I promised my daughter that I would watch this Season Six 2-hour premiere episode, but the antics of the writers and producers of House over the past two seasons have driven me away from the series. House attracted me from the beginning with the medical mystery format. Every week, Dr. Gregory House and his medical team tackled strange and bizarre medical conditions. I found the program clever, intelligent, and compelling. But, a couple years ago, the series changed its focus from the mysterious medical conditions of the patients that needed diagnosis to House’s drug habit. I almost quit watching House at the end of Season Four when–incomprehensibly–the writers killed off the best actress and compelling character (other than Hugh Laurie), Amber. Then, last season, they brought Amber back as a hallucination. Weak! So I’ll tune in tonight and keep my promise, but I’m done with House.
My problem is the opposite of yours. I can’ t take watching them do spinal taps and painful procedures every week. Often to no avail. There seems to be no thought given to patient pain.
You’re right about HOUSE treating the patients like guinea pigs, Patti. But, I enjoyed the medical mystery aspect of the series. House’s drug problems, not so much…
I see there’s a new “medical” series starting this Fall. Can’t recall the name, but I saw ads for it yesterday during Saturday Night Football, so it may be NBC. I guess people just like medical series. I admit I used to watch Quincy now and then. Come to think of it, the current daytime lineup here includes it, along with Parry Mason, Barnaby and some others. I have friends who liked ER, but I couldn’t get into it.
My favorite medical series was ST. ELSEWHERE. Most current medical series just rehash plots from that far superior program, Rick.
I agree with everything you said about last season (and the one before), George. But the local newspaper gave tonight’s episode 4 stars out of 5, mainly due to House’s antagonist, played by the great Andre Braugher. The regulars are not in it, apparently.
Also agree on ST. ELSEWHERE as favorite medical drama ever. But since Jackie is a big fan of medical series we generally give all of them a try, at least once. As for the one Rick mentioned, there are at least two: TRAUMA, which sounds (from reviews) like a rehash of many other shows; and one whose title escapes me, featuring nurses, much like this summer’s HAWTHORNE (which Jackie watched but I hated). Oh yeah, the guy who played the vampire in MIDNIGHT last year is in a medical drama set in Pittsburgh that got poor word of mouth.
I guess you’d have to try them and see for yourself – Your Mileage May Vary.
Welcome back, Jeff! We’ve missed your insightful comments. Katie made me promise to watch tonight’s episode of HOUSE, but after that, I’m done. I love Hugh Laurie, the cast is strong, but the writers and producers are dumping the medical mystery plot structure for “drama.” Count me out.
I liked Ben Casey, where all the medical people smoked like Industrial Revolution factories.
I liked Dr. Zorba in the BEN CASEY series, Bob. He was the guy whose hair looked like he stuck his finger in an electric outlet.
So how was it? Did it turn you around?
It was good, but not great, Patti. And, since the action took place in a Rehab center, it was nothing like the usual HOUSE format. So, no, I’m not relenting. No more HOUSE for me.
What was the name of the medical series with Richard Chamberlain that went opposite Ben Casey? My mother used to love that one. I never watched an episode of St. Elsewhere, maybe I’ll see if it’s on DVD. — yes, season 1 is available on Netflix — I’ll put it in the queue.
Yes, Jeff, Trauma was the one I saw the ads for. I think there was also one on HBO last season, we saw previews for it when we went to see Star Trek.
Like Patti, I’m curious how you liked House last night.
Even though it’s dated, I suspect you’ll like ST. ELSEWHERE, Rick. It was a medical version of HILL STREET BLUES.
Rick, it was Dr. Kildare.
Richard Chamberlain as DR. KILDARE wowed the female viewers of the time, Drongo. Little did they know that Richard Chamberlain was gay.
But Yvette Mimieux was on a famous two-part episode, and she was always worth watching.
I loved that Yvette Mimieux 2-part episode, Jeff. I’ll have to seek it out and watch it again since you jogged my memory.
Everything you need to know about St. Elsewhere.