"Pilot" | |
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House episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Bryan Singer |
Written by | David Shore |
Featured music | "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones |
Production code | HOU-101 |
Original air date | November 16, 2004 |
Running time | 44 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
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"Pilot", also known as "Everybody Lies", [1] [2] is the first episode of the medical drama House . It premiered on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. It introduces the character of managerial, antisocial Dr. Gregory House (played by Hugh Laurie) and his team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. The episode features House's attempts to diagnose a kindergarten teacher after she collapses in class.
House was created by David Shore, who got the idea for the misanthropic title character from a doctor's visit. Initially, producer Bryan Singer wanted an American to play House, but British actor Hugh Laurie's audition convinced him that a foreign actor could play the role. Shore wrote House as a character with parallels to Sherlock Holmes—both are drug users, blunt, and close to being friendless. The show's producers wanted House handicapped in some way and gave the character a damaged leg arising from an improper diagnosis.
The episode received generally positive reviews; the character of House was widely noted as a unique aspect of the episode and series, though some reviewers believed that such a cruel character would not be tolerated in real life. Other complaints with the episode included stereotyped supporting characters and an implausible premise. The initial broadcast of "Pilot" was watched by approximately seven million viewers, making it the 62nd-most-watched show of the week.
Shortly after the start of class, kindergarten teacher Rebecca Adler becomes dysphasic and experiences seizures. Dr. James Wilson attempts to convince Gregory House to treat Adler, but House initially dismisses him, believing that the case would be boring. Hospital administrator Dr. Lisa Cuddy approaches House in the elevator and attempts to persuade him to fulfill his duties at the hospital's walk-in clinic. House refuses, claiming that Cuddy cannot fire him due to tenure, and hurriedly leaves. When House's team attempts to perform an MRI on Adler, they discover that House's authorization for diagnostics has been revoked; Cuddy restores his authorization in exchange for his working at the clinic.
Adler's throat closes up during the MRI due to an allergic reaction to gadolinium, prompting two members of House's team, Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer) and Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), to perform a tracheotomy. In the hospital's clinic, House's first patient is a man who is orange because of an over-consumption of carrots and vitamins (niacin). House also treats a ten-year-old boy whose mother allows him to use his asthmatic inhaler only intermittently instead of daily as prescribed. House criticizes the mother for making such a drastic medical decision without first learning more about asthma. During his monologue, House stumbles on an idea and leaves quickly to treat Adler; he diagnoses her with cerebral vasculitis, despite having no proof. House treats Adler with steroids, which improves her condition greatly for a time, until she starts seizing and has heart failure.
On House's insistence, neurologist Dr. Eric Foreman and Cameron break into Adler's house to find anything that might account for Adler's symptoms. They find an opened package of ham in Adler's kitchen and House concludes that she is suffering from neurocysticercosis from eating undercooked pork at some point in her past. Adler refuses to accept more random treatments unless there is conclusive evidence that the diagnosis is correct. House is ready to dismiss the case when Chase provides an idea for noninvasive evidence of Adler's tapeworm infection. By taking an X-ray of her thigh, House proves that Adler is infested with other tapeworms and her condition is treatable. After seeing the evidence, Adler agrees to take medication to kill the tapeworms. Adler is then visited by her kindergarten class upon her recovery.
In 2003, executive producers Katie Jacobs and Paul Attanasio approached David Shore about developing a series with them. Attanasio, inspired by the "Diagnosis" column in The New York Times Magazine , suggested a medical-themed procedural. Shore was initially not eager about the medical focus, but found the networks they pitched to were interested in the concept. [3] The trio pitched House to the Fox Broadcasting Company as a medical detective show—a hospital whodunit where the doctors would be the sleuths looking for the source of symptoms. The ideas behind House's character were added after Fox bought the show. [4] Shore was inspired by a vivid memory of a doctor's visit: [5] he once had to wait two weeks to get a doctor's appointment for a sore hip, by which point his pain had disappeared. Nevertheless, he went to the appointment, and Shore recalled thinking they were "incredibly polite" even as he wasted their time; he liked the idea of a doctor who would have been blunt with their patient. [5] [6] Shore said that the writings of Berton Roueché, a The New Yorker staff writer who chronicled intriguing medical cases, inspired the plots for "Pilot" and other early episodes. [4]
As Shore developed an outline for the show, he was afraid it was developing into a more character-focused series, rather than a procedural. Attanasio suggested not showing the network an outline, and instead giving them a full pilot script. The pilot took Shore five months to write, and the completed script was delivered in early 2004. [7] [8] Shore recalled there were relatively few changes to what he wrote; one significant change was moving the setting from Boston to Princeton. Director Bryan Singer suggested the change because he had grown up in Princeton and liked the smaller, more academic-focused setting that was more unique on television. [8]
A key element of the show's premise was the handicapped main character. The initial idea was for House to use a wheelchair, [9] but Fox turned down this interpretation (for which the crew was later grateful). The wheelchair idea turned into a scar on House's face, which later turned into a bad leg necessitating use of a cane. [10] Shore drew on the character of the detective Sherlock Holmes for House, as he was always a fan of the character and found the character's traits of indifference to his clients unique. [6] The parallels to Holmes informed the House-Wilson dynamic. [11]
After Fox green-lit the pilot, the production began casting. House's casting directors had previously worked on Jacobs and Attanasio's series Century City . While ideally the production would have cast their lead and then built the cast around them, the competitive rush of pilot season meant that roles were filled whenever they could. Wilson was the first role cast, followed by Cuddy and Cameron. Laurie was not cast as House until two weeks before photography for the pilot commenced. [12] Laurie had put together an audition tape in a dingy hotel bathroom in Namibia while shooting Flight of the Phoenix , [13] using an umbrella for a cane. [14] The roles of Chase and Foreman were cast soon after. [15]
The episode was shot in Vancouver, Canada; later episodes would be shot on soundstages in California. [16] The show was not called House until days into filming. [17] The music was composed by Christopher Hoag in his only work for the series; subsequent episodes would be scored by Jon Ehrlich and Jason Derlatka.
"Pilot" establishes much of the formula the series would heavily rely on for the structure of most of its episodes; this predictable structure would be considered part of the show's appeal. [18] [19] The episode opens with a "teaser" that shows the individual's medical mystery that House and his team will diagnose; the middle showcases House's unorthodox methods, including breaking into a patient's home to identify a possible cause for the illness; possible diagnoses are discussed using metaphors for the benefit of the viewer; and the "eureka" moments where a sudden insight reveals the true diagnosis. [20] The recurring theme that "everyone lies" is repeatedly underlined throughout the episode, beginning with the patient's lies to their coworker in the teaser. [21] In "Pilot", the notoriously patient-averse House pays Adler a bedside visit, revealing personal history to convince her to fight for her life; House occasionally makes similar patient visits in later episodes. [22] It also sketches out the main aspects of the cast and their relationships, particularly House's focus on unique or uncommon medical diagnoses, his dry personality, and his relationships with Wilson, Cuddy, and the team. [23] In comparison with later episodes, "Pilot" has a greater focus on the patient, and some character elements are adjusted as the series continues; House is much more casually-dressed, and the diagnostic team are less at a remove from their boss. [24] Another staple of the earlier episodes is the clinic visits House reluctantly takes in "Pilot", which break up the tension of the main case and intersperse comedic beats. [25]
House's premiere episode was generally well received, with the show being considered a bright spot in Fox's otherwise reality television-heavy broadcast schedule. [26] [27] [28] New York called the series "medical TV at its most satisfying and basic," and stated that the cast consisted of "[professional] actors playing doctors who come to care about their patients," [29] while other reviews appreciated that the episode did not sugarcoat the flaws of the characters or the medical industry. [30] [31] TV Guide 's Matt Roush stated House was a better alternative to common television medical dramas. [32] Critics at The A.V. Club were concerned the formula established in the pilot might turn repetitive, but felt the dialogue and irreverence prevented boredom. [33]
Critics generally reacted positively to the character of House; [34] Tom Shales of The Washington Post called him "the most electrifying character to hit television in years." [35] The Seattle Times 's Kay McFadden and USA Today 's Robert Bianco wrote that Laurie's portrayal turned an otherwise unlikeable character into a compelling one to watch, [36] [37] and The Los Angeles Times 's Paul Brownfield felt the character alone elevated the show from formulaic procedural. [31] In comparison, Sherwin Nuland of Slate felt that the meanness of House would be unrealistic in a real hospital setting, [38] and Halo Boedeker felt that the role "smothered" Laurie's charm. [39]
Reviews often highlighted the show's heavy use of medical imagery as too gory or a turnoff for some viewers. [26] [39] [40] In contrast, Shales wrote that the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation -influenced effects were well done and reminded viewers of the complexity of the human body. [35] Other reviews highlighted the perceived stereotypes of young, attractive doctors, [27] [41] and a lack of characterization for the supporting characters in the early episodes. [42]
The episode's format was compared to NBC's Medical Investigation , which premiered the same season and featured a gruff diagnostician and harmful tapeworms. [43] USA Today favorably considered House more character-driven than Investigation's plot-heavy procedural format, [37] and the San Francisco Chronicle felt that House was the better show due to the title character. [44] Variety 's Brian Lowry, meanwhile, stated that the two shows were too similar and House was mismatched among Fox's other programs. [41]
The premiere attracted approximately seven million viewers in the United States, making it the 62nd-most-watched show for the week of November 15–21, 2004. [45] The United Kingdom terrestrial premiere was broadcast on June 9, 2005, by Five and garnered a ten percent share (1.8 million viewers). [46] Christopher Hoag, who composed the music for "Pilot" and the first season of House, was nominated in the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music Composition for the episode. [47] Shore received a Humanitas Prize nomination for writing the episode, but lost out to John Wells, who wrote the episode of The West Wing entitled "NSF Thurmont". [48] [49] Fox marketing Vice President Chris Carlisle promoted the show by distributing nearly two million free DVDs of the program through Entertainment Weekly and People . [50]
James Hugh Calum Laurie is an English actor, comedian, writer, and musician. He first gained recognition for his work as one half of the English comedy double act Fry and Laurie with Stephen Fry. The two acted together in a number of projects during the 1980s and 1990s, including the BBC sketch comedy series A Bit of Fry & Laurie and the P. G. Wodehouse adaptation Jeeves and Wooster. From 1986 to 1989 he appeared in three series of the period comedy Blackadder, first as a recurring guest star in the last two episodes of Blackadder II, before joining the main cast in Blackadder the Third, and going on to appear in Blackadder Goes Forth and many specials of the show except for The Black Adder and Blackadder: The Cavalier Years.
House is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on the Fox network for eight seasons, from November 16, 2004, to May 21, 2012. Its main character, Dr. Gregory House, is an unconventional, misanthropic, cynical medical genius who, despite his dependence on pain medication, leads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital (PPTH) in New Jersey. The series' premise originated with Paul Attanasio, while David Shore, who is credited as creator, was primarily responsible for conceiving the title character.
David Shore is a Canadian television writer. Shore worked on Family Law, NYPD Blue and Due South, also producing many episodes of the latter. He created the critically acclaimed series House and more recently, Battle Creek and The Good Doctor.
Gregory House is a fictional character and the titular protagonist of the American medical drama series House. Created by David Shore and portrayed by English actor Hugh Laurie, he leads a team of diagnosticians and is the Head of Diagnostic Medicine at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in Princeton, New Jersey. House's character has been described as a misanthrope, cynic, narcissist, and curmudgeon, the last of which terms was named one of the top television words of 2005 in honor of the character.
Lisa Cuddy, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. She is portrayed by Lisa Edelstein. Cuddy was the dean of medicine of the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. Cuddy quit her job after the events of season seven's finale "Moving On".
James Evan Wilson, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is played by Robert Sean Leonard. The character first appears in the show's pilot episode when he introduces a medical case to the protagonist, Dr. Gregory House. Wilson is Dr. House's only true friend; he frequently provides him with consultations and aid. Wilson is the head of the Department of Oncology at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.
Allison Cameron, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House, portrayed by American actress Jennifer Morrison. An immunologist, Cameron is a member of Dr. Gregory House's team of handpicked specialists at Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's Department of Diagnostic Medicine. She returns for the final episode of the series, "Everybody Dies". She is Board Certified in Immunology and Internal Medicine as seen on a computer in Season 1.
Stacy Warner is a fictional recurring character portrayed by Sela Ward on the Fox Broadcasting Company's medical drama House. She was in a relationship with Dr. Gregory House, when a clotted aneurysm in his right thigh led to an infarction during a game of golf, causing his quadriceps muscle to become necrotic. Regarding House's treatment, Stacy acted against House's wishes when he was put into a chemically induced coma. She authorized a safer surgical middle-ground procedure by removing just the dead muscle, leaving House with a lesser, but serious, level of pain for the rest of his life. House could not forgive her and they broke up. The two meet again, five years later, at the end of season one; Stacy wants House to treat her husband, Mark. House correctly diagnoses Mark with acute intermittent porphyria, and so he has to remain at the hospital for close monitoring. Stacy becomes the hospital's lawyer, and she and House grow closer together. When she is ultimately willing to leave Mark for him, House tells her to go back to Mark, which devastates her and causes her and Mark to leave the city.
"Three Stories" is the twenty-first episode of the first season of House, which premiered on Fox on May 17, 2005. David Shore won an Emmy in 2005 for Outstanding Writing for A Drama Series for this episode. It won the Humanitas Prize in the '60 minute' category for the year 2006.
"No More Mr. Nice Guy" is the 13th episode of the fourth season of House, and the 83rd episode overall. It was the first House episode filmed after the resolution of the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. It was first broadcast on Fox in the United States on April 28, 2008.
"House's Head" is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of House and the eighty-fifth episode overall. It was the first part of the two-part season four finale, the second part being "Wilson's Heart". Co-written by several House producers and directed by Greg Yaitanes, "House's Head" premiered on May 12, 2008 on Fox.
"Living the Dream" is the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of House, and aired on Fox on May 5, 2008.
Michael Tritter is a recurring fictional character in the medical drama series House, portrayed by David Morse. He is the main antagonist of the third season, which ran between 2006 and 2007. Tritter is a police detective, who tries to get Dr. Gregory House to apologize for leaving him in an examination room with a thermometer in his rectum. After House refuses to apologize, Tritter researches House's background and discovers his Vicodin addiction. Tritter turns people close to House against him and forces House to go to rehab. When the case ultimately comes to court, the judge sentences House to one night in jail, for contempt of court, and to finish his rehabilitation, telling Tritter that she believes House is not the drug addict he tried to make him out to be.
The first season of House premiered November 16, 2004, and ended May 24, 2005. The season follows Dr. Gregory House and his team as they solve a medical case each episode. The season's sub-plot revolves around billionaire Edward Vogler making a $100 million donation to the hospital. Through this donation, Vogler becomes the new chairman of the board and orders House to fire one of his team members. Vogler does this to show House he can control him: "I need to know that whatever I ask you to do, however distasteful you find it, you'll do it".
"Known Unknowns" is the seventh episode of the sixth season of House and 117th overall. It aired on Fox on November 9, 2009. The team tries to diagnose a teenage girl while House is away at a medical conference with Wilson and Cuddy. At the conference House finds something out about Cuddy.
"5 to 9" is the fourteenth episode of the sixth season of House. It aired on Fox on February 8, 2010.
"Selfish" is the second episode of the seventh season of the American medical drama House. It aired on Fox on September 27, 2010. House treats a patient with sickle cell trait, while dealing with the effects of his burgeoning relationship with Lisa Cuddy on his work.
"Office Politics" is the sixth episode of the seventh season of the American medical drama House. It aired on Fox on November 8, 2010. It is also the first episode to feature Amber Tamblyn as Martha Masters, as a replacement of Thirteen.
"Twenty Vicodin" is the eighth season premiere episode of the American television medical drama series House and the 156th overall episode of the series. It aired on Fox on October 3, 2011. The episode introduces a new regular cast member to the series, Odette Annable, who plays Dr. Jessica Adams. Jaleel White, who played Steve Urkel on the ABC show Family Matters, makes a guest appearance in the episode. In the episode, the storyline picks up eleven months after the season seventh finale with House in prison.
"Everybody Dies" is the series finale of the American medical drama television series House. It is the 22nd episode of the eighth season and the 177th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on May 21, 2012. While treating a drug-addicted patient, House is forced to examine his life and future. The title references the series' first episode and House's mantra "Everybody Lies".