"House" is just damn good television.
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DVD has had a profound impact on how we watch television. A rabid fanbase and strong DVD sales put "Family Guy" back on the air and gave "Firefly" a second life as a feature-length film. Secondly, you don't have to wait until next week to find out what happens. This is a big plus to shows with a more serialized structure ("24"), allowing you to keep each episode fresh in your mind as you watch them at your own pace. Or just sit down for one long marathon viewing. That was my introduction to "House." I got hooked after two reruns on TV, before picking up the first season set and practically devoured it. "House" is just damn good television.
British actor Hugh Laurie is probably more known for his work on the British comedy series "Blackadder" and family friendly films such as, "Stuart Little" and "101 Dalmatians." As Dr. Gregory House, Laurie does a complete about face. He is gruff, sarcastic, and sometimes downright nasty. He's got a sense of gallows humor and isn't above making racist or sexist comments. I'm sure House would love being a doctor even more, if all those sick people didn't keep getting in the way. Actually having to deal with patients is the bane of House's existence. Based on Sherlock Holmes, House shares the incredible deductive skills of his counterpart, along with his low tolerance for those of less intelligence.
As head of the diagnostics department, House surrounds himself with a team of specialists that include; Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps), whose by-the-books approach almost always clashes with House's unorthodox techniques; Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer), the son of a well-known doctor and has the most in common with House, even if he doesn't want to admit it; and Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), who is the most optimistic of the group and, perhaps, overly caring to a fault. Rounding out the cast are the hospital's administrator and Dean of Medicine, Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), who has to put up with House's attitude and clean up his messes, and Dr. James Wilson, the Watson to House's Holmes. Wilson is his best friend and one of the only people who can stand being around him.
"House" is much less a medical drama and more a mystery, playing up to the Holmes comparison. Each episode starts with the patient of the week being struck down. The doctors break down the symptoms, investigate their medical history, and begin treatment. Sometimes other seemingly unrelated symptoms pop up, sometimes they're wrong and they make things worse. While the show sticks to a familiar formula, the show is so smartly written and the characters are so compelling that it never bothers you.
The first season saw the addition of Chi McBride as a pharmaceutical giant who takes over the hospital and tries to rein in House. The storyline didn't quite click and took away from the moments where we needed to see the characters grow. This season rectified those problems by playing with the cast's dynamics. Bumped up to recurring character is House's ex-wife, Stacy (Sela Ward), who becomes the hospital's new legal counsel and Dr. Foreman briefly being put in charge of the department, much to House's chagrin.
The episodes included are:
-Disc 1-
"Acceptance"
House finds interest in a death row inmate (LL Cool J), who collapses after suffering hallucinations. Meanwhile, Cameron hopes beyond hope that she is wrong about a patient's terminal condition.
"Autopsy"
House and team work against time to cure a 9-year old cancer sufferer when her body begins falling apart.
"Humpty Dumpty"
Cuddy's guilt clouds her best judgment when a day laborer falls off the roof of her house.
"TB or Not TB"
A crusading doctor (Ron Livingston) comes down with tuberculosis and refuses medication, in order to bring attention to the plight of diseased Africans.
-Disc 2-
"Daddy's Boy"
The doctors have a tough time treating a recent college graduate when both he and his father keep things from them.
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[release]19658[/release]