Watching House

I’m sorry - I’ve been neglecting this blog a bit, but it hasn’t been for lack of interest…really…nothing’s been happening in House world! The actors and actresses are all staying busy and there hasn’t been much of a sight of anyone…until yesterday, that is.

Its no secret that we have until April 28th to wait for a new episode of House, but I can feel the excitement in the air now, because Hugh is BACK in LA! The sneak was caught entering LAX yesterday with a LOT of luggage. This is actually much more luggage than Hugh usually carries (actually, he generally doesn’t have any luggage with him when he travels back and forth), and it has been noticed that Hugh had a rather feminine bag with him, leading us to believe that he’s either switched teams or JO IS IN LA WITH HUGH!

So the man is back in town and filming will be commencing shortly, I’d presume - YES! I don’t know about you, but my hopes are rising!!

Sorry guys! It’s been a crazy week, and I’ve let House slide by a bit because, well, there really wasn’t much news! I was really excited when I heard that the shows were going to start again, but then I got a bit bummed when I realized it would be the end of APRIL before we saw a new episode - not that I don’t like reruns, but I really want to see more of this season and see if the old ducklings get more air time and how cut throat bitch and Wilson do together!

The news I’ve missed? Omar Epps won an award! He won the award for best supporting actor - congrats Omar!!

And some trailers have turned up for Street Kings! Here’s the best one I can find so far (I’d forgotten how much I missed Keanu in a modern law-type role), and I’ll put more up if I can find it!

I stumbled upon an interview today that was done just recently by Doris Egan, one of the co-producers and writers on House. She talks about what she was doing during the strike and about how many episodes are left…here are a few snippets…

Q: What’s the status of the 2007-2008 season of House?

A: We’re working hard to get four episodes out, after which we’ll just keep rolling into the next season. Production should start up in a couple of weeks.

Q: With the strike, the writers couldn’t work. However, I somehow doubt that you’ve spent these months vacationing! Can you share with us some of the things you’ve done during the strike?

A: I’ve done strike work – I’ve answered phones at HQ, taped signs, and done general work for United Hollywood (UnitedHollywood.com, the website for collective writer information during the strike – and, hopefully, for continued writer networking going forward). I also began research for a novel that I’ve had in mind for years; there was one big sticking point, but I had a breakthrough on that a few months ago. The solution means I’ve now got an endless amount of background reading, though.

Q: How do you go about developing a story? Do you start with an illness and work everything in around it, or do you start with a story surrounding the main characters and find an illness to plug into that story?

A: All of the above. I tend to prefer starting with a character and an interesting situation, and finding an illness that matches; but other times I’ll have an illness in my back pocket that I’ve been looking for a chance to use. And sometimes a character idea and an illness meet in the middle.

You can see the full interview here. Pay special attention to the last question and answer - it’s hilarious!

Did you know that Jennifer Morrison has a role in an upcoming movie titled Big Stan? To tell you the truth, I’d seen the name on IMDB under her but I wasn’t quite sure what it was and really didn’t take the time to reserach it. Big Stan is a comedy directed and starring Rob Schneider. I believe that Jennifer plays his wife. I honestly didn’t think it was her until I snapped a few screenshots, and even NOW its still hard to believe that’s her under all that Aquanet! Here are a few screenshots and the trailer is below - will you be seeing Big Stan?

Thanks to faithful Watching House reader Camille, I caught the article written by the Daily Mail about Hugh. Now, the article was focusing on his balding spot in the back, but what intrigued me was this pic:

The article makes it sound like Hugh is IMMEDIATELY leaving London to head back to LA now that the writer’s strike is over. I don’t think that’s right. He’s only carrying a suit coat and a bag and is actually leaving production studios. Maybe he’s working on a new commercial or another small project? We can only hope!

I’m sure we’ll see Hugh back in LA soon enough, but until then, I hope he enjoys the time with his family and friends.

You know, I found myself wondering this morning what the characters at PPH would be doing for Valentine’s day. Since the writer’s strike is finally over, we will be getting new episodes in April or May, but not in time for Valentine’s day. So what do you think the characters at PPH would be doing for Valentine’s day? Let me tell you MY scenario:

Wilson: Wilson would be spending tons of time, and money, on CTB, much to House’s dismay.

Cuddy: Cuddy would have a date lined up - either a collegue or someone she is hoping to match up with.

Cameron: Would spend Valentine’s day with Chase (remember, the couple in the show isn’t broken up)

Chase: Would spend Valentine’s day with Cameron being romantic.

Taub: Would spend Valentine’s day trying to be sweet to his wife - extra sweet because he feels guilty about the infidelity.

Kutner: Would spend Valentine’s day with whatever hunny he picked up.

13: Would spend Valentine’s day with…um…some guy or girl? (hee)

How do you believe that House would spend Valentine’s day?

In other news: An English entertainment site has got a good little post up about who should be couples - check it out!

Also, my friend Lynn has got a great voting post up about who the perfect Valentine’s date for House is - check it out!

Wanna see some video of Hugh at the BAFTA’s?! Your wish is my command! Enjoy this - I know I did!!

I just discovered that the clip originally blonged to MaryKir - She has been gracious enough to allow us to keep the clip up, so make sure you go by and tell her “thank you” for the clip!!

While everyone in American is focused on the Grammy’s tonight, over the pond they’re focused on the BAFTA’s! The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards have been going on for over 60 years. I’m pretty sure that Hugh was giving the award for best Screenplay, as the photos of Hugh in the press room are him posing with Diablo Cody, the writer for the Juno screenplay, which won. The wonderful Esther told me about his presence there and said that there were a few times that the camera panned onto Hugh and his lovely wife, Jo. I haven’t found any photos of that yet, but I’ll keep looking! Enjoy the photos of Hugh at the BAFTA’s, and thanks again Esther!!

Behind Sienna Miller and Kiera Knightly - a rough place to be!

I’m in a monkey suit next to a woman dressed up like a cheetah…where’s Stephen Fry when I need him?

Look - I see something over there…not quite sure….

See! it’s over there…look closely…

I love this look! He’s so funny…

This is my stern look.

Yeah - all right - I’m in a monkey suit with enough flashing to blind me…

Added - a little video of Hugh arriving at the BAFTA’s - the only video I can find so far…I love the woman yelling “Dr. House!!”

Photo Source

There is some talk online about the writer’s strike being over. Here’s what we know for SURE: the writers are in favor of the strike ending sooner rather than later, and the vote will happen sometime in the next 48 hours.

So what happens when the strike ends? According to Ausiello at TV Guide, House will air again this season - he says that House is expected to shoot 4 to 6 new episodes to air in April/May.

Let me come out as saying: that would rock.

In Other News:

Remember the little movie that Hugh was doing that everyone was psyched about? It was called Night Watchmen, right? Nope, Hollywood has decided to change the title to Street Kings. This is what gets annoying - have you ever really wanted to see a movie that you’ve seen a preview for and then had it disappear entirely? It’s because the name gets changed before it hits the theaters. So now you know: if you see a movie called Street Kings, Hugh is in it!

But seeings as it’s so far away, and it’s a Sunday, we’ve got some time to kill. So, tell me, what are you doing for Valentine’s day?! What are your best ideas for people who are trying to save money? What does your loved one do that you HATE, or LOVE during Valentine’s day? We’ll make a list and I’ll post it and maybe it’ll help other people to get their loved ones a great Valentine’s day!!

Did you know that a special on Hugh was on the Biography channel last night? I didn’t, because apparently I’m an idiot. In actuality, I don’t want the Biography channel all that much…usually only when I want something in the background as noise. Thanks to one of my favorite readers, Carol, I now realize how much of a moron I was!

Hugh had a special on the Biography channel called Action: Hugh Laurie. If you missed it last night (like I did) you can see it again! It’s airing:

Sunday at 2 p.m.
Monday at 4 a.m.

Set your DVR recorders! Or, if you don’t have one, make sure you catch it on Sunday or get up REALLY early on Monday morning to see it!

I’ll be setting the DVR recorder, because I NEED my sleep…

If you’ve been checking the news sites at all, you’ll have read that it’s a pretty good chance that the writer’s strike will be over by next week (hopefully). Things are moving along well and it looks like everything can be finalized sooner rather than later. So what does this mean for our favorite shows, like House? Unfortunately, we probably won’t see an “end” to the fourth season, and if we do, it’ll take awhile.

Industry executives say it will likely take eight weeks to restore favorite shows like “House,� “CSI,� “Grey’s Anatomy,� and “Desperate Housewives� to prime time once the strike ends. “The writing process itself tends to take a couple of weeks for a script to be ready to shoot, and that’s just the beginning. Then you have to get it out to directors, scout locations, cast it and build sets,� said one studio executive. Filming a drama generally takes about eight days, with another week and a half needed for editing and other post-production work, he said.

So IF it does show the end of the season, it’ll take two months before we see it.

And how do we know, for sure, that House will be on? Hits like “CSI,� “House� and “Grey’s Anatomy,� are “no-brainers� to bring back this spring, one network executive told Reuters. Works for me!

One bad thing about the writer’s strike? Not all writers will have their jobs back. The networks are using this as a reason to cull out some of the lower rated shows that weren’t rating too high, and they now have even more reality television to air, meaning that the shows will have to share air time with reality tv.

So good news on one end (our end), and “not-so” good news for some of the writers.

A great article popped up online. It’s an interview with a gentleman who covered security for the Patriots/NY Giants game last Sunday (I’m still a bit miffed the Pats lost…dammit). The security guard, 58 year old Bill Hurrelbrink, used to be a firefighter and decided that he’d answer an ad to be security for the big game. After some training, he took his spot in the building as security.

He says that he saw lots of celebrities, but got up close and personal with one celebrity:

“One guy I really liked was Hugh Laurie (star of the TV doctor-drama, ‘House’),� Hurrelbrink added. “I was at the 108 section of the stands, watching the last three, four minutes of the game and then the presentation of the (Lombardi) trophy, and people started coming up the steps leaving.

“I took them out where all the limousines were parked and said, ‘Your show’s my favorite; you’re so witty,’ and he said, ‘Thank you.’ I asked if he’d mind if we would take a picture, and (his friend) took our picture together. I sure hope it comes out OK.�

I’m so glad that Bill did the interview to give people a little taste of what Hugh’s like when he’s out and about. And Bill, if you read this, we’d love to see a photo you took!

You can read the entire interview with Bill here.

Before you read this know that I took a Percocet about a half an hour before I watched the show due to a massive headache that wouldn’t go away – so I guess I’m really Housing it!!

Show starts with what looks to be a Jewish wedding, filmed in a grainy style during the ceremony. The bride (Laura Silverman) tells a woman that she knows she chose well for her.

Roz: I’ve been blessed.

The bride, Roz, and groom are being tossed in the air on chairs when suddenly blood appears on her dress and she falls down to the ground, passed out.

And we’re at PPTH. Wilson heads to the elevator and House cuts Wilson off, to talk about Amber.

Wilson: Amber and I have a lot in common.
House: She’s a cut throat bitch, you cry over dark victory.

A moment later:

House: She’s not dying, is she?

Wilson admits that he’s been dating Amber for four months (holy crap), and that she’s not needy.

House: She’s scary. Why does scary need pathetic?

Wilson even gives House permission to talk to CTB!

The ducklings are starting to diagnose the patient when Kutner admits that he knew that Amber was dating Wilson because he’d asked her out but she had said she was dating someone else (no one else knew that she was dating Wilson). Back to diagnosing - House thinks that she tried to poison herself with carbolic acid.

The rest under the ‘more’ so that we don’t ruin the surprise for anyone who hasnt’ seen it yet!
(more…)

Miss what House fans and critics alike are calling the best episode of Season 4? You can download “Frozen” over at Amazon! It was just pointed out to me by one of the faithful Watching House readers that Amazon allows you to download videos from television AND movies! And look - I found “Frozen” for the bargain price of $1.99!

Click the link and instantly be whisked away to Amazon, where those who missed the episode can watch it, and those who saw it and loved it can watch it again! Just click New TV Shows and you’ll find House!

Okay, to begin with, I love the survey that TV Squad has got at the end of their “Frozen” review. The question ponders whether House fans believe that Dr. House should have a love interest (such as Mira Sorvino), or not.

It was put up this morning around 7 a.m. and as of about twelve hours later (if they’re on the East coast), 332 voters think that House needs a love interest as compared to 92 voters who do not believe that a love interest would be in the character’s best interest. This really surprises me! Most people that I know that loves House don’t think that the character would be the same with a love interest. What do you think?

Next bit of info - preliminary reports have come back about the ratings: FOX averaged a 36.5 rating/55 share in primetime Sunday, although those numbers will change when final ratings for the live broadcast are calculated….At 10 p.m., the Super Bowl post-game show and a special “House” averaged 25.1/41 for FOX

I honestly have no idea what numbers are good or not, but I’ll keep on top of this to see if House did better than normal.

Next up: the music! A lot of you have e-mailed me asking what music was playing during the trailer. It’s a beautiful song called Breathe Me, by Sia. The video for the song is below. I’m finding it and downloading it quickly, as it’s such a wonderful song! Added: my good friend Dave at one of my favorite sites, Killed by the Video Star, has put up a review of the song. It’s a good review, especially since his music taste is definitely not the kind of songs that Sia sings. Go check it out here

And finally, NEW HOUSE TOMORROW!! The patient is the wonderful Laura Silverman who was gracious enough to give me an interview a week or so ago. I can’t wait to watch the episode! She said she had “tingles” when Hugh touched her. I probably would too! Don’t forget to stop back for the recap tomorrow night!