It seems that when Season 8 of “House” the TV show starring Hugh Laurie as the acerbic, dysfunctional Dr. Gregory House, the title character will be in prison for having crashed his car into Lisa Cuddy’s dining room.
We had last seen House on an unnamed tropical island, apparently on the lam, after committing his insane act of mayhem against his boss and ex-girlfriend. Presumably either the long arm of the law caught up with him or else he cut a deal for some prison time in exchange for not having his license to practice medicine lifted. That last is necessary, because otherwise the central premise of “House” (besides watching an ass misbehave) will be hard to depict if he cannot solve medical mysteries anymore.
House, who does not play well with others in the best of times, is apparently not doing well in prison, if the 20 second trailer is any indication. However, one suspects that “House” will not be “In the Big House” for long and Hugh Laurie’s most famous character will be once again at liberty.
Then what happens is anyone’s guess. Lisa Eddleson, who played Dr. Cuddy, is not longer on the show, so there will be a new director of Princeton-Plainsboro to deal with him. But then, considering that House is now a convicted felon, what will be his new role? One suspects that Dr. Foreman has been running the diagnostic team and is likely doing a good job at it, though certainly not at the high quality that House has exhibited. House may not have been chastened enough by his prison experience to tolerate taking orders from someone else.
Indeed, with a long absence having occurred, the relationship between House and the other doctors, not only on the team, but Wilson especially will have changed. House’s associates have spent a while not having to deal with his idiosyncrasies. Now he is back and they will have to deal with him one way or the other.
Much depends on the new hospital director who has undoubtedly replaced Cuddy. How will he or she deal with House’s tendency to ignore authority? How will House deal with him or her dealing with his lack of regard for authority?
I can hardly wait.
Source: ‘House’ Season 8 Trailer: Watch Hugh Laurie Get Pummeled in Prison, The Wrap, August 25, 2011