tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post9075931877926859206..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: House, "Unfaithful": Father McPoyle, I presume?Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-5435655314162183082009-02-20T06:49:00.000-05:002009-02-20T06:49:00.000-05:00Is it just me or is Amber now playing crazy Alby'...Is it just me or is Amber now playing crazy Alby's #1 wife on Big Love?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18055651508478522814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58885344777031154222009-02-19T00:18:00.000-05:002009-02-19T00:18:00.000-05:00I've never been a big fan of Omar Epps or Foreman....I've never been a big fan of Omar Epps or Foreman. I thought he was best in scenes with Chase when they were razzing each other; anything more like dying or the constant going head-to-head with House and he's either chewing the scenery or so down playing it as to be non-existent. I much preferred seeing Chase or Cameron interact with House in the early seasons.<BR/><BR/>I think one of the big problems these past couple of seasons is that the show isn't playing to the actors' strengths. I love PJ/Taub when he's in snarky mode but give him an A or B or even a C plot and I start snoring. I really don't care about his issues with his religion or his problems with his wife. Likewise Olivia Wilde is good with caustic one liners but she cannot make me believe that she is a doctor much less a great one although her limit of 2 facial expressions doesn't help. One of the most WTH? things in this episode was when House told Kutner that both Foreman and Thirteen were better doctors than he is because House must have been watching a different show than I've been because Kutner is the standout thinker among the new team. <BR/><BR/>Robert Sean Leonard, who I think is as good as Hugh Laurie, is sadly underused on this show and Lisa Edelstein is overused. For all the great interactions House and Cuddy had in the first seasons, she overdoes it when she tries to play this weepy neurotic mess of a woman that appeared in season 3. Meanwhile Jesse Spencer, who can make subtlety out of sticking a pen in his mouth, appears only occasionally and Jennifer Morrison, who is very good in screwball scenes opposite Hugh Laurie, is inexplicably angry at House most of the time.<BR/><BR/>Part of being a good show-runner is playing to the strengths of your cast and not overusing them just because you're in love with the idea of the character. I wish someone would point out to David Shore what he's got and what he's squandering.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09010014986025448974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-34359269620046565582009-02-18T22:10:00.000-05:002009-02-18T22:10:00.000-05:00I thought I was the only one who noticed that the ...I thought I was the only one who noticed that the POTW was Lyle the Intern. Lyle on Letterman last night was way more entertaining than this episode. I think House may have jumped the shark after Amber's death.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06594366540174848732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-64726362971304887632009-02-18T18:56:00.000-05:002009-02-18T18:56:00.000-05:00Quite frankly, the Foreman character is probably t...Quite frankly, the Foreman character is probably the worst written of all the main characters. I think the "brain" episode confirmed that Epps definitely has chops (It aired around the same time DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES featured "dramatic scenes" starring Eva Longoria and I remember thinking just how laughable her attempts were in comparison). But back to Foreman. I think his character has been pretty much assassinated on this show, to the point that it almost has me wondering if Epps pissed off TPTB. The show has gone to ridiculously contrived and contorted subplots which do little to develop the character. Two episodes that stand out as an example are:<BR/><BR/>The one where one of the interns was so desperate to make the case for polio, that he was either screwing with the results or the treatments (can't remember), but 90% of the episode was Foreman getting "owned" by the intern until House saves the day at the end by revealing the intern's shenanigans and dismissing him. <BR/><BR/>Another episode was at the beginning of last season where Foreman is at another hospital and like House, breaks the rules and saves the life of a patient. He's immediately smacked down and when he returns tail between legs, he's forced to be go-fer/assitant for House, who undermines him enough in front of the interns that none of them respect him.<BR/><BR/>I guess Epps is fine with getting a steady paycheck in these troubled economic times, but the Foreman character is in my mind, irreparably damaged and not even a young Sidney Poitier could do anything with the character. Perhaps the people who are fans of the characters of Chase and Cameron should consider the decreased screentime to be a blessing in the disguise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-56761869897691780352009-02-18T18:26:00.000-05:002009-02-18T18:26:00.000-05:00Corvus - that was fascinating. (and I'm not sure I...Corvus - that was fascinating. (and I'm not sure I've seen the scene with Uhura, but I've heard of it, and that, too, is interesting,)Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-80216319222757931972009-02-18T16:19:00.000-05:002009-02-18T16:19:00.000-05:00...or maybe I am being too hard on him.It's just t......or maybe I <I>am</I> being too hard on him.<BR/><BR/>It's just that lately, he seems to have all the passion of the actress who played the woman that said, "One Adam Twelve, One Adam Twelve, see the man..."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-40391037460038890222009-02-18T16:03:00.000-05:002009-02-18T16:03:00.000-05:00Defending actors and Epps: there are quite a few c...Defending actors and Epps: there are quite a few cooks in the kitchen, and by the time he gets to do his thing, it may be too late. The producers, the network, the writers, the director all come first. There may be a point beyond which Streep Herself can't spin dross into gold. Sometimes an actor is that good - Simpson in this episode managed to work around a staid script, and sometimes a show gets lightning-strike lucky (Supernatural, anyone?) but my first thought is not that Epps isn't good enough but that the show isn't letting him. <BR/><BR/>It's also possible that he cares about the character too much, and finds it difficult to behave in a way he thinks implausible or contrary for the character. I first saw this in the eyes of no less than Nichelle Nichols, when Uhura (the most stable member of the crew) was expected to say 'Captain, I'm frightened.' When she clearly wasn't. In fact her eyes said 'If it were me in the captain's chair instead of your fat ass, we wouldn't be in this predicament.' <BR/><BR/>It may be a problem for an actor, but it makes me like them because it shows they care about the character as much as I do. <BR/><BR/>Or Epps could just be phoning it in.Corvus Imbriferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11765017251043248002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-62681527530732657682009-02-18T16:00:00.000-05:002009-02-18T16:00:00.000-05:00I've only seen ML3 (not 1 or 2) which basically le...I've only seen ML3 (not 1 or 2) which basically leaves ER as the only other place I remember seeing him. Time to imdb I guess<BR/><BR/>wayingen<BR/>something they do on the biggest loser?Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-21512018299430057642009-02-18T15:45:00.000-05:002009-02-18T15:45:00.000-05:00Hmmm...maybe I should revise the above to suggest ...Hmmm...maybe I should revise the above to suggest instead, that maybe Eric Foreman doesn't play to Omar's strengths as an actor? Dug him in "ER", and I'm probably one of the few who remembers him in "Major League 2". But in "House", I'm unimpressed, and I think he might even be dragging down the ensemble.<BR/><BR/>Everybody in the cast has a show they stole.<BR/><BR/>Except him. And he's been the focus of several different plotlines - even more than Cameron.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-16825143399014222402009-02-18T15:35:00.000-05:002009-02-18T15:35:00.000-05:00and now you have my attention.The only ep I really...and now you have my attention.<BR/>The only ep I really remember featuring him was the one where he was dying, then didn't (then had brain damage, then magically didn't). Did you see him when he was on ER and if so, do you feel the same way about him there? (I can't really argue with you and don't feel inclined, you may well be right)<BR/><BR/>brumanda (an evil step sister or just my captcha?)Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-9678623480279797562009-02-18T14:55:00.000-05:002009-02-18T14:55:00.000-05:00I'm a big enough fan of "House" that I actually pa...I'm a big enough fan of "House" that I actually pay a buck 99 to download each episode from Amazon.com - and I have every episode that's ever aired. So it's more than passing fandom.<BR/><BR/>So while I remind you that the word "fan" has its roots in the word "fanatic", it pains me to actually write that I have discovered what I hate most about Foreteen.<BR/><BR/>Foreteen highlights something that has been lurking just below the surface for me for quite some time, and that's that I'm beginning to see that Omar Epps is not the gifted thespian I once believed him to be.<BR/><BR/>I can't find any flaws with Olivia's portrayal of 13. She comes across as believable, passionate, and I forget sometimes that she's not really a woman who's dying and trying to make her life matter.<BR/><BR/>But I'm beginning to see that Omar Epps has all the depth of a Britney Spears song. And that's sad, because I like the <I>character</I>, even though I've started to hold my nose with the way Omar plays him.<BR/><BR/>Think about it for a second - we all have a billion favorite "House" episodes, and a bunch of favorite "Cameron" eps, "Chase" eps (like the one with his father), and we're already declaring Cutner/Taub as a modern-era Laurel and Hardy.<BR/><BR/>But can you name one episode where Omar Epps stole the show? Even in the one with his parents in the nearby hotel while he killed a patient, he's just a guy reading lines in a script. He did nothing to make those lines jump out at me. A storyline like that would have been any other actor's opportunity to get an Emmy nomination. Omar's performance left me flatter than his patient's heart monitor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37303041575421963662009-02-18T14:07:00.000-05:002009-02-18T14:07:00.000-05:00Susan - so sorry they are airing out of order! (or...Susan - so sorry they are airing out of order! (or that you are catching them that way). You're right that they make more sense arced properly (though if tritter or vogler is involved, just ignore it. also if Foreman has brain damage (that lasted one ep) or House is able to jog and play on a skateboard (I complain at how Grey's ends arcs - considering these two things, I should stop!)Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-79284368806652229552009-02-18T14:03:00.000-05:002009-02-18T14:03:00.000-05:00intern? where?Brandy,try Chuck :-) Be conlicted li...intern? where?<BR/><BR/>Brandy,<BR/>try Chuck :-) Be conlicted like the rest (most) of us :-)Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-19700586960048413372009-02-18T10:25:00.000-05:002009-02-18T10:25:00.000-05:00On the argument over whether House is a procedural...On the argument over whether House is a procedural:<BR/><BR/>I just recently started watching House. I've been watching the new episodes, but mainly I've been catching up on reruns on USA and Fox, which means that I see them all out of order - I printed out an episode guide so I can figure out where each episode is in the timeline. But I really feel like I'm missing some essential parts of the show by watching it out of order. One week I'll see Cameron get mad at Foreman for stealing her article idea, and several weeks later, I'll see her risk her life to save him while House reminds her of the "We're not friends" conversation in the article episode. That would have been much more powerful for me if I'd seen them back to back. I'm finding that while I can't even always remember what was wrong with the patient or how it was resolved after I've seen an episode, it's the continuing relationships of the characters that keeps me hooked.<BR/><BR/>Which is why I do miss Cameron and Chase - as someone said above, they seemed to care about their patients, and I miss that attitude bumping up against House. Thirteen and Foreman together have no chemistry, and they bore me as characters. People say House hasn't grown, but neither has Foreman, and I'm so bored of him. <BR/><BR/>Since I'm new to the show, and have only watched about half the total episodes so far, I'm lucky - I can just watch old ones and experience them as new.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02239086941985919886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-44650484112999606462009-02-18T09:01:00.000-05:002009-02-18T09:01:00.000-05:00When House made the move to Mondays, I did not. B...When House made the move to Mondays, I did not. But On nights like Monday where Big Bang and Mother were reruns, I was undecided if I should record the house instead. I didn't. So, glad I didn't miss anything, I guess.<BR/><BR/>But I wish it was still a show I missed.Brandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760396392766842671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37467461670182090462009-02-18T00:05:00.000-05:002009-02-18T00:05:00.000-05:00I do want to put in a big huzzah for Jimmi Simpson...<I>I do want to put in a big huzzah for Jimmi Simpson, who I've long thought deserved better roles. Even with the rest of the episode drooling its way along, he was compelling and engaging.</I><BR/><BR/>I'm conflicted about Jimmi Simpson. One one hand, he's a top notch actor, so I'd like to see him reach a certain level of recognition. On the other hand, that would mean no more Liam McPoyle or Lyle The Intern.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-16008038246249722112009-02-17T23:36:00.000-05:002009-02-17T23:36:00.000-05:00well, apparentl Bill Lawrence likes House.http://f...well, apparentl Bill Lawrence likes House.<BR/>http://forums.abc.go.com/scrubsramblings<A HREF="" REL="nofollow">His reply to all those "favorite show" lists</A> that he asked for last week is up. I didn't know where to post it, but since he mentioned House...Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-72840352058069249122009-02-17T22:15:00.000-05:002009-02-17T22:15:00.000-05:00I'm pretty mixed on this episode. I always like it...I'm pretty mixed on this episode. I always like it when they have House debate religion, and he and the priest were an interesting match. But I'm also just annoyed that they are continuing on with 14. More Taub and Kutner, more Chase and even, egad, more Cameron would make me happier. I agree with everyone who's said that Cuddy has just become a horrible character this year. Though, I did notice that she's now wearing clothes that cover her up more and are seemingly more appropriate for her position - has she been doing that ever since House called her out on it? (Though it's scary how tight her skirts are, it was distracting to see how they barely fit.)Stefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024186205791001584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-20582989916831429982009-02-17T19:53:00.000-05:002009-02-17T19:53:00.000-05:00Can someone tell Foreman to cut that darn chin hai...Can someone tell Foreman to cut that darn chin hair off?<BR/><BR/>I keep waiting for him to break into song and dance, a la "Sweet" from Once More With Feeling.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18055651508478522814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66343285291270185732009-02-17T18:48:00.000-05:002009-02-17T18:48:00.000-05:00Mary said: But Foreteen? Man, every time the pries...Mary said: <I>But Foreteen? Man, every time the priest story started to rev into high gear, one of their scenes would drop and absolutely kill any momentum the show had built up. Every single one of their scenes was like the static test pattern interrupting the episode. Omar Epps is phoning it in, and I'm all out of patience with Thirteen's issues.</I><BR/><BR/>I couldn't agree more. If the show runners were in front of me, I'd drop to my knees and BEG them to just stop beating the audience over the head with 14. Together or separately, they are both a complete drag. <BR/><BR/>The show lost its balance when they shoved Chase and Cameron aside. Foreman, 13, and Taub are all cynical people who treat their patients badly. They treat each other badly. It's like watching House and four mini-me's. The mini-me's take away what made House himself special. <BR/><BR/>OTOH, Chase and Cameron actually cared about the patients and their coworkers. That's why seeing a glimmer of positive light when Chase says that maybe House was trying to help 14 is a moment that stands out. Again, if I were on my knees begging the producers, I'd beg them to bring Chase back into focus. He lights up the screen and he provides a counterpoint to the negativity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-89035649777305480312009-02-17T18:45:00.000-05:002009-02-17T18:45:00.000-05:00I want to disagree with everything amysusanne sai...I want to disagree with everything amysusanne said up at the top. But I don't; I quite agree, so hrmph. And I am not influenced by anything Mr Sepinwall says, at most he is like a dinner party host who opens a topic of conversation and allows the guests to take over. <BR/><BR/>I am bewildered by the number of shows that feel the need to concentrate on soap opera. My attraction to House was because initially it was intelligent. <BR/><BR/>A toe fell off? Who examines the patients? Other than criminally sanctimonious Taub and distracted Kutner. It's not like House deigns to stroll in till Act Three. Who pays for all those wasted of time tests? And Dr Cuddy is snippy about the hospital's reputation? <BR/><BR/>I feel for the actors, who are talented and working so hard. Particularly Misses Wilde and Edelstein. Sheesh.<BR/><BR/>I do want to put in a big huzzah for Jimmi Simpson, who I've long thought deserved better roles. Even with the rest of the episode drooling its way along, he was compelling and engaging.Corvus Imbriferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11765017251043248002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26910689403224543552009-02-17T17:43:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:43:00.000-05:00Mr.Glass: I would like to know why House has lost ...Mr.Glass: I would like to know why House has lost over one million and a half viewers in three weeks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-91460728886132073232009-02-17T17:39:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:39:00.000-05:00I'd rather see Foreman hook up with Kutner.As far ...<I>I'd rather see Foreman hook up with Kutner.</I><BR/><BR/>As far as that goes, I might start watching if Kutner and Taub hooked up. Anything but Foreteen and all the other maladies affecting this show.Mo Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01685367085407381479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-63478671676519532642009-02-17T17:09:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:09:00.000-05:00why are they obsessed with olivia wilde?we get it....why are they obsessed with olivia wilde?<BR/><BR/>we get it. shes hot and bi. but shes not interestingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58191397651211616102009-02-17T17:06:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:06:00.000-05:00@MrGlass:House in its first season did very poorly...@MrGlass:<BR/><BR/><I><BR/><BR/>House in its first season did very poorly (around 6-7 millions) until it got the American Idol bump. </I><BR/><BR/>And that is completely irrelevent. The fact is that since the end of its 4th season it has dropped from averaging around a 7.5 rating to a 5.1 rating which is considered to be a massive drop for a procedural in a such short time especially when it just aired after the superbowl.<BR/><BR/><I>But even at its best, without this amazing lead-in, it never got above 17-18m viewers, at 9pm (a more favorable schedule).</I><BR/><BR/>The fact that it had an amazing leadin for 3 whole seasons means it should be doing better then it is now. LOST's leadin for the past 3-4 years has never been more then 5-6million viewers yet it is only 7tenths behind House.<BR/><BR/><I>By contrast, 'Lost' was regularly above 20m viewers in its first and second season. Half of them flew the show. What does that tell you about the quality and consistency of the writing?</I><BR/><BR/>First of all you are wrong, Lost got more then 20 million viewers for about 7-8 episodes early in season 2, look it up. And Lost viewers drop tells me that the show is very complex and the average American who watched season 1 to see pretty people hanging out on the beach is not to excited to see dense mythology. Norbit made $100 million at the box office whereas 'There will be blood' made less then half of that, yet, that box office gross is not a commentary on the quality of these two movies. It just shows that a large number of Americans prefer 90 minutes for fart jokes and fat jokes to a well acted drama.<BR/><BR/><I><BR/><BR/>And I wouldn't describe House as a pure 'procedural'. It has nothing in common with CSI, 'The Mentalist', or 'Lie to Me'. True, nothing much has changed since the pilot, but that is true for pretty much every TV show, including 'The Wire' or 'The Sopranos'. The end of the third season was a real game-changer, whether you liked it or not.</I><BR/><BR/>Actually I would say that House is an even bigger procedural then something like 'The Mentalist', The Mentalist has an overarching story (no matter how feeble it is) that alone makes house more of a procedural. House is the same character that he was in season 1. There has been absolutely 0 growth for himAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com