House 1/26

[vivalostwages]

Cuddy delegates some of her duties to Cameron.

[ivylass]

BBT is a repeat, so I'll watch all of this tonight!

[ToeJam]

I forgot house was on mondays! I'll def. have to go find a TV and watch this!

[jackdavinci]

I'm glad they keep finding something for Cameron to do. Cuddy looked utterly defeated as a human being this episode and was very annoying, although I guess the annoyingness was a plot device to solve the MMOTW. Interesting character development with 13 and Cuddy. Kind of silly that they practically removed her brain when they could have just looked at her heart for 3 seconds.

[DanBlather]

I thought this was one of the best shows yet. Loved Wilson's ploy.

[erleichda]

Damn! I knew there was something I wanted to watch tonight!

[RikWriter]

Couple great scenes in that episode: Kuttner: "You slept with Foreman?" 13: "Sorry, you were busy."
And Wilson: "Keep it. It came with the frame."

[Dinsdale]

Liked a lot of the show until the end. The scene in the OR really took me out of it. So did not accept Kuttner calling Cuddy and putting her on speaker phone while the procedure was going on. Sure, it ended up giving House his "Aha!" moment, but I thought displayed such disregard for the patient's welfars. And I simply don't accept that any individual gets to exercise a position of authority such as Cuddy was trying to, if they are holding a crying baby. Sure, you can try to pursue both a family and a career, but not at the same moment! Even bugged me to have House and Cameron just hanging out in the soiled OR afterwards. Those rooms are booked back to back. You don't just get to hang out in them and shoot the shit.

Of course I was also uneasy, because I feared the scene was going to culminate with her shaking or beating the baby. . . So that undoubtedly added to my discomfort during the scene.

Then, in the scenes for next week, they showed more focus on my least favorite character. Not a good sign.

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

I liked the early scene where 13 and Kuttner are warning the excessively happy patient to not talk around House. "Just give yes or no answers."

I didn't like the game-playing with Cameron at all, and the show is getting steadily more formulaic.

[Sublata]

Turning the show over to Thirteen was a bad idea. It's getting to be a chore to watch. The scenes between Forman and Thirteen are squirm-inducing because of the lack of chemistry between those two.

Still love Wilson, though.

[Strassia]

I don't understand Foreman's thought process. He knows the trial protocol is compromised. The ethical thing would be to report that fact to the doctor in charge with a recommendation to add a chemical smell to the placebo and to remove 13 from the results and switch her from placebo to active. As long as the nurses don't know the patients that well they can get away with not resetting the whole thing, but the protocol needs to be fixed or the results are not going to be valid.

Anyone ever run a double blind before and know what is normally done when it is accidentally compromised?

Jonathan

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

It seems like an egregious oversight to allow such a noticeable difference between the placebo and the real drug.

[brewha]

Originally Posted by Dinsdale

The scene in the OR really took me out of it.

Same here. I just couldn't buy it. Pretty much ruined the episode for me.


ETA: but, I really did like Wilsons, "It came with the frame" line.

[vivalostwages]

Cuddy's adult daughter looks like Neve Campbell.

Wilson was wonderful to her in this ep. I hope she appreciates it.

Hey, next week is episode #100.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by Dinsdale

Liked a lot of the show until the end. The scene in the OR really took me out of it. So did not accept Kuttner calling Cuddy and putting her on speaker phone while the procedure was going on.

I agree, that stretched a little too far. I've been bored with the whole "Cuddy's baby" subplot anyway, but that scene (and the "magical connection" moment between them, which was telegraphed from miles away) was lame.

Agreed that there's zero chemistry between Foreman and Thirteen, and I think they're overdoing Thirteen's "gosh, I was sad before, but now that I'm on this LIFE-SAVING NEW DRUG, I feel fantastic and full of life! Nothing bad could possibly happen now! Let's have sex!" shtick.

I'm now able to predict almost to the millisecond when House's "here we are discussing something completely unrelated to the case... a-HA!" moment is going to occur.

Those complaints aside, I thought it was a decent episode. I actually liked Cameron as an administrative foil for House, and was hoping they'd let her keep her new job (and testicles) for a while.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

I agree, that stretched a little too far. I've been bored with the whole "Cuddy's baby" subplot anyway, but that scene (and the "magical connection" moment between them, which was telegraphed from miles away) was lame.

Agreed that there's zero chemistry between Foreman and Thirteen, and I think they're overdoing Thirteen's "gosh, I was sad before, but now that I'm on this LIFE-SAVING NEW DRUG, I feel fantastic and full of life! Nothing bad could possibly happen now! Let's have sex!" shtick.

I'm now able to predict almost to the millisecond when House's "here we are discussing something completely unrelated to the case... a-HA!" moment is going to occur.

Those complaints aside, I thought it was a decent episode. I actually liked Cameron as an administrative foil for House, and was hoping they'd let her keep her new job (and testicles) for a while.

That bugged me. All three of the female characters are way too young for their positions, but Cameron is ludicously too young for that job.

[LawMonkey]

Originally Posted by Dinsdale

Liked a lot of the show until the end. The scene in the OR really took me out of it. ...

Of course I was also uneasy, because I feared the scene was going to culminate with her shaking or beating the baby. . . So that undoubtedly added to my discomfort during the scene.

This is exactly how I felt. It was really, really uncomfortable. In the OR: Once they've already got the girl's head off, there's not really much point in scrubbing the procedure, is there? I mean, you've already started; it doesn't seem like the risk is going to be much different whether you put the lid back on immediately or you wait half an hour. Also, if I'm not mistaken, being yelled at makes the baby happy?

[Skald the Rhymer]

Originally Posted by LawMonkey

This is exactly how I felt. It was really, really uncomfortable. In the OR: Once they've already got the girl's head off, there's not really much point in scrubbing the procedure, is there? I mean, you've already started; it doesn't seem like the risk is going to be much different whether you put the lid back on immediately or you wait half an hour. Also, if I'm not mistaken, being yelled at makes the baby happy?

Does anyone else find it unbelievable that Kuttner is still employed after pulling that stunt, and the one using House's name without his permission for his internet side business?

As big an asshole as House is, those two acts by Kuttner would make it completely understandable if House canned him or, better, made a practice of giving him the worst possible assignments, or none at all, and completely buttfucked him on his next review.

[Fugazi]

I just want to know why about every 2nd or 3rd episode, they try to tag something as MS. That's not so bad, MS can cause a lot of weird symptoms. But then they always act like it's a big emergency, "If it's MS, we gotta start treatment right away!!" MS is a pretty slow disease and waiting even an extra week isn't going to make that much difference.

And I'm 100% sure that of all the people I know with MS, none needed to have their heads cut open to get diagnosed.

[Rubystreak]

Anyone else think Cameron still has a jones for House? She all but admitted it to Cuddy in this episode.

[ToeJam]

Originally Posted by Skald the Rhymer

As big an asshole as House is, those two acts by Kuttner would make it completely understandable if House canned him or, better, made a practice of giving him the worst possible assignments, or none at all, and completely buttfucked him on his next review.

But Kuttner is giving (the rest of) the profits he's making from that business to House.
House would have no desire for that website to be shut down, as it's an additional source of income for him now.
Plus, I think House views Kuttner as the most "like him" of the 3 of his new doctors. If you notice just from the way he dresses and how he's actually a loner at times too, Kuttner is the most likely of the 3 to become the "Foreman" (and have his own "Am I House" Identity Crisis) of the group. I like to think that Kuttner is the "sane" version of what House would be without his traumatic Leg injury and distrust of people. He's basically a Naive "good" House.

[Turek]

Did anyone recognize the patient as ...

SPOILER:

the young girl (Marissa) from the episode of Star Trek:TNG where Picard gets stuck in the turbolift with 3 children?

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by Fugazi

And I'm 100% sure that of all the people I know with MS, none needed to have their heads cut open to get diagnosed.

Exactly! That annoyed me. I know several people with MS, including my mom, and the diagnosis is done with MRI, not cutting open the brain! It was totally out of whack and threw me off.

And yes, even with progressive type MS you don't deteriorate in a matter of days. More like years.

I love the show but who the hell is vetting the scripts for medical accuracy these days?

[panache45]

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

Anyone else think Cameron still has a jones for House? She all but admitted it to Cuddy in this episode.

Didn't she admit it to House himself, early in the episode?

[simster]

hmmm - they did the MRI which was inconclusive (in house's mind) - they decided to map the brain electrical signals to see which area was slower... they had the phone call....

The surgery wasnt so much for MS, but to determine what was damaged in the brain.... and possibly prove really rare MS.

[ZipperJJ]

I think she's lying about wanting to get with House. I think it's her way of manipulating the situation(s)...because she's stupid.

[Wiggie]

Originally Posted by Dinsdale

Liked a lot of the show until the end. The scene in the OR really took me out of it. So did not accept Kuttner calling Cuddy and putting her on speaker phone while the procedure was going on.

Yes, that was WAY too contrived for my taste - even for House.

Originally Posted by Dinsdale

Of course I was also uneasy, because I feared the scene was going to culminate with her shaking or beating the baby. . . So that undoubtedly added to my discomfort during the scene.

What she ended up doing was just as emotionally disturbing to a two-month old baby - a two month old baby does not respond to being screamed at by QUIETING. If she does, that means she's already given up.

Originally Posted by Strassia

I don't understand Foreman's thought process. He knows the trial protocol is compromised. The ethical thing would be to report that fact to the doctor in charge with a recommendation to add a chemical smell to the placebo and to remove 13 from the results and switch her from placebo to active. As long as the nurses don't know the patients that well they can get away with not resetting the whole thing, but the protocol needs to be fixed or the results are not going to be valid.

Exactly! This is not a "double blind" if anyone directly involved in administering the drug or monitoring the patients knew who was taking what!

Originally Posted by Strassia

Anyone ever run a double blind before and know what is normally done when it is accidentally compromised?

I haven't run one or been directly involved in one, but I did work in a clinic that frequently made extra cash by running drug trials. We were so cramped for space at that clinic that we (me and the drug trial folks) were forced to share an office so I had nearly first-hand knowledge of how the trials are run. Believe me, NO ONE in our clinic knew who was getting what. Not the Foremans, and especially not the nurses. And if some mistake or breach was ever made (breach did happen once, further upline from us) the trials were discontinued IMMEDIATELY. The trials were audited daily for compliance, too, and if protocols weren't complied with 100% the trial was discontinued. That happened to us more than once, sadly. (That sloppiness is a symptom of the same disease that caused me to eventually leave!)

[Dinsdale]

Originally Posted by Wiggie

What she ended up doing was just as emotionally disturbing to a two-month old baby - a two month old baby does not respond to being screamed at by QUIETING. If she does, that means she's already given up.

I'm not sure of this. Tho it is some years since I had an infant, ISTR that babies had a sort of defensive reaction to certain startling input of essentially shutting down. Jolts them out of their crying mode. I'm sure I'm not describing this well - even if I'm not entirely off base.

[Kobal2]

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

I agree, that stretched a little too far. I've been bored with the whole "Cuddy's baby" subplot anyway, but that scene (and the "magical connection" moment between them, which was telegraphed from miles away) was lame.

In all fairness, it was still less of a "Oh for fuck's sake !" moment than the original "the premature dumpster baby is still alive and well, and some tramp fed her and took care of her !". And FWIW, I think she's delusional about the special precious bonding connection. It's just a baby, crying for attention, any attention, and getting some. But then, new parents are often delusional that way

I agree though, on the whole this season's subplots, be it Cuddy's baby or Foreman/Thirteen are really lame compared to previous seasons. And didn't Wilson get over Amber really, really quick ?

I kinda like seeing House getting softer/more introspective/more depressed though - it never really made sense to me why/how he goes on like this. Puzzle loving only goes so far, and I like the further exploration on what makes him tick, and them showing a vulnerable, desperate side to the iron prick. I must admit, I went owwww inside at his "this is the only rational course of action, you idiot... unless you love her" comment.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Originally Posted by Kobal2

I kinda like seeing House getting softer/more introspective/more depressed though - it never really made sense to me why/how he goes on like this. Puzzle loving only goes so far, and I like the further exploration on what makes him tick, and them showing a vulnerable, desperate side to the iron prick. I must admit, I went owwww inside at his "this is the only rational course of action, you idiot... unless you love her" comment.

I didn't go owwww inside, but that's only because I don't have an inside; it's all on top. But I wonder if he was thinking of Cuddy when he said that.

[NinetyWt]

I was at the gym and caught a glimpse of what I could have sworn was House playing on one of the TVs across the room - but he was on an airplane flight. Did I make that up?

[randwill]

Originally Posted by NinetyWt

I was at the gym and caught a glimpse of what I could have sworn was House playing on one of the TVs across the room - but he was on an airplane flight. Did I make that up?

No. There was an episode which had House on a plane.

[NinetyWt]

Originally Posted by randwill

No. There was an episode which had House on a plane.

Thank you.

[ftg]

Originally Posted by NinetyWt

I was at the gym and caught a glimpse of what I could have sworn was House playing on one of the TVs across the room - but he was on an airplane flight. Did I make that up?

The USA "network" reruns "House" and this was one of the episodes they aired last week. S3E18 "Airborne". Not one of the best shows.

[ToeJam]

Really? i rather enjoyed the Airplane one.

It's basically at least ONE episode every season they have as an "Oh crap, whatcha gonna do now? Episode, where something crazy goes wrong, and it doesn't really happen in a hospital. There was House away on business with his wife and having to talk to the patient, House in Jail, House on an Airplane, House in a Hostage Situation (this most recent season if i recall), House in a Quarantine, House in a Dream, etc.

I love the cheesy good fun of having something SO ridiculous happen because they don't over do it, and it only happens once or twice a season where it's just an Over the Top situation for the team to deal with. Always good times whenever I notice that next week's episode is a "on a very special episode of House."

[elfkin477]

Originally Posted by RikWriter

Couple great scenes in that episode: Kuttner: "You slept with Foreman?" 13: "Sorry, you were busy."

That was my favorite line

Can someone define the word "skull" for me? They said "remove her skull" several times, which for me at least, evokes a very different mental picture than just sawing off the top.

I was relieved that the baby, although a bit homely, was really a baby (well, twins, probably) in all scenes this episode. It was very obviously a doll in the first baby scene last week.

[jackdavinci]

Originally Posted by Ro0sh

There was House away on business with his wife and having to talk to the patient

I know House has an exwife, but I've only been watching a couple seasons. Was he still married when the show started? Has he always had the leg problem and personality disorder on the show?

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

House has never been married, but he had a long-term girlfriend named Stacy, played by Sela Ward.

He was always an ass, but several years ago he suffered an infarction in his leg that was misdiagnosed at first and became so bad that he really needed an amputation. He refused it, demanding instead a dangerous procedure that might allow him to preserve his leg. When the pain got too bad they put him into a coma, and as soon as he was unconscious his girlfriend gave permission for a compromise operation that left him crippled. She and House broke up after that. House still pines for her, but Staci got married.

[Gukumatz]

Originally Posted by jackdavinci

I know House has an exwife, but I've only been watching a couple seasons. Was he still married when the show started? Has he always had the leg problem and personality disorder on the show?

No, the show started after both the divorce and the leg. I highly recommend watching the episode called "Three Stories" (Season one, episode 21) - it explains a lot regarding his ex-wife and his leg. It's really one of the most character-defining episodes in the show and, by far, my favourite episode of all time.

[Check your inbox]

[Wendell Wagner]

No, once again. House has never been married. He had a girlfriend for about five years, but that was long before the beginning of the series. I have no idea what Ro0sh is talking about when he claims that House was away on business with his ex-wife in one episode.

[Gukumatz]

Originally Posted by Wendell Wagner

No, once again. House has never been married. He had a girlfriend for about five years, but that was long before the beginning of the series. I have no idea what Ro0sh is talking about when he claims that House was away on business with his ex-wife in one episode.

Oops, got mixed up about the marriage. Indeed, he was never married, only going steady.

[panache45]

Originally Posted by elfkin477

I was relieved that the baby, although a bit homely, was really a baby (well, twins, probably) in all scenes this episode. It was very obviously a doll in the first baby scene last week.

Oh, I thought you meant . . . that Cuddy had a doll, and was having delusions that it was a real baby. That could explain why she couldn't connect with it.

That would make an interesting episode. Of course House would encourage the delusion, just for fun, but Wilson would confront her.

[tumbleddown]

There was an episode where House and Stacy (in her capacity as the hospital attorney) went to DC (or Baltimore, perhaps) to a meeting with Medicare officials who had questions about House's billing practices. They were snowed in at the airport and House had to help the team diagnose a patient by phone. At one point he wrote on a wall of the airport corridor in place of his beloved whiteboard.

[jackdavinci]

Originally Posted by Eleanor of Aquitaine

When the pain got too bad they put him into a coma, and as soon as he was unconscious his girlfriend gave permission for a compromise operation that left him crippled.

How did she get medical proxy if they weren't married?

[Tuckerfan]

Originally Posted by jackdavinci

How did she get medical proxy if they weren't married?

House gave her power of attorney.

[elfkin477]

Originally Posted by panache45

Oh, I thought you meant . . . that Cuddy had a doll, and was having delusions that it was a real baby. That could explain why she couldn't connect with it.

You know, there's a short story on that theme in the Stalkers anthology. Well, at least you hope it's a doll.