Welcome to the O.C., House. Olivia Wilde, the artist formerly know as Marissa’s girlfriend (not to mention a blond), will join the cast of the misanthropic Fox medical drama next season among a fresh crop of new docs. The series ended on a bit of a cliffhanger last season as Dr. Gregory House (the brilliantly bitter Hugh Laurie) saw his entire team either quit or be fired. Looks like the cranky doc will solve his problem by hiring a whole gaggle of new doctors unaware of the abuse they are about to endure.
The new faces include Olivia, as well as Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Peter Jacobson (The Starter Wife), Anne Dudek (Bones, Numb3rs) and Edi Gathegi (Veronica Mars, Lincoln Heights). However, it isn’t clear how long all of the new MDs will stick around. And despite their apparent lack of gainful employment, all of last season’s regulars — Eric Foreman (Omar Epps), Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer) and Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) — will be back.
As a fellow foot soldier in misanthropy, I naturally adore House (both the show and the actor. What? It’s a harmless boy crush. I’m sure it’s just a phase). I even love the predictable moment each episode when the talented Mr. Laurie, deep in thought over the mysterious disease of the week, lets his grizzled face break into a satisfied smile as he finally solves the puzzle. Oh, and Jennifer Morrison is no slouch either. For her, I would stop eating apples (because, you know, they keep the doctor away).
So, what can we expect from the new doctors in the House? Well, other than that they’ll be subjected to a healthy dose of withering wit and cutting comments? Who knows. But if the writers are reading, I say Dr. Cameron and Dr. whatever-you’re-going-to-call-Olivia’s-character should start seeking solace from House’s gleeful mocking in each other’s arms. Then, late one night, one of them will ask if the other has ever played “doctor” and then … oh, wait, you’re still here? Sorry, I thought doctor-patient communications were confidential. My bad.
