Post by Forever Xena on Sept 13, 2005 8:23:30 GMT -6
Sep. 12, 2005
House
By Ray Richmond
Bottom line: "House" gets off to a strong start in its sophomore campaign with a pair of typically potent/offbeat hours.
9 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 13
Fox
One could make a convincing case that "House" is the bravest series on TV, and that it goes beyond simply having a misanthropic antihero at its center. Besides being a brilliant diagnostician and infectious disease specialist, Dr. Gregory House (the incandescent Hugh Laurie) is the kind of cynical jerk who can ridicule the courage of a 9-year-old girl dying of cancer -- as he does in the second episode of this terrific Fox medical drama's second season. This is pretty bold stuff considering that if we hate Dr. House, the series is toast. That we dig him in spite of his surliness and social ineptitude speaks to the show's savvy, deliciously quirky execution and Laurie's masterful performance week after week. If he doesn't win the lead drama series actor Emmy, there ought to be an inquiry if for no other reason than the complete erasure of his native British accent.
"House" grew into a hit in its rookie season because of its engaging eccentricity, its intelligence and (last but not least) a Tuesday night lead-in titled "American Idol." But the suspicion is that this show is plenty good enough to top the prime adult demo and household ratings charts even without "Idol's" help. It gets off to a strong start in its sophomore campaign with a pair of typically potent/offbeat hours. In the season premiere, the acerbic, brutally honest House tries to get to the bottom of it when a vicious killer on death row (guest star LL Cool J) suffers a mysterious heart ailment on the eve of his execution, inspiring the doc to pull strings and get him admitted to the hospital. A second story surrounds colleague Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) and her reluctance to tell a woman that she's got cancer. Sela Ward guest stars as House's former squeeze and the facility's new general counsel.
In Episode 2 (airing Sept. 20), Sasha Pieterse guest stars as a terminally ill young girl with whom House becomes fascinated -- not because he cares about her so much as he's intrigued by her unflappable demeanor. If there's a weakness to "House," it's that when you dissect the story lines, they tend to be a little bit preposterous. I mean, taking extraordinary measures to save the life of a man about to be executed? Performing a "living autopsy" on a kid before she dies? OK, so you have to take some leaps of faith to fully embrace "House." Yet the show is so smart, and Laurie so spot-on perfect, that it's suggested one leap with impunity.
House
By Ray Richmond
Bottom line: "House" gets off to a strong start in its sophomore campaign with a pair of typically potent/offbeat hours.
9 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 13
Fox
One could make a convincing case that "House" is the bravest series on TV, and that it goes beyond simply having a misanthropic antihero at its center. Besides being a brilliant diagnostician and infectious disease specialist, Dr. Gregory House (the incandescent Hugh Laurie) is the kind of cynical jerk who can ridicule the courage of a 9-year-old girl dying of cancer -- as he does in the second episode of this terrific Fox medical drama's second season. This is pretty bold stuff considering that if we hate Dr. House, the series is toast. That we dig him in spite of his surliness and social ineptitude speaks to the show's savvy, deliciously quirky execution and Laurie's masterful performance week after week. If he doesn't win the lead drama series actor Emmy, there ought to be an inquiry if for no other reason than the complete erasure of his native British accent.
"House" grew into a hit in its rookie season because of its engaging eccentricity, its intelligence and (last but not least) a Tuesday night lead-in titled "American Idol." But the suspicion is that this show is plenty good enough to top the prime adult demo and household ratings charts even without "Idol's" help. It gets off to a strong start in its sophomore campaign with a pair of typically potent/offbeat hours. In the season premiere, the acerbic, brutally honest House tries to get to the bottom of it when a vicious killer on death row (guest star LL Cool J) suffers a mysterious heart ailment on the eve of his execution, inspiring the doc to pull strings and get him admitted to the hospital. A second story surrounds colleague Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) and her reluctance to tell a woman that she's got cancer. Sela Ward guest stars as House's former squeeze and the facility's new general counsel.
In Episode 2 (airing Sept. 20), Sasha Pieterse guest stars as a terminally ill young girl with whom House becomes fascinated -- not because he cares about her so much as he's intrigued by her unflappable demeanor. If there's a weakness to "House," it's that when you dissect the story lines, they tend to be a little bit preposterous. I mean, taking extraordinary measures to save the life of a man about to be executed? Performing a "living autopsy" on a kid before she dies? OK, so you have to take some leaps of faith to fully embrace "House." Yet the show is so smart, and Laurie so spot-on perfect, that it's suggested one leap with impunity.
source hollywood reporter
