Nico's Journal

Snurched from spacefall.

Using the electronic TV listings source of your choice, obtain a list of programmes with 'house' in the title or subtitle, then write a plot outline for an episode of House, MD inspired by that title (perhaps drawing on the synopsis for guest characters and other inspiration).

Delta House - House overdoses on painkillers and has a dream about his descendant Gregri who succeeds as a diagnostician despite his lowly grade. His patients include Space Commander Travis (headaches due to eyestrain) and Vila Restal who has a puzzling array of symptoms.

Desperate Housewives - House goes home for a Thanksgiving family reunion and the big snark guns are brought out during grace around the table. The women in the family are as renowned for their sarcasm as the men and several injuries occur when the multiple arguments come to blows and inappropriate use of cutlery--and the cry goes up for a doctor in the house.

Dog House - a dog follows House in the park and refuses to go away. House is considering putting it down until he reads that dogs can sniff out autism and breast cancer, though his efforts to train the dog in the latter cause problems with Cuddy and several patients.

Little House on the Prairie - A flashback episode to House as a child in the Midwest. When he successfully diagnoses a local farmer as having a severe gopher allergy, he is inspired to become a doctor and decides to practise on his friends, family, and assorted livestock. Note that the experimental cow breast implant scene is not recommended for sensitive viewers.

The House of Windsor (AKA Buck House) - Impressed by his reputation, the Queen hires House but he has to contend with the hostile Prince of Wales who wanted a naturopath who can speak plant. Warning: contains corgis and stiff upper lips.

Wodehouse Playhouse - no, he wouldn't--to Cameron's disappointment.

I've only seen 10 eps of House so far, less than half of season 1, but there's a pattern. Don't get me wrong, I love it for its main character and his snark, and this week they did change things a bit by having a different outcome (and Greg guessed the disease halfway through) but you could guarantee yourself five drinks in this drinking game.

The House Drinking Game

Have a drink each time:

• the patient seizes
  
• the patient almost dies because they try the wrong treatment
  
• the patient almost dies again because they try a different wrong treatment
  
• House insults the patient
  
• House insults his staff
  
• House guesses what's really wrong because of an encounter with a clinic walk-in
  
• House has a close moment with the member of staff he insulted most

I was sorry House got out of his clinic duty this week; I love his reactions to the random walk-ins.

I saw the first ep of House last night. Hugh Laurie is wonderful in it; you'd hardly think he was a British actor I mainly think of in the role of Bertie Wooster. I think I'm going to like this series a lot: snark, cynicism, interesting characters, and CGI insides (urk). It was interesting that the female doctor was chosen for being beautiful but working hard anyway. It does however bring me to something I dislike about US programs. Apart from House himself, everyone is impossibly good-looking. Is there some sort of rule over there that you're only allowed one real person per show?

On to BSG. Spoilers for the second ep, Water ( Thoughts on Boomer, keyboards, and handheld cameras )

All this excellent TV at once, though! I've got no time to watch all the DVDs I bought. I'm still stuck in Farscape S4, no closer to PKW.