News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

TV Alert: The doctors of "House" will see you now

Dr. Feelbad is back. Television's most misanthropic M.D. and his much-maligned minions return tonight as House begins airing its first post-strike episodes. When last we saw the not-so-good doctor, he was teasing new hire Thirteen (The O.C.'s Olivia Wilde) about her newly revealed bisexuality. Now that the show is back for four new episodes, here's hoping Thirteen's sexuality is back as well.


Photo credit: Chris Haston/NBC Universal/Fox

Tonight's episode, "No More Mr. Nice Guy," involves a patient House thinks is — yes, you guessed it — simply too darn nice. This season has revolved largely around House and the search for his new team, which was finally whittled down to Thirteen, Taub (Peter Jacobson), Kutner (Kal Penn) and reluctant returnee Foreman (Omar Epps). Former candidate Amber Volakis (Anne Dudek) — unaffectionately known as Cutthroat Bitch — and current girlfriend to House's best friend, Wilson, is also back.


Photo credit: Isabella Vosmikova/Fox

But it's not all Vicodin and roses for House fans. The show's creator and executive producer David Shore told the Chicago Tribune that he had no immediate plans to bring Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) or Chase (Jesse Spencer) back onto House's team. That means the former regulars will continue to get minimal screen time through the end of the season and into the new one. As a fan of Jennifer's character, this bums me out. Her attraction to damaged people, particularly House, has been one of the series' strongest subplots throughout.


Photo credit: Isabella Vosmikova/Fox

As Chase told the Tribune, Cameron/Chase fans should get ready for disappointment:

Cameron and Chase are certainly not on screen as much as they used to be, but the stuff they're doing, I think, takes on a different weight and a greater weight … I'm going to say something your readers aren't going to like, but as someone running a television show, you have to be very careful — people think they want something and they do want something, but it's not what they need, shall we say, and it's not what the show needs. It's great that they like those characters. … You want people to want more of things. You have to be careful on what you deliver.


Photo credit: Adam Taylor/Fox

Well, as long as Thirteen and her bisexuality keep getting screen time, perhaps their decreased presence won't be quite as bitter a pill to swallow. So, are you excited to have House back? Are you anxious to see how Thirteen's sexuality is handled? Are you imagining naughty "who wants to play doctor" scenarios between Lisa Edelstein's Cuddy, Thirteen and Cameron? Do tell.

prettyinblack33's picture

Lukewarm

I haven't been as into House this season but I am anxious to see how Thirteen's (my favorite addition to the show)  bisexuality is handled. I'll definitely watch tonight and see if they can rein me back in! =)

 

~Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself.

— Richard Bach~

miss chatelaine's picture

I haven't actually seen

a single episode of House, mainly because to me Hugh Laurie will always be either Lt/Prince George in Blackadder, or Bertie Wooster. Hugh Laurie as an American just seems so strange! But if they do expand on Olivia Wilde's bisexual storyline plot thing, my respect for Hugh Laurie will probably rocket through the roof (yes, even though he didn't have anything directly to do with it). I may even battle some internal discomfort to see my beloved Prince George with a scruffy beard and an American accent - even though any bisexual plot will be censored out of what will be aired here. But if there is more lesbian/bisexual storyline on any television show anywhere in the world, to that I say, in my best Prince George voice, "HURRAH!"

hallyb's picture

Black Adder!

Yes! I just saw Hugh on Leno the other night and all I could think of was when he played the prince in, I think, season two? What a great show. I never knew Rowan Atkinson could talk (damn Mr. Bean), and it turns out he's has one of the most beautiful voices of his generation. Add Hugh Laurie and the guy who played Baldrick, and it was one of the best shows around.

As for Jeeves and Wooster, how great would it be if they would bring Steven Fry onto House for an extended huest arc? Like, some kind of rival diagnostician, from England, who sends House up the wall.

No real comment on 13 being bi. I think it's just being used to try to make her more exciting. But she's been my least favorite of the new docs. And I kind of don't like Olivia getting typecast as a bisexual.

zenarcade's picture

Blackadder was so great.

It's lame that Rowan Atkinson has mainly become known for Mr Bean (at least in the US), because Mr Bean is easily the least good and funny thing he's ever done!

By the way, Hugh Laurie was in Blackadder the Third (as Prince George) and Blackadder goes Forth (as Lt. George).

mercurychkita's picture

I've been looking forward

I've been looking forward to this all month! This is going to be a good week, with House back tonight, and Women's Murder Club back tomorrow @ 10 [/shameless plug]

I really hope they don't just ignore Thirteen's bisexuality, since I feel like it could be so easy for them to just throw it out there for the "punchline" and then have it fade back into obscurity. But I'm still optimistic. Mmmm, and now I've got thoughts of Cuddy/Thirteen/Cameron fanfic... why has no one written any yet? (And if they have, send me the link!)

zenarcade's picture

Cuddy/Thirteen/Cameron

Cuddy/Thirteen/Cameron fanfic?  If you find any, you've gotta let me know!
Daria-esque's picture

Wow, anyway...

 I just hope this character development isn't some ratings stunt...Oh wait this is FOX so yeah I guess it is. Funny the same actress, Olivia Wilde, on the same network, FOX playing a bisexual yet again...Hmmm. Strange? Although the OC was grasping for ratings who really knows what they are trying to do here. I would give them the benefit of a doubt, but being gay means I am inherently pessimistic.

 Unfortunate...:(

Never met a pearl quite like you that could shimmer and rot at the same time through

Dancing-River's picture

Great news!

Thanks Dorothy, this is great news! I dont understand why I like House so much but I do, so I am glad there are new episodes.

I have to say I have the hots for "a thing" for Lisa Edelstein, I wish only she would have gotten more screen time this season!

13's story is also interesting, I do hope they explore it although I think being Fox we shouldnt expect much.

I liked Cameron (and Chase) but I understand why the writers felt the need to bring in new characters so that the show would not become too repetitive.

llandorian's picture

Yay!!!!

I waited for so long!!

And I hope they explore the 13-bisexual-arc, too. There was an article in February where Olivia Wild said about her character:

"There is romance ahead, and it’s shocking. Whoever you’d imagine her with isn’t who she ends up with, and it causes all sorts of complications."

So maybe it's 13 and Cuddy??? I know I shouldn't get my dreams up, but can't a girl dream?

zenarcade's picture

Thirteen and Cuddy

That would be AWESOME.
Ulthran's picture

hhmmm....

Looking at the show, I think that the most most shocking possible relationships would be thirteen with either Cuddy or Cameron-leaning heavily towards Cameron. That would be something to think about, and keep the show off balance. Who else comes to mind?
dt_tlw's picture

As exciting as it sounds,

As exciting as it sounds, having thirteen with either Cuddy or Cameron. i don't think it'll go through there. I mean Cuddy seems like the character that's so straight? if you get what i mean. and thirteen's bisexual right? so she can also get a guy as a love interest. perphaps Chase? but it would be fun to see these 3 ladies in a relationship more than colleagues. why did you say it's leaning heavily more on cameron?? doesn't Cameron have a thing for House. just curious :) I think Chase has a chance with thirteen. lol

finally! they're baack! :) fun fun fun!

zenarcade's picture

The Thirteen-being-bi mention seemed so tossed off to me

It just seemed like something they threw in there for the hell of it.  I'll be surprised if it becomes a storyline (though it would be great if it did).

Why do I think it won't be a plot point?  It's the way that they threw it in there apropos of nothing ... if they were going to make Thirteen bisexual (in a way that would be a plot point) why couldn't Thirteen have hit on Cuddy or Cameron?  It just seemed like a cheap opportunity for a snarky House quip.

Ah, well, at least we have the Wilson/House subtext as far as queer content goes ...

 

(And yes, Hugh Laurie will always be Prince George to me!  I heart him muchly).

Lemona's picture

House MD GayWatch '08!

OK, just finished tonight's episode and it was moderately gay.  Obviously, that was mostly House/Wilson subtext.  

The tally: 

- One pitiful reference to Thirteen's bisexuality.  After a diagnosis House calls her Thirty-one.  After she complains "Thirty-one?"  House says "I'm sorry, I thought either way was good with you."  That's all the references.  They had way more jibes at the Mormon character, so maybe they're working up to something bigger, like an actual storyline (hey, they had all strike to see the positive reactions to outing Thirteen.)

- House and Cutthroat Bitch fight all episode about who owns Wilson.  House is, obviously, jealous of CB's custody and tries to renegotiate time spent with Wilson. Cuddy's the arbiter. In any case, House sabotages Wilson and Cutthroat Bitch's sex life by getting Wilson drunk enough on their allotted night that things won't operate, which Wilson soon realizes... and, in one of the best lines in House history, Wilson says "I didn't know the drinks had subtext.  I'm going home."  Awesome!

- There's also a wink to House/Wilson subtext after House is (mistakenly) diagnosed with syphilis and immediately runs to tell Wilson... something.  But won't do it while CB is there.  What's so important about the syphilis that Wilson must know, immediately?  Actually, the first thing that jumped to my mind was that it was Wilson's blood that was tested, not that there was some past House/Wilson hookup, but whatever.  

- There's also an L Word reference in that scene - House tells CB she can have Wilson tonight since the L Word is on.  I think that might be the third or fourth mention of the L Word on this show.

-  Cuddy wears a black tanktop in one of the closing scenes and damn.  She looked hot.  Nice arms.  Yes, I count this as a gay moment.

- CB and House bicker at the end.  It was cute.  I think they're going to be friends.  They have a lot in common - CB is even more diabolical than House.  In fact, she is Girl House.  Maybe Wilson dating a female version of his best friend is a little gay, so for that reminder, one gay point.

dt_tlw's picture

interesting comment

interesting comments Lemona :) kudos! but i find it hard to believe that House is jealous with cutthroat bitch over Wilson. never thought that this show would also have moderately gay contents. :) all the more to watch it ya? i haven't seen this episode yet but I can't wait to! i enjoyed reading your comment as much as i enjoyed reading this blog. maybe you should have your own thread or something, Lemona. lol. just a suggestion :) cuddy, cameron and thirteen are soooo HOT!! lol!
Lor2488's picture

Yes, yes I am!!


Cuddy is hotttttt. So *very* hottttt <3
AmoreHL's picture

huh?

I registered simply because I am sick of other House sites which are Huddy-centric.  I want to see the relationship between House & Cam develop.  I don't give a flying fig about 13, her sexuality, or anything else.

User login

Recent comments

After Ellen home page on logo online