Blackadder: The complete series DVD review
There are two points of interest that pop up when you view the contents of Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate Collection DVD box set. The first is the amount of talent that appeared in the four Blackadder series and subsequent specials.
Aside from star Rowan Atkinson, who went on to become the internationally popular (or hated, depending on who you talk to) Mr. Bean, the series featured Tony Robinson, who went on to numerous television and political projects in the UK; Miranda Richardson, who went on to star in a number of well-known television series and movies (including a role as Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire); Stephen Fry, who has popped up in pretty much everything, including a recurring role on Bones; and, of course, Hugh Laurie, who appears in some small American television series about an acerbic doctor.
House manipulates, Cameron judges, and we’re back to square one
“House is back in charge … and we’re treating a porn star.” – Foreman
Is it wrong that the most memorable moment of tonight’s House episode was in the cold open, when the teeny little porn director was the exact height of the swarms of boobs around him? No wonder the guy got into the porn biz….
I’m really torn about the events of this episode. I never missed Taub and Thirteen, and I was really enjoying the old team being back together again. I liked House’s growth, because he could be an ass without being downright cruel, but all that got thrown out the window tonight. So did we see Cameron’s growth instead, only to have the door hit her on the way out? Is there no room for growth on House?
Euthanasia. We all do it (on House).
This week’s House is the first episode of the series I’ve enjoyed in a long time. And not just because it hasn’t aired in three weeks because of baseball. “Known Unknowns” was reminiscent of House at its finest, early in the series. Unlike some episodes that seem like filler, this episode moved the characters forward instead of keeping them spinning in the perpetuity of their Princeton Hospital hamster wheel.
There were a lot of beautiful small moments to appreciate: Cameron sitting at House’s desk opening his mail; the jokes about Cuddy’s breasts being like Selma and Patty from the Simpsons.
“Why would you name them after somebody’s aunts?”
“Well, they’re always smoking.” Read the rest of this entry »
House is so much better, but still so delightfully bad

“He’s just agreeing with you because he wants to have sex with you. By the way, I agree with you too — especially in those pants.” – House to Cameron
I love House’s writers. There aren’t many writing teams out there who could actually have House getting better, showing real progress, while still being such a certifiable ass. Thank goodness they are good at their jobs, these writers, because I for one wouldn’t have House any other way.
He’s an ass to everyone, as always — his staff, Cuddy, Wilson, the patient and his people … so much fun to watch … and quote:
- “Can I tell you something? I wasn’t picking lint out of my belly button.” – House to Wilson
- “You want to take this case because he’s another sad puppy. You should have been a vet.” – House to Cameron
- “You do make me feel funny.” – House to Cuddy
Cameron killed Darth Vader on House

[Spoiler alert] My esteemed colleague Deb McDuffee buys that Chase really killed Dibala, (the mass murdering f*ck played by the always-marvelous James Earl Jones) on House this week. Oh no no no. It was Cameron. And this is how they are going to get rid of Jennifer Morrison.
It makes perfect sense: Cameron was told (by Dibala) to make a choice, that she doesn’t have the courage of her convictions, so she decided that he was going to die.
But even if I didn’t know that Morrison was leaving the show, I would think it was Cameron rather than Chase. She has killed before.
House gives a shout-out to Dexter

“I need you to spread your legs so I can do an ‘H’.” – House to Cameron as he’s miming the diagnosis to Foreman
When I first started watching tonight’s episode of House, I was feeling decidedly “meh” about the case of the week. Politics, blah, blah, blah, moral dilemma, whatever. I just wasn’t into it.
By the end of the episode, I was hooked. And not because of the Chase thing, which I won’t mention until after the jump because it’s a huge spoiler. I mean the incredibly clever way being strong enough to act on your beliefs wove itself through the episode. Who would have thought, though all the psychological issues House is having, that he would prove to be so strong in his knowledge and convictions? He’s better than the old House, and now we’re getting to see why.
House’s season six needs a do-over
Okay, so maybe this isn’t earth-stopping news. But it makes me feel better. Based on the comments I had on my post about the season premiere of House, though, I was starting to wonder if I’d seen the same show. So, imagine my JOY when I found out that USA Today critic Robert Bianco didn’t like it either.
I thought Bianco nailed it on the head by comparing Season six’s premiere to an ABC AfterSchool Special. Look at all of these likable crazy people! Let’s hug! Blech. I still maintain that House’s treatment warranted at least a three-episode arc, if not the entire season. Why not juxtapose his recovery with the struggling diagnostics department under Foreman’s leadership?

Most Commented (Past Week)