House
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 12.04.07Last year I kept hearing about this show called House and how amazing it was. While I don’t watch many “medical” shows (mainly Scrubs, back from when I was in college), I did eventually check it out. I must say, it’s funny as heck.
The basic premise of any episode goes as follows:
In the first 3 minutes, someone randomly drops comatose; cue the show’s (very nicely designed) intro. In the next ten minutes they set up the soap opera elements for the episode (is personA starting to fall for personB?) and start working on the patient. This must be interspersed with plenty of banter and offensively cynical remarks, along with at least one reference to House’s troubling addiction to painkillers.
At the 24 minute mark they’ve narrowed it down to probable causes and start saving the patient. At 29 minutes they’ve solved the case. At 31 minutes, the patient dies, and they have to resuscitate as the patient nears death’s final door. At 38 minutes House has a brilliant epiphany and saves the day (remember he first killed the patient, but lets ignore that and pretend he’s good at what he does). Then at 41 minutes, we have a random emotional scene to give the audience hope that beneath the caustic exterior, House really does have human feelings, when what he is really, is a very British comedian.
Season three seems to be doing a better job of bucking this template, but mainly by changing the specific times these events occur. Of course, the medicine of many episodes is somewhat suspect… I’ve found it interesting to read episode reviews regarding the medical accuracy, or more commonly, inaccuracy.
I have to say… I’m rather hooked; House has quickly made it’s way to my weekly watch list of shows. Oh, and a fun bit of trivia; in the episode that features Dave Matthews as a savant pianist, Hugh Laughie didn’t use a hand double at all… he’s really that good.
I don’t watch the show, but I heard that there was recently an episode that dealt with abortion in a rather interesting way. Did you see it?Way to go John! And congratulations on finally discovering my favorite show! Am I going to need to bring my seasons one and two up for Christmas this year, or have you checked them out already? 
mediaboxAdvanced
Nicely done, John! Isn’t it great how some of the best writing happens when you’re not trying? This seems to be similar to a lot of creative endeavors, don’t you think? I enjoyed this post a lot.