Why Are House’s Viewers Down?
The preliminary number show so far that House had 12.66M viewers on Tuesday. Last year House had around 17M viewers at all time. What happened?! Why is the viewership down? Some theories?
1. People hate 13 and are boycotting the show simply because she’s on it. (I doubt this one is true - I mean, people hate Foreman and yet are still watching the show.)
2. The viewers feel that the medical mystery genre has come to a close. (Doubting this one as well - Fringe has become extremely popular and I believe that it’s a medical mystery as well…right?)
3. We want to see House/Cuddy get it on! (Okay, this may be true but I don’t think that’s why people aren’t watching)
4. The new time slot is annoying.
Number 4 may be the answer. I have to admit, it’s hard for me to get to the TV by 8. 9 is the PERFECT time! And what happened to moving House to Monday nights like they said they were going to do last spring? ARGH!
Why do you guys think that House is getting lower numbers this year?
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 am
It could be the lack of Wilson as well. I know a lot of people (particularly the House/Wilson shippers) were upset by the current arc.
Also, I was so annoyed that they didn’t make the Monday move, because I dropped a 6-9pm class on Mondays just for the show! And a show like House really should be on at 9. 8 is too early for some of the subject matter they cover.
Oh, and Fringe is a Torchwood ripoff, not a medical show. There are aliens and stuff.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 am
Is it me, or are the scripts not as sharp this season? I keep getting flashes of the old brilliance, but somehow the show seems to have lost the consistent sparkle. Maybe it’s the dynamic between House and the three “new” doctors…something just doesn’t feel right
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:34 am
I believe that house has became far too crowded….what I mean is…that the story has too many characters and there is a confusion between “the old” and “the new” characters! The plot hasn’t got the old sparkle…the new season as well the last episodes of fourth season was like the old stuff but recycled….Most of the viewers don’t like that…and the worst is that they keep the good old characters but they just serve a decorative purpose, its demeaning for them! For example… Cameron and Chase don’t serve any major plot purpose, the things that they do especially Chase, in the past seasons were done by anonymous doctors. As for Foreman, he just crowds House’s team. It complicates the viewers, who has to deal with the old and the new…In addition they are adding new characters. We still haven’t become accustomed to the “new” changes…The best thing , that could happen, is to get rid of the old stuff and proceed with the new…in other words to “create” the old house with new people… and leave the past behind….
P.S.=The should bring Wilson back and change the air date!
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:47 am
I agree with a few of your reasons.First,I haven’t any knowledge about airing time, because I’m not from USA.I need to get House from another ways;)Second, new characters irritating me too.Old team were more powerful and funny. I mean that House doesn’t match to the new team.In another way we could focus on the relationship with Willson but he’s now disapeared. Okey, in 5th season we need new characters like doctors or PI but not show only fosused on them. I think that every good show have a crisis and I House lost power because of a strike. In reality it’s not possible to be all the time on the top. New shows apears like Fringe and it’s natural that people always looks for a change, something new and diferent.
Like I said, It’s a short-time crisis:)It;s too early to hunting for the witches:P
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I consider the new ducklings to be a weak, watered-down version 2.0. I don’t care about them and feel there was still plenty to explore with the originals. (For those people who say, well, fellowships don’t last forever, true, but this show is NOT reality so they could have lasted a lot longer than they did.) A lot of people are bored with/loathe 13.
Some of us prefer House/Cameron to House/Cuddy and the new eps are painful to watch as a result.
The storylines…sigh. I watch my season one dvds most of all. The comparison is cruel.
And they’ve put the show opposite another favorite of mine–NCIS–that is ROCKING this season.
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
The ratings are falling because the quality of the writing has fallen. The characters we once loved have become caricatures of themselves. Cuddy used to be strong and authoritative, but now she’s a fawning House fangirl. Cameron and Chase have all but disappeared. And when Chase does appear, he is doing unbelievable things like brain surgery and hypnosis.
A lot of people don’t give a crap about the new characters, and instead of learning that lesson last season, the show runners decided to add yet another new character this season. Enough is enough.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I agree with sharp2799 and athousandsmiles. There still are quite a lot of House/Cameron-fans, and to be honest I thing a Huddy-relationship would kill the show. One of the things (besides the wonderful chemistry between House and Cameron which I’ve always enjoyed most) is the bickering and teasing between House and Cuddy (in an non-sexual and non-romantic way), I don’t see that in their interaction anymore. Athousandsmiles is so right, Cuddy has degenerated to some kind of fangirl instead of a independent, strong, self-concious boss. And many, many people - including myself - don’t like the new team and miss Cameron and Chase instead. Plus, the cases get more and more boring.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
The reason I believe viewing is down is because every episode in season 5 so far is about House trying to get into someone else’s mind and play mind games. There is very little to the medical side or patient side of the show anymore. It is all about mind games and we keep seeing the old characters in this season. Why? Cameren and Chase just water the show down. Foreman as part of the “Team” is only there for what??? To keep House in check? Come on. Let’s get back to the old season 1, 2 and 3 scripts with House, Cuddy, James Wilson (BRING WILSON BACK NOW!) and the NEW TEAM members!! Get rid of the old three team members and move on. Stop having excessive mind games in the show and do more with extremely weird medical diagnosis’s. I don’t care about the time slot or day slot the show airs on since I record it and watch it sans commercials. Just bring Wilson back, have Cuddy in more like she use to be, get rid of the old team and concentrate on medical issues more than mental mind games!
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Most people I know who were die-hard House fans stopped caring mid-Season 4. I for one have no interest in the new team and the Season opener this year should have been re-named “The 13 Show” I miss Cameron, Chase and Foreman. I invested time into those characters.
My husband was so looking forward to the season premiere and half way through looked at me and said, “Umm, is it just me or are you really bored with this episode too?” House used to be Must See TV for both of us, now we haven’t watched an episode since the first one.
The quality of the writing on the show has gone down hill steadily since Season 3 opened. The character of House who used to be so compelling and layered is now so schizophrenic that he changes from the beginning of the episode to the end.
If the House/Cuddy relationship evolves and becomes a romance I truly believe the show will have “Jumped The Shark” Hasn’t the producers learned from watching countless programs over the years that you NEVER allow the leads to give into the sexual tension because awkwardness and cancellation soon follows.
Wake me up when House becomes a Medical Drama with a complicated protagonist again.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
In my opinion, the first two episodes this season were quite boring and not well-written.
As someone said before: No sparkle.
I don’t think it’s overcrowded really.
If that should be a reason that the viewers go down, then they should sack the old team. Internships simply don’t last longer than three years. It was necessary to get the new team. They are doing ok, really. I think the writers kept on the old ones in order not to disappoint die hard Cam or Chase fans. It’S ok to see them perform the surgeries instead of unknown docs. This situation is a reason why I believe House will never have more than 7 or 8 seasons - a second change of cast will sooner or later ruin the show. It’s a lot of inconsistency. Not many people like to deal with that on TV. Or in case they keep all the people it really will be too crowded!
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Lack of Wilson and I hate the time slot. It forces me to use my VCR as I love NCIS and watch that with Hubby.
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
People want more of Wilson, Cameron, and Chase. Taub was great in last week’s episode, but Kutner and 13 bore me!!!!!!!!!
Plus, like you said Randi.. 9 is better for everyone I think. I Tivo it now, b/c I can’t get to the tv before 9.
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Some really good stuff here guys - I’m going to do my best to elaborate on a bit of it tomorrow. I agree that the scripts just don’t seem as sharp - and I’m wondering if that has anything to do with the writer who came back to House after being gone for a year and a half…hmmm…
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
For me it’s the time slot. I have little kids who I don’t especially want to watch House. When the show was at 9, I could put them to be a little early and relax with my show. Now I’m stuck with the DVR, which always seems to cut off the ending. And, the time slot conflicts with NCIS!
I also miss the old team. I think 13 is whiny eye candy for the male viewers and Taub’s character isn’t written to give him any depth. Kutner isn’t my favorite, but he is at least funny. I still watch because Hugh is worth it.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:08 am
1. Time slot
2. 13
3. no Cameron or Chase
4. no clinic duty
BTW, House and Cuddy will NOT have a romance…..just the kiss.
But I still LOVE the show and will continue to watch for as long as HUGH LAURIE is in it.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:43 am
I miss freaky clinic patients too:(
October 4th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Didn’t think of the clinic duty thing, but you are so right.. I DO miss that. I do have to say that this past week’s episode just about put me to sleep. I have NEVER been even close to falling asleep during House, so they do need to step it up a bit.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:07 am
House and Cuddy ROCK! And I think Cuddy has been stronger this season then basically ever she ALWAYS caves!
Anyway…
I think it’s timeslot - which FOX did on purpose so they could have 2 well rated shows instead of 1.
And I think some people don’t like the new direction of the show but I think it’s okay - except I’d like to see more clinic hours.
People are too hard on the writers. One I think its admirable that they didn’t fire the new team - people need a paycheck. And the show should evolve - House should evolve because you can’t stay the same for x number of years. Life changes things for everyone and I like seeing the change in House and those around him.
And the PI kicks Wilson’s a$$ quite frankly although I love Wilson too, the PI was a great character and I’ll be sad to see him go.
October 6th, 2008 at 3:25 am
I have been watching since season 01, and to be honest, both season 5 and 1 are the best so far. Sure there are only 3 episodes so far.
I can’t understand the constant criticism on the series lately. Sure the clinic hours are gone and I do miss them, but that PI kicks some serious butt.
And as Ari said, the world in House isn’t a static environment in which it all stais the same. Stuff changes, so do people.
October 6th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
The comments of AThousandSmiles and Sharp2799 sum up my views on the ratings slump. Storylines that start and then are dropped display sloppy story continuity, for one thing. And I’m all for character development, but Greg House has become a caricature of the complex, ballsy, and yet quintessentially human individual he was throughout the show’s first two and a half seasons. In a world where there is so much pain and suffering, the character of House is still being portrayed as miserable and pathetic because his leg hurts, his girlfriend left him, and he has a great brain that won’t let him be like other people. That scenario is getting old. It seems as if the creators and producers of the show (Hugh Laurie is now an executive producer, the wanker) have little respect for their fan base. I don’t know who was smoking crack when he decided that adding a new team to a show that was working just fine was a good idea, but that person should stick to prescription medication. I love the old team. I love the House who cared about patients. I love the House who toyed with and, at times, bonded with clinic patients like Georgia. And I love the House who slammed the door on Cuddy, but let Cameron in after cutting himself in S3. I love House’s complex relationship with Cameron and Chase and Foreman that was allowed to develop over three seasons. And I loved the old manifestation of Cuddy and her zippy interactions with House. I think the creators will be hard pressed to win back those ratings. My advice to them would be to watch how J.J. Abrams treats fans and to stop viewing House M.D. as their own little dollhouse.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:09 am
i miss the old batch and im not particularly fond of 13 but i think the show is still great and i will remain a House fan until hell freezes over. so there.
October 12th, 2008 at 5:30 am
I don’t have a problem with thirteen. It’s Foreman that annoys me. I’ve hated him from square one. I don’t like Taub either. I think Peter Jacobson is too old to play that character. I am gravely disappointed with whoever chose this actor for the role of Taub.
I still LOVE the show and agree with redhotchilli77. I miss the old team (not including Foreman, he should’ve died in Euphoria) and I will also remain a House fan until hell freezes over.
October 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
You guys are being entirely too critical. I ask any one of you to buy all the dvd’s and watch the series from beginning to the current seasons episodes and see if you still feel the same way. For one thing, there haven’t been any continuity issues. I’m a pretty meticulous viewer, and continuity errors bug the heck out of me, but there haven’t been any on House. The writing has fallen by the wayside a bit, but that’s just because the season finale from last year was supposed to be on after the Super Bowl and got pushed back because of the strike, which cut 8 episodes out of season 4 and left the writers with practically no time to prepare for this season. Give them a chance to get their stride back. Wilson is back as of “Birthmarks” and I think the only reason they’ve cut clinic scenes out is because they’re trying a bit too hard to push character development for the new fellows. They should just take it easy and let it flow like they did before. All in all, the show still has Hugh Laurie, and as long as it does, I’m sure you’ll all watch. “Birthmarks” was good. It wasn’t at all the basic formula for an episode, but it dove deeper into Wilson’s character and his relationship with House. House is still House. The character will not change. If you listen to interviews with Hugh Laurie and the episode commentaries with David Shore and Katie Jacobs, House’s characterization is going to remain a constant. The only differences you’re seeing are his reactions to the new faces around him. Just let it develop. I, too will be a fan until Hell freezes over.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:29 am
The problem I have is that the scripts seem less tight and the whole detective thing isn’t working–in fact all it backfires by casting both House and Wilson as a little pathetic, and who wants to watch pathetic characters? Also with so many missed cues diagnostically House is beginning to seem a bit too much like James Bond–a bumbler, albeit one with his own peculiar style. I don’t much like 13, but the other new team members seem OK to me, but the plot lines are going the wrong direction. If you have an actor of Hugh Laurie’s caliber why not use him to explore his own deficiencies at least some of the time. I know, I know, this goes against the character set up, but hey, SOME other direction would be welcome.