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 »

Summer is coming to a close, which means two things. Many of the brilliant summer shows that cable gave us this year are over or close to, and its time for the fall premiers. Two of my favorite Virgin Diaries posts also found some closure, as Buffy finished high school, and Veronica just finished.

Defying Gravity

“Do you guys ever get, like really bad cramping when you clench your butt checks together like that?” — Wass

Greek

“He was a nerd but he was hot … it was just so confusing.” — Random ZBZ sister to Casey, about Max

“I had to fake a nosebleed to get out of there.” — Dale to Calvin, on how he supposedly escaped from Sheila at the party

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(Season Two, Episodes 14-16)

The longer I watch these back episodes of House, the more I ask myself this question, “Do I want to skip everything else when the new season starts?” Granted I know I would miss quite a bit, considering the three seasons I would miss. I would eventually see those, but obviously I can choose to wait, or, you know, not. What do you think?

More Wilson in this set is a good thing. I also, obviously — as I talk about the casting all the time – enjoyed the group of guest stars. If only the writers could find a way, more often, to break the pretty consistent formula that is each week’s plot, I’d be a much happier viewer.

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(Season Two, Episodes 1 – 3)

So, last week I lied to you. I told you I was done with taking a look back at the beginning of House. Then, I realized as much as I liked the show, there was no good reason I could come up with for not rushing out to Target to pick up the second season. Or, I could just say that Deb told me to. But, she’s a pretty smart lady, and I’m already thanking her. The first couple of episodes we see a period put to the end of the sentence that was the Cameron/House relationship, more good stuff with House and Wilson, and Cuddy truly begins to come into her own as a great character on the show.

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(Season One, Episodes 20 – 22)

I have got to say I’ve been quite impressed with the first season of House. The good doctor is interesting to watch as he goes through his machinations. The team around him is fun, though I do think Chase is a bit of a weak link. While the show follows a stagnant formula, it’s not afraid to break out of it from time to time, and overcomes this generalized downside by great characterization and strong dialogue writing.

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We start this week with a quote of one of my favorite actors working today….

Neil Patrick Harris on hosting this year’s Emmy ceremony: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of the show — adding my own voice to it, while honoring the nominees and the entire year in television. But which voice to choose? I’m torn between gangsta, foppish Brit, and robot. Really proud of my robot.”

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(Season One, Episodes 18-20)

Ding dong, Vogler’s dead. Or, you know, gone (for what it’s worth, I wrote that line before I watched “Kids”, and House said the same thing). On the one hand, I’ll miss him as a foil for House; but, at the same time, he was just a bit over the top (odd, I know, because so is House). Interesting developments in the relationship that is House and Cameron, but knowing what happens in the future tempers what I think will happen there.

“Role Model”

A black senator running for president sure was the fictional rage back in the day, but the candidate’s experiences, played against our reality today, raises interesting points. What if President Obama divulged a serious health concern during the campaign? Would he have still been elected? Obviously it depends on how bad the disease is, but in general, yes, I think he would have. I think we’re more accepting of the fact that our public figures are human these days, since we’ve seen their very human failings put on open display for the last twenty years. Read the rest of this entry »