WHY I’M NOT WATCHING HOUSE ANYMORE

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.

17 thoughts on “WHY I’M NOT WATCHING HOUSE ANYMORE

  1. Patti Abbott

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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…

      Reply
  2. Richard Robinson

    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.

    Reply
  3. Jeff Meyerson

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
  4. Richard Robinson

    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.

    Reply

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