Die hard House fans came out in full force last night for the final installment of the Los Angeles Times' Primetime Emmy screening series, and KTV's intern Marisa Roffman was among the attendees. Me? I was home obsessing over the So You Think You Can Dance results show -- au revoir Rayven and Jamie -- but I can do that when I've got a girl as capable as Marisa covering for me. Behold the evening's highlights, courtesy of her:

A screening of the House season finale and a Q&A with the cast (plus, free House bumper stickers and magnets!) attracted viewers from as far as Northern California, who arrived as early as noon to wait in line for tickets. In attendance was the “sexy, surly pinup boy” (according to our moderator) Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps, executive producer/creator David Shore, executive producer/director of the screened episode Katie Jacobs and director of photography Gale Tattersall. Among the secrets they revealed...

On season five: Everyone was incredibly tight-lipped, but they did say that they went straight from shooting season four into shooting season five. So even if there is a SAG strike, we’ll still have some new House to look forward to.

On the decision to kill Amber: “We don’t have a [death] quota, but we are conscious of [mortalities being needed on the show],” David shared. The main question the writers ask themselves is, does the death serve a purpose for the story? With Amber, they knew when they brought her back that they were going to kill her, because they wanted to explore what would happen if House couldn’t save the woman that Wilson loved. That theme will extend itself into season five.

On what we didn’t see in the season four finale: Robert shared that a conversation between Cameron and Wilson in the cafeteria was cut. He said it was a really sweet scene and was disappointed it didn’t make the final version of the episode. Maybe it'll be included in the DVD extras.

On the major cast changes after season three: “The notion that people would keep working for [House] indefinitely is not real,” David said. He felt it would've been unrealistic to pretend that Cameron, Chase and Foreman would stay forever and put up with his crap, and after season three seemed like the right time for them to move forward since their fellowship with House was only supposed to last three years.

On Foreman returning to House's team: Omar (who pretended to storm out of the panel when he found out the Lakers had lost the playoff game that was airing while the event was going on) said that Foreman is currently between a rock and a hard place, because while he’s the head of the new ducklings, nothing has really changed. He still has to work for House. He was hesitant about saying that Foreman likes House, but shared that, despite their differences, Foreman respects him. As far as upcoming romantic possibilities for the character, Omar joked that Foreman is asexual.

On the House/13 relationship: Next season, they will explore the contrast between these two, as related to their individual illnesses -- House’s being an external sickness, 13's Huntington's disease being an internal sickness. As for any sexual tension between the two? “I think the sexual tension comes from the way [Olivia Wilde] looks!” David joked.

Hugh Laurie on House: “I love him, but that sounds a little weird,” he laughed. Hugh sees House as a romantic character, comparing him to the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera. He said that, from the pilot, House really didn’t want to interact with patients, partially because he was self-conscious about his limp and his physical limitations, which Hugh views in a romantic light.

Hugh Laurie Audition Facts: He couldn’t find a cane to bring to the audition, so he used an umbrella. Katie shared that Hugh wore a button that said “sexy” into the room. He insists it was simply his attempt at being ironic. While the pilot script called for House to be 34, David insists that he never wanted House to be that young. He was also worried about the chosen actor being too “chiseled," because “if Brad Pitt had played the part, you would have gone, oh shut up!’”

Comments

Any word that the characters of Cameron or Chase might return to prominence next year? Last year was pretty weak; honestly what was the point of even keeping them around?

jbw | Jun 13, 2008 1:19:57 PM | #

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Great report and great info! Thanks!

Boo | Jun 13, 2008 1:49:52 PM | #

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jbw, Check out Korbi's interview with Katie Jacobs from last month: http://blog.zap2it.com/korbitv/2008/05/tktktktktk-ever.html

Doesnt sound like it.

P | Jun 13, 2008 2:24:22 PM | #

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Hugh laurie is a maniac, i love that man =)

Mike | Jun 13, 2008 5:39:44 PM | #

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All I really care about is whether or not Chase (and Cameron) will be significant next season. I hung on through the awful, awful season 4 because TPTB kept promising that they would be "back." I thought they meant for more one of them every other episode for 30 seconds.

abc | Jun 13, 2008 6:44:34 PM | #

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i liked last season but did miss cameron and chase.

carrie | Jun 13, 2008 7:08:33 PM | #

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Thanks for the recap! I loved last season and thought the finales were simply outstanding telelvision. I hope Emmy recognises Hugh and House. I like Chase, find Cameron somewhat tolerable, but neither make or break a season for me. I can't wait to pick up in September where we left off in May--all the storylines have me on the edge of my seat.

jackie | Jun 13, 2008 7:25:20 PM | #

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I loved SEASON 4 and I hope Cameron and Chase never return. I'll be glad when Foreman is gone too.

All I am concerned about is what will happen to House and Wilson's relationship with death of Amber.

Debbie | Jun 13, 2008 8:24:48 PM | #

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I just LOVE HOUSE and HUGH.
I can't wait until Sept. 16th. Oh the angst if Wilson doesn't forgive House!!

WE LOVE YOU, HUGH!!!

Lisa | Jun 13, 2008 9:32:13 PM | #

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The characters of Dr.Chase and Dr.Cameron are important to the show. They are not only interesting on their own but they also provide a view into House's world. I hope Mr. Shore and his team of writers can find a way bring back these characters in a more prominent role.

Roxy | Jun 13, 2008 9:40:37 PM | #

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I can do without a comparison of illnesses between House and 13. 13 gets way too much airtime as far as I am concerned.

Sidney | Jun 13, 2008 10:53:02 PM | #

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I can't believe they cut out the Wilson and Cameron scene. Instead we only got 2 seconds of her. That really sucks. I want to know whether they have rectified the situation with Cameron and Chase. It's tiresome that they have yet to resolve anything. And yes, I could do without House and Thirteen's sickness comparison. In fact I could do without Thirteen completely.

Tammy | Jun 13, 2008 11:14:56 PM | #

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I can't believe we're going to get more exploration on House/Thirteen relationship. I'm tired of the "mystery" that is Thirteen, there's no mystery there, she's plain boring. F&%K David Shore.

James | Jun 14, 2008 1:17:38 AM | #

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Oh please, get rid of Olivia Wilde and her stupid, boring character and bring back Cameron! Still, I'm looking forward to season 5, can't wait til Sept. 16th! I just love House and Hugh!!!

Sandra | Jun 14, 2008 4:41:35 AM | #

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Thanks to this cast change and the silly survivor arc, House went from "Must See" TV to "Must See What Else is On" TV. I couldn't care less about Thirteen or Taub. I miss Cameron and Chase very much and to read that a lovely scene between Cameron and Wilson was cut further rubs salt in the wound. More 13 next season? Please let it be an exit arc.

I think it's ironic that Shore thought that keeping the old team was "unrealistic." There is a list a mile long of unbelievable things about this show. I'm pretty sure that many people would have been glad to have let the realism slide in order to keep the heart and soul of House's team intact.

Jo | Jun 14, 2008 5:28:15 AM | #

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Hmmm Realistic hey? How can a hosptial admindistrator allow a employee talk to her and treat her in such a degrading fashion in front of her employess and actually take it be realistic? How can a cop being allowed to set up shop in the hosptial without suffeicent evidence and having cuddy not contact the lawyers be realistic? How can 40 competant and qualified doctors particpate in a game that is highly dangerous to both them, other staff memebers and patients be realistic? I find that quite hypercritcal and to be a load of BS. They only pull the "realistic" card only when it suits them.

What is so special with 13?? She is the most lamest character on the show!!! And now I am hearing an arc and her relationship with House being explored?? Give me a break!! I can't believe they cut a scene out with Cameron!!! That is just disgraceful and poor treatment of JM and I feel bad for her.

This show has gone from the best on Tv to the worst!! It is too bad for us coz apperently we don't know what we need but I strongly disagree with that!!

Susanne | Jun 14, 2008 6:14:52 AM | #

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Too bad David Shore and Katie Jacobs won't be reading these comments.

Paula | Jun 14, 2008 7:18:30 AM | #

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I miss Chase (Jesse Spencer) and find every scene he's in to be superior to anything any of the newbies have brought. TPTB have made the stupidest move in TV history by putting an actor as good as him on the back burner for the likes of Olivia Wilde who isn't good enough to play the lead in a 3rd grade play.

I can't believe they cut out a scene with Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) and Wilson when she has been where Wilson was. That would have been far more interesting than ramming more of 13 in our faces. I *don't care* if she has Hunnington's unless it's the means to get her off the show as quickly as possible.

This show needs balance between the old and the new.

Becky | Jun 14, 2008 7:36:39 AM | #

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and about house and cuddy????

laetitia | Jun 14, 2008 8:44:49 AM | #

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I love Hugh Laurie and House. I think he is a amazing actor. I love his gorgeous blue eyes. He is really Hot!! I now own most his films, even Fortysomething.

Connie | Jun 14, 2008 10:42:38 AM | #

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I can't believe how much contempt Shore and Jacobs have for the fans. We're telling them that the show isn't as good as it was, we're telling them how to fix it (bring back the good writing, bring back Cameron and Chase, drop kick Thirteen and Taub and stop the soap opera). I don't care about the new team, Cuddy is embarrassing and Foreman boring. Even Hugh Laurie's acting is getting tired doing the same of shtick.

So what do they do? They cut a scene between Wilson and Cameron that anchored the show back to what it was originally. I can't believe that they think that exploring House and Thirteen is going to do anything but make me want to change the channel.

Going into to finale, I was only watching hoping to see Cameron and Chase back on the show and Thirteen leaving. Reading this just makes me madder that I was so stupid to think this show could be what it once was. No way am I going to buying any season 4 DVD.

To quote a poster above, F&%K you, David Shore. Too bad neither you nor Katie Jacobs have the guts to read how the viewers really feel.

Kate | Jun 14, 2008 10:55:11 AM | #

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As someone said above, they only pull the realistic card when it suits them. It would've been so "right" to have a scene between Cameron and Wilson, instead of, for example, the newbies parading in front of Amber when she and Wilson had about 30 more seconds together. They said that they were going to hire newbies that had chemistry with House. After a truly atrocious season, it's become clear that they hired newbies who wouldn't outshine House. Did TPTB miss the part in film school where you learn that great supporting actors make the star look better? JMo and JS are great supporting actors. Fox needs to give them the screentime they deserve or release them. I hope someday to find out why Olivia Wilde has been given chance after change to act with the best in the biz, and she can't rise to the occasion. You're supposed to replace someone when that happens, or better yet, go back to the stellar supporting actors you had in the first place.

marion | Jun 14, 2008 11:54:13 AM | #

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Good for Robert Sean Leonard for having the grace and the courage to talk about the cut scene between Wilson and Cameron. It would have made more sense for Wilson's character as well as Cameron's and it tied together 4 years of history on the show. Instead, we got the ridiculous death parade at Amber's bedside and yet more of House and Cuddy angst when I'm already sick of it.

I don't know why the show took such a wrong turn over the past season and a half. It was a really good show for the first seasons. Now it's a caricature of itself and it looks like new season is going to be more of the same. Replacing Jennifer Morrison/Cameron with Olivia Wilde and Thirteen's incredibly boring personality and illness just nuts. I'd much rather have Jesse Spencer and Chase back but at least Peter Jacobson doesn't make me want to turn off the TV. Shore's lost sight of what made many of us want to watch the show.

Sue | Jun 14, 2008 12:37:24 PM | #

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Instead of cutting the Wilson/Cameron scene they should have cut Thirteen's boring plotline from the episode. Thirteen is the dullest, blandest character on the show right now and I have no interest in seeing any type of comparison between her and House.

Norah | Jun 14, 2008 12:48:10 PM | #

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WTF?! Did anyone see Wee Man on the “Wheel of Death” on Celebrity Circus, that shit was crazy!

http://www.nbc.com/Celebrity_Circus/video/#mea=262579

Made me a fan, I’ll be watching Wednesday at 9:30/8:30c on NBC

Aaron | Jun 14, 2008 1:01:37 PM | #

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