Since last year's game changer, which had the House team of Foreman, Chase and Cameron disperse as a new group of ducklings was inducted, fans have been up in arms. Finally, the three actors who actually experienced the shift speak about it...

There has been a fair amount of controversy among the fans, regarding the changes in season four, which sidelined the original team in favor of the new team. What was your reaction to that?
Omar Epps: Well, season four was really about bringing the new team members in, but I think the writers original intention was to then integrate the new team with the old team. But the strike happened, so I don't think they got the chance to really pan that storyline out. We lost eight shows. That's two months of story lines. So season five is about that reconciliation, it all coming together, the new team with the old team, those new relationships, how the new team is working with House and how the new team is looking to Cameron and Chase for advice.

So we will see a lot more of Cameron and Chase this season?
Jennifer Morrison: Yes.

Were you nervous when you realized they weren't going to be using you as much last season?
JM: No, I wasn't nervous. It's so funny, people have this idea, as if something horrible was going on. It's just a long running show and things just sort of shift and change when they shift and change, you know? And I think we all felt like it was the right time for something to move. You can only do the same thing over and over again before you start to lose [viewers]. So I think it was important to bring in new people. I think it was important for all of our characters. I think it was important for the audience. I think it was important in terms of being able to reveal deeper and deeper levels of House's character. It was exciting for us to see the change. And then, as [Omar] said, ultimately, season five is really about that puzzle coming back together.

Jesse Spencer: I think the new team was a really, really good idea. I know that there was a lot of [concern] among the fans, saying that [the writers] have changed the show and all that stuff, but the idea of the same three doctors working under House [indefinitely] is unrealistic. Why would they be there? You know, it's a very difficult job. Why wouldn't they move on and do something else and be successful, not having to deal directly with this guy who is just nuts. I mean, he's a genius, and they've learned all the good stuff they can from him, but it was time for them to take that [knowledge] somewhere else.

JM: You know, there were a lot of separate elements last year. You had the new team coming in, you saw Cameron running the ER, Chase in surgery, Foreman trying to figure out where he fit in terms of being sort of the leader of the team but not really having power. And so everybody was in a different, somewhat uncomfortable position, and by setting up that kind of discomfort, they now have room to sort of start resolving all of that and seeing how it all fits back together. So from our perspective, as actors, I think we were all excited, because it's an opportunity to evolve as a show and evolve our individual characters.

So there will be a lot of interaction between the new team and the original team, but will we see what's going on with Foreman, Chase and Cameron apart from the newbies?
JM: Yeah, I think this season is going to be really fun. You definitely get to see how we all [come together], the old team relating to the new team, when they call on us for our opinions and advice. But Foreman starts to sort of step up and want something of his own, and so he starts taking on cases separate from House and then he kind of calls on Chase and Cameron and we pretty quickly jump on board to help him! I mean, it's like we kind of try to resist for a second, but the intrigue of that world is too much for us to say no to.

OE: I think Foreman sort of puts his foot down in a sense. He wants to assert his power. And this is actually the second time that's happened. [Last season], when the Survivor game was going on and House was still deciding on the new team, Foreman had come back and [the new team] -- which was larger at the time -- tried to rebel and they ended up being wrong and House sort of chastised them. And I think once they narrowed the team down to the final three, having had that experience, knowing that Foreman's been working with this guy for three years, they know they probably don't want to piss him off that much, that they may possibly need him as an ally in the future. But, at the same time, that's where House comes into play. House sort of pushes [the new team] to forget about that. He pushes them to ignore Foreman and ignore everything they think is normal to get the best out of them. Because that's how they're going to find the answer to the [medical] mysteries. But I think Foreman's had enough in a way.

JM: The three of us have worked under House for so long and we know him so well -- To the point where there are times in season five where Cameron is even anticipating what House will ask. You know, he's like, well do this, this and this and she's like, I've already done it. -- But they all got to a place where they were willing to walk away from him. You know, I got to a place where I felt like I'd learned everything that I could possibly learn from him. Foreman felt afraid that he was turning into House. Chase was fired, but was kind of on the verge of wanting to resign anyway. And so, in a sense, we were all ready to branch out. But once you've gone there with someone, once you've gone to that place of understanding that you may have to do something unethical to get the job done, and you may have to do the outrageous thing to save the life, you kind of can't go back. And so now, the three of us have this internal struggle of feeling like we do want to assert our independence and we do want to move into these other places, but we keep getting drawn back. It's like it's so hard to be away from that, because once you've been there, it's addictive. You want more. You want the excitement. You want the challenge of saving a life every week. And so I think that's what's interesting to watch this season: the three of us trying to deal with that internal struggle and then also seeing the new kids sort of being turned into what we've already become.

What you've become as a product of House's school of medicine?
JM: Yes. You watch them go, wow this is a really tough place to be, because to operate in the medical world, you do have to have ethics, you do have to have morals, you can't normally get away with what House would push you to do. So how do you exist in the normal, medical world again once you've been there with him? And so seeing the juxtaposition of us next to the newbies is interesting. It's like they're still a little bit virginal in a sense and we've sort of been tainted, and to see those two things next to each other and to see us kind of helping push them to that new place, but knowing that there really will be that internal struggle because of it, it's just interesting. I think it sets up a lot of drama and conflict.

Will we see you getting to know the new team on a personal level?
JM: I think so. I mean, we're just getting into that now. What we're shooting now is sort of the beginning of that puzzle working. There are several scenes where I'm doing DDXs with Cutner and Taub. So it's interesting to suddenly be in a completely different dynamic with those two when I'm used to doing differentials with Chase and Foreman. I think there are going to be a lot of different pairings of the old team and the new team, a little different mixing and matching based on the needs of each patient.

And how about Cameron and Chase's personal life? They are still a couple, no?
JS: Yeah, apparently so.

Executive producer Katie Jacobs has said that there will be an upcoming episode that focuses on their relationship. Can you talk about that?
JS: Yeah, you know, Cameron was always the one who was unsure about the relationship. Chase was very sure about it and knew that he wanted to be with her. And that issue hasn't really gone away. That sort of comes back and Cameron has to decide what she really wants. We learn more about Chase and Cameron through their relationship which is basically the way that we bring out the different parts of these characters.

And will we see more of your characters' professionally this season as well?
JS: Yes.

Having moved on to practicing more conventional medicine, do you ever miss the thrill of the diagnostic and being a part of the crazy cases?
JS: No. [Laughs] Just, as an actor, actually doing those [diagnostic] scenes, we used to call that outer office "the room of death." Because you spend so much time in there talking jargon, after awhile you just feel like you're speaking a foreign language, it's very odd. So I'm now really enjoying when they have a major surgery and they come along and ask me to do it or not to do it. And there's usually a major operation in every episode, so now my scenes often involve discussing with the new team what they want and whether I should do it or whether I should do it just because House wants it and is it the right thing. I enjoy that.

You like the direction they're taking you in.
JS: Yeah, I'd like to see him continue to move up the ranks in surgery. I think that's a really good position for him, he has a little bit more power. He can make decisions, saying yes or no, and he hadn't really had that before, because when he was working for House, he had to do what House said. And now, he's working for Cuddy, so he have the power to say no to something if he think it's not right. But also, Chase is a bit of a brown noser, so he still doesn't mind taking the path of least resistance and just doing things to please House.

What would you say to the fans who are heartbroken about you having less screen time?
JM: They are so sweet! Every time I'm out, I hear, why aren't you on the show?! I'm like, I didn't write it! It's not my decision! [Laughs] People get mad at me like it was my decision! It's interesting, though. The old team was the original House team. And so we very much represent the original audience in a sense.  And then, the new team kind of represents the new audience that's come in. We have both those dynamics going on in the show, and it seems to dictate who relates to who. If you run into a newer fan, they usually relate to someone on the new team. If they've been watching the show since day one, they usually relate to one of us.

But I've been incredibly blessed this year because I've had the opportunity to work on other projects and do House, which is, talk about a dream situation. I love this show and I love this character and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but at the same time, to have some space to branch out, I have zero complaints. I was able to do Star Trek and then I also did a film called Table For Three, and as an actor, I so love having new challenges as well, so to have both, it's been like, pinch me! And [on House] I think there are just so many more places we can go emotionally now having nine of us to interact instead of just the six characters that everyone was already used to.

Comments

Did David Shore and Katie Jacobs pay them big bucks for praising the new team? It all rings so false to me. Their contracts are up at the end of the season, their hands are tied.

Thanks Korbi, your interviews of the House cast&crew are always right on the spot.

Sea | Sep 29, 2008 3:17:47 PM | #

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Well I'm part of the crowd that doesn't miss Cameron, Chase, or Foreman. I like the new team because I think the characters are played by much better actors.

Debbie | Sep 29, 2008 3:50:16 PM | #

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Thanks, Korbi. It's nice to hear from these actors at last.

Is there a Stockholm syndrome for actors who have been sidelined by shows but are still in the cast? All three actors seem to have spent a lot of time justifying their characters being sidelined and trying to come up positive explanations for who their characters are these days, which is to all intents and purposes practically invisible on the show.

Good for Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer and Omar Epps for maintaining their dignity and their optimism.

As for me as a audience member, I wasn't getting bored or losing interest even by the end of season three because I liked the old team, liked watching how they interacted amongst all six cast members and I believed that as doctors they knew what they were doing. But having watched season four and the first two episodes of season five with the new team, I never realized before House could be so snooze-worthy.

Kat | Sep 29, 2008 3:51:44 PM | #

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In all reality, what else can they say without coming off as total jerks? They have to promote the show and stand by Shore's decision.

And sorry to say, but the new team is hardly pulling in any new viewers. The huge ratings drop speaks for itself.

mickey | Sep 29, 2008 4:28:44 PM | #

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To me, this interview makes the same points I thought when the changes were made. It was time for those characters to move on. I enjoy both teams and am enjoying season five very much.

jackie | Sep 29, 2008 5:33:51 PM | #

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Mickey's right. What else can Jesse, Jennifer, and Omar do but praise the show that still employs them? I hope their optimism is genuine and that they're not just stringing along the audience with false hope like their bosses do.

The show's quality tanked when Chase, Cameron, and Foreman were put in these new positions. The new team has no chemistry with House or with each other. Shore needs to tire of his pretty new toy 13 because the audience is certainly tired of her. 13 reminds me of a Furby. Remember them? Everyone had to have one, but it turned out they were annoying little pests that talked too much and needed to have the batteries removed and get shoved into a drawer so they'd shut up.

Sonya | Sep 29, 2008 6:09:02 PM | #

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Jennifer Morrison on the season 3 DVD interview: "I wouldn't mess with what's working." Jennifer Morrison today: " " above. I don't believe a word of what they said. Their characters have become one-dimensional, and there is no variaiton in any episode.

Sue | Sep 29, 2008 9:12:47 PM | #

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Sorry, but have these guys seen the ratings? There IS no new audience. The ratings are dropping like a stone. These changes have only succeded in putting off the general fanbase. I know that I`m holding on because of Wilson, Cuddy and House himself, and inspite of the newbs. Kutner has NO depth(so far) and will be boring soon, I predict, and though I admire Peter Jacobsens(?) acting, Taub doesn`t bring anything new to the show at all. Thirteen makes me sick.

Ade | Sep 29, 2008 9:57:21 PM | #

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I've got to agree with some of the above posters. I would like to think that JM, JS and OE were being genuine when they said all that, but some of it is contradictory to what they've said previously. Yes they may have praised the show before saying that it was probably what was needed, but they had also said that seeing each other on set was like a reunion every time due to their lack of hours together. I sort of find it hard to believe that they would actually enjoy being sidelined for these newbies, who by the way, are NOT drawing in new viewers but causing the ratings to drop by the millions!

I hope their sincerity about Shore and his new direction of the show is because they know that they are going to be back and not just told they were like in season 4. It's not fair to them as actors and it's not far to us as viewers who want the original team back. I liked the original team and wasn't bored by them. One season in and the new team bore me to tears. Kutner is ok, Taub I'm indifferent to, but far out 13 has got to be the worst character to be ever created! Not to mention that Olivia Wilde CANNOT act! She's so dry and unemotional and is just a waste of screen time to other characters that are so much better than her.

Kylie | Sep 29, 2008 11:40:32 PM | #

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'Maybe' it would have worked out IF they had written better characters for the newbies. I understand that 13 has an episode named after her. Can you believe that??? Bad enough I have to look and listen to her for any amount of time. Now we get an entire episode based on her character. While all the newbies annoy me, I still VERY MUCH enjoy House, Wilson, and Cuddy. I take every opportunity I can to watch Hugh Laurie in his magnificence, as well as enjoy RSL and his character, Wilson. As long as they are on the show, I will be there.
I sincerely hope that what JS, JM, and OE, said above is true, but I wouldn't really count on it. HOUSE has too many actors in it now. They really need to narrow the cast down a bit....like maybe let 13 go??

Lisa | Sep 30, 2008 12:43:44 AM | #

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OE, JM and JS are wonderful for being so professional but removing them from the core of House has killed the show for me. I do not like the newbies, I have not been able to care for any of them. All I do is wish the old team were back. How can the writers not see that they are losing viewers b/c of this and stop shoving the newbies down our throats?

Helen | Sep 30, 2008 1:25:17 AM | #

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Jesse Spencer as well as O. Epps and J. Morrison are much better actors than three of the new team. The new team is just plain boring. Taub: is way too old and ugly. Kutner: is an idiot, any real hospital would have had him fired after he set that patient on fire. 13: she has Huntington, isn't her death coming early enough? Why would someone with Huntington waste her limited time with working under House, to shorten it???
Will they get a new team again after season 6? Three years is the limit right?

Mel | Sep 30, 2008 2:23:04 AM | #

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you don't bite the hand that feeds you. the get paid big bucks for what they do and why would they want to mess things up. if i was in their situation, i would be "optimistic" as well.

but really, i think the earlier posts are very judgmental... we don't know the actors personally and therefore its ridiculous to question their integrity. none of us will really know what they are thinking about this situation so why not take their comments at face value. why do we have to be so cynical about things?

joits | Sep 30, 2008 2:56:11 AM | #

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People are cynical because KJ and DS have lied to the audience repeatedly, assuring us that Chase and Cameron would be "back" but it hasn't happened yet. I don't think JS, JM, and OE are having their integrity questioned, but they're just employees. It sounds like they're reading the same script as their employers. The lack of Chase and Cameron combined with the overload of the new team has made the show unbalanced and practically unwatchable.

Brittney | Sep 30, 2008 5:17:36 AM | #

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This reminds me of Hollywood star couples who deny deny deny that there is nothing wrong in their marriage and that they are strong as ever but behind the happy faces everything is just falling apart. We don't know what really goes behind closed doors and this is certainly the case for this one

Call me an old cynic but I do not believe it because it would be politically uncorrect if they were negative towards the changes. I remember JM saying something in an interview that she felt like she was on a different show and them BAM what do you know she is supporting the changes and the new team. Hmm.....I think I smell a rat here. Knowing show biz and hollywood I wouldn't be surpised if DS pulled her aside and either threatened her or bribed her for saying positive things.

I really hope for their sakes that they are right because those ratings are dropping like flies. The new team bores the tears out of me and with all this fascination with 13 who has her own episode named after her and overcame House's screen time I am close to bleeching my eyes. These days I am finding NCIS the more better and entertaining show then House.

I miss lovin this show.

Susanne | Sep 30, 2008 6:20:56 AM | #

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Great interview!

"JM:I love this show and I love this character and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but at the same time, to have some space to branch out, I have zero complaints."

To me, that sums up pretty well what acting is about. My guess is actors are not in that business to repeat things again and again. Surely, they want some challenge, novelty, to experience new things (which can't happen if you do the same old tricks again and again). JM is sure lucky to be part of a great show like House and to be able to work of features such as Star Trek! So, really, I believe her when she says those things, as I believe OE and JS. I don't think they lie to make their employer happy (I give them more credit than that). I think they are good actors who don't like to be stuck repeating the same things years after years.

I must admit, as a fan and a viewer, I got bored during Season 3 (and it's only, for me, one hour a week. Do you imagine what it's like for an actor, whom spends his/her entire week on that show!?!?) I, too, prefer change, evolution, new ground to explore. It's much more interesting.

S4 was great, and S5 looks pretty great too, judging by the past episodes. I really look forward to see the new team and the old team work together.

Sam | Sep 30, 2008 6:31:28 AM | #

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I must add...
Is there really a "13" episode? GREAT!

Sam | Sep 30, 2008 6:32:34 AM | #

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Am I the only one who doesn't care about House's team AT ALL? To me, the show has always been about the medical mysteries and the character of House. Everyone else is just window dressing. I liked the three original actors and characters, but I don't think they added any more to the show than the new people do.

Mike | Sep 30, 2008 7:09:35 AM | #

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well i think it's good that the old team and new team are actually getting along, the actors as well...i've also heard that Jennifer, Lisa are actually good friends with Olivia(13) off set so thats good:)

kelly | Sep 30, 2008 7:41:30 AM | #

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I have not connected with the new team at all. I enjoyed Forman, Chase, and Cameron. I only watch House now to see how obnoxious he gets. I don't care about the new teams lives and the only one who's "name" I remember is 13. Unless, that's one of the ones who got fired. Not sure, really. I guess that says it all.

alia | Sep 30, 2008 8:15:19 AM | #

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Mike, I think who the team is does matter to the medical mysteries. With Chase, Cameron and Foreman in the diagnostic sessions, I believed that they were creative and clever doctors who knew what they were talking about when they threw out diagnostic ideas.

With the new team, it feels like actors reading a script and memorizing words that they have no idea what they mean. The diagnostic and medical scenes have become parts that I zone out during because they seem like filler or something to set up yet another House shocker instead of actively engaging me.

Kate | Sep 30, 2008 8:17:42 AM | #

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How long did it take Jennifer Morrison to film Star Trek or Table for three? A couple of weeks each. She used to work 16 hours a day and still had time to make a movie during the summer hiatus. So I'm not buying that she loves having that much time to do other projects, what projects? Back in January she didn't sound that happy with the changes. I get they've finally resigned to not being part of the regular cast anymore and if they want to continue working on the show they must promote the lies Shore and Jacobs have been telling fans to justify their stupid decision to change what was not broken. At least now I won't feel sorry for them when the show tanks.

Sarah | Sep 30, 2008 8:35:03 AM | #

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I agree that the diagnostic and medical scenes have suffered tremendously since the change. I just don't believe them at all.

Kutner's far too slapstick, Thirteen's is so monotonous she sounds bored by the patient, and I could hardly contain my laughter when Taub just kept repeatedly shocking the patient last week.

I would agree that the medical mystery should be of utmost importance, but if the actors can't pull off those scenes then it takes away from everything. It pulls the viewer out of the story and makes House look like an idiot for hiring these people to begin with.

mickey | Sep 30, 2008 8:47:45 AM | #

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Haven't you heard? Shore and Jacobs are actually devils who use their devious skills to make puppets like Morrison talk and walk.

Gee...

Bottom line: without Shore and Jacobs, there would be no House. That is their project, they better do what they want with it. That is *their* toy. And they can't please everyone. As for me, I am very pleased right now.

Mike D. | Sep 30, 2008 9:26:54 AM | #

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I was sent this article by a friend who still watches the show.
I don't watch anymore; and I'm not the only one who bailed. The desperation of trying to be a reality show, and now a soap opera was enough to drive me away.
I see season 1 episodes and they are fantastic. I miss *that* show. I miss the *medicine*; I miss clinic patients, and cuddy having a backbone; I miss the House that was dark, aggressive and snarky, but had feelings for patients and his friends.
It used to be you didn't know what he'd say. Now I know before he says it. Now he's just mean, and it's repetitive and boring.

turkish | Sep 30, 2008 9:29:38 AM | #

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