on for a bit as a hard push back foil, much as they did with David Morse in a previous season. Correction: Braugher is on for two more episodes, but I just read that Morrison is leaving, which is actually a good thing. Doctors do not continually quit or get fired but stay where they are at the same time. I always thought one of the weakest things about House was Fox's obligation to honor the contracts of the original fellowship team, and it is definitely time for Epps to return to his B-grade movies.

I did not like the Nolan character giving House his answer by revealing the brain dead father; it pushed in the wrong direction, an unrealistic sentimentality which doesn't happen in real world terms. The whole point of House as a character is that he's a borderline sociopath anti-hero hero, and I do not think watching a rehab psychiatrist grieve for his daddy is going to get House to come to terms with losing his father. Nolan knew that House's verbal acuity was his weapon of choice, and yet the scene was an invitation for the cutting tongue silenced more through tv-land pap than anything else.

I had a therapist who reminded me that she wasn't the oracle. In our last session she told me she was divorced, but she did not invite me to dinner with her ex-husband. The point of 'what Nolan was doing might have been better made, in those terms.

It was once a near great show, but continues to deteriorate when it insists on overshooting poignancy.

I'm sort of hoping the theme for this year is renewal and healing. You might be interested in the site TeleviisonWithoutPity where there is a House entry with forums and fan fiction is posted. I generally read the episode summaries to get the finer points I may have missed watching the episodes and I have all seasons so far on DVD. Season 5 is due anytime now.

Thanks for the info. I might get the DVD's when the show ends. On the renewal and healing... mmm. I don't want House to become too human; I have never really liked the American appetite for closure, moving on, letting go. Pain shapes people as much as hope does, or gives us a reason to get up the next day.

And if I am this hard on a great show you can imagine how much I hate television.

[mtpspur]

I knew about Jennifer Morrison leaving at the time I posted but did not wish to spoil anything for you. With my work schedule I never get a Monday off unless it is vacation or sick time and our VCR is down so I'll be catching House a week late as Fox.Com runs them 8 days after original broadcast.

Very impressed with your analysis of the opener. I was hoping for more hard hitting conferences between House and Nolan and I really liked the 'romance' that was going on even though I would love to see Cuddy and House really come to an understanding but they need to put her backbone where it belongs because last season was horrid watching her lose her dignity episode by episode. I can cut a show a lot of leeway and one of the fun parts about House is seeing the characters change oh so slowly much like real life. I do think this has been a progressive thing for House and the viodin and breakdown so I await the future with more enthusiasm then last year--I really never warmed up to the new team. Lost no sleep over Kumar and Taub annoys me.

[Dirtbag]

It was once a near great show, but continues to deteriorate when it insists on overshooting poignancy.

That pretty much sums up my feelings toward the show now but I still enjoy it more than most other things on TV.

[Jozanny]

That pretty much sums up my feelings toward the show now but I still enjoy it more than most other things on TV.

The writers seem to be getting a little overly dramatic. When House loses a patient it is true the somber note and music ensue, but the James Earl Jones episode was heady, and I am not sure it was in Chase's character.

Though it isn't likely, I hope Fox ends the series before they destroy it. If they save their capital, they could bring it back now and then, specials and the like.

I do not see Mental on the cancellation list on the official Fox site, but I still have no idea why the episodes aren't being offered to the public to view online. In an off moment I will try to find out. I've actually kept myself a little busy with my own work these days, not that anyone @ LN would have guessed, since I've seemed to move in here!