I found this guide to “every episode of House ever” by Michael Swaim very interesting, for a number of reasons. First of all, I don’t think that House has been following a formula per se. In fact, I recently wrote about how I wish House would just stick to the original formula and stop trying to shake things up.
Sure, it was cute and mildly amusing, but really not too accurate. If I were to create a House formula, for instance, I’d be sure and put some kind of lumbar puncture requirement in there, because doesn’t every patient end up with one of those before they leave? I notice, because I can’t think of anything more unappealing — blech.
You also can’t forget the scene where they rule out an autoimmune disease, most often sarcoidosis.
Also left out of Swaim’s formula spoof: the scene of the patient’s innards in action. Whether we get to see the cancerous tumor or the aneurysm or what have you, there’s always guts.
But to create a formula of House would be very hard, especially the last two seasons, where the new team has rendered the old formula all but defunct.
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Nov 23, 2008 @ 18:03 EST5EDT
The interesting thing is that, inasmuch as House follows a formula, it’s the same formula as an episode of a typical police/mystery drama.
In the first scene, someone goes about their normal life and is suddenly attacked by a criminal (disease). The team assembles and rules out some of the usual suspects (Lupus, Sarcoidosis). Then they focus on one suspect for a while until a revelation right before a commercial break lets them know they’ve got the wrong guy. In the final act, the real perpetrator is caught (cured).
Also, they missed “House has a conversation with Wilson about someone’s personal life. Halfway through the conversation, House suddenly and rudely leaves the room because Wilson has inadvertently given him the final clue to what’s wrong with the patient.”
I think that link is pretty dead-on, actually. The reason I don’t consider House must-see TV all the time is because almost every episode is exactly like this with just the variables change. I’m glad somebody is finally pointing it out.
well it could be lupus….
*POST AUTHOR*
OK, I am roaring with laughter right now, because I came soooo close to writing lupus and sarcoidosis in my post! So there must be a formula after all! ;-)