All in all, I’m pretty boring.
Sure, I read a lot. Give me a good thriller and chances are, I won’t hear the phone and forget to eat. But reading isn’t trendy—some would even consider it as a shameful pastime. I’m from the MTV Generation, but when it comes to music, I don’t know many of the new bands—unless you still consider Pink Floyd, Guns & Roses, Bob Dylan etc., are “new bands” (in which case, you are worse than me).
I don’t watch much TV. I never did in France, and programs are even worse in Canada. When I do find something interesting, I usually lose track of what I am watching because there are so many commercials. The last TV series I actually watched and liked was Friends, quite a while ago. I watched ER a bit when I was in high school in France, where it was dubbed and called “Urgences.” Oh, and Heartbreak High, an Australian soap opera which was, for some reason, quite popular in Europe. I like some Seinfield episodes and the Simpsons, which rerun constantly in Canada. That’s about it.
But recently, I fell in love with House M.D. Oh, I know, you guys all know the series already, after all the 5th season is currently airing in North America. But I had never watched it before. See? That’s what I’m saying. I’m out of touch with pop culture.
I love House. I’m hooked.
Until now, I had always kind of avoided medical dramas. First of all, a close-up of a brain surgery is not a great way to start your dinner, and second, well, it’s too much drama. If I want to see people die, I can just turn on C.N.N. Oh, and I’m a bit hypochondriac (my friends would say I like to call myself a hypochondriac just so that I can claim a condition), so I hate to see that on TV, headaches invariably equal brain tumour, that a sore leg often results in an amputation and that cutting your finger will lead to a rare but deadly infection.
But House is a bit different (desperately trying to justify myself…).
First of all, episodes are organized around a medical mystery, kind of like “C.S.I. at the hospital.” I like thrillers, I like mysteries, I like finding the truth. Second, diseases are always rare and difficult to diagnose but they are also often treatable. Eh, I like happy ends.
But the main draw to the series is the characters… or even the character, Gregory House, Chief of Diagnostic Medicine and a major pain in the ass. The thirty-something doctor is a genius, a painkiller addict, “cleverly has no personal life,” is an endless round of contradictions, hates patients (but like diseases), is an atheist, a misanthrope, an “obsessive son-of-a-bitch,” a cranky curmudgeon… the list goes on. He spies (on his few friends), steals (Vicodin, the powerful painkiller), lies (his motto is “everybody lies”), cheats (to get his way)… he is not the kind of guy you would want to work with. Yet, he is brilliant and quite lovable. A complex man—don’t we all love that?
The series is famous for the “Housisms,” Greg House’s witty comments. Several websites offer his pieces of wisdom (House MD Quotes, for instance) and I almost love reading them as much as I like watching the show:
House: The truth of the human condition is that everyone lies. The only variable is about what.
House: If we don’t talk to them (the patients), they can’t lie to us, and we can’t lie to them. Humanity is overrated.
House: See that—they all assume I’m a patient because of the cane.
Dr. Wilson: Then why don’t you put on a white coat like the rest of us?
House: Then they think I’m a doctor.
Dr. House is the anti-hero. He is disabled and he walks with a cane because of a leg injury he suffered (it wasn’t diagnosed properly because the hospital staff thought he was just seeking drugs). He has chronic pain and resorts to large amounts of Vicodin to manage it. He admits being an addict but is fine with that: “I said I was an addict. I didn’t say I had a problem. I pay my bills, I make my meals. I function.” He doesn’t do politically correct. He is needy but can’t stand anybody. Finally, someone normal in this sterile world!
Try it. You’d love it.
I was skeptical about it then I started to like it. But I have to start from Season 1 when I move to DK. I watch all my favorite TV shows on my laptop and it’s my favorite pass time activity:p
I am always late on TV series. I hate commercials too. So I usually just wait and buy/rent the series on DVD and have marathons for TV shows . . . my latest obsessions were ‘The Hills’ (yeah I know) and ‘Californication’ . . . hmm I sense a theme here.
I don’t watch a lot of TV. My wife is addicted to what I call autopsy shows and I get tired of bloody corpses. Actually CSI, Las Vegas is pretty good, but I can’t stand the old red headed creep in CSI Miami. OK, I will watch House for the reasons you described, but only if it happens to come on when I am sitting in the living room. Usually I go stretch out on the bed and read. If I watch TV on purpose it is news, Funniest Home Videos, or ball games. Just your basic curmudgeon here.
I haven’t watched “House” though I have heard of it. Sounds incredibly witty. 🙂
Don’t know about this because I don’t watch dramas, except Hong Kong TVB Cantonese series. And yes, I do avoid medical dramas because omg, they just remind me of hospitals, patients, doctors, and medicine, the very things I hate the most! *gasp*
yeah, i love House. I love the sarcasm, I wish I could get away with that sarcasm at my job.
ummm. zhu. you’re not boring.
you’re one of the most interesting people i know!
I watch House all the time. I don’t care if I’ve already seen a particular episode, I will still sit and watch it.
Oh you haven’t discovered House until now? I actually just discovered it thanks to my parents, last summer. I therefore copied all of the episodes to my computer and watched it. I love the show to the point that I think that House and I have the same personality. I also think that life is a collection of puzzles, and that I also do not believe in religion and the supernatural. I like his problem-solving approach, I do believe that it is very scientific, but I do not go to extremes in the sense that try not to alienate myself from the people around me. I have more friends than House, who only has Wilson. And no, I am not a pain-killer addict.
I have watched it and yes – it’s quite good. Don’t really have time to follow anything anymore though…..
I just re-read my post and think I sounded like a terrible grouch. Worst of all is that I failed to refute that you are in any sense boring. I may not be a big fan of TV shows but I am a big fan of your blog and think you the complete opposite of boring. Mea culpa, mea culpa!
House seems like a cool show, only seen snippets. I watched a bit of this real life show, Trauma in the ER or something, it was on discovery, that was very intense! One guy came in with a serious stab wound to the neck, ahhhhhhh…
I like “House”. Sadly, it’s not one of those shows we became ‘addicted’ to with my wife, so it’s out of our rotation right now (all the ‘autopsy shows’ are there though, Mr. Tulsa Gentleman, and we love that red headed creep maybe for the same reasons you hate him; it’s just the most cartoonish TV character ever!).
I also have a TV crush. I have never watch the show, and I actually don’t pay attention to it when I catch an old episode, but… I tune in “Friends” just to drool in the presence of Jennifer Aniston. I hear she’s been sad and wants to start a family now… have her come over my place, she can join mine! It’ll be a tough sale with my wife, though.
I LOVE House! I started watching it in Venezuela when I was in bed for my surgery, I would watch 2 or 3 episodes a day and even watch the same episodes in the afternoon (the first round would be having breakfast). After that I don’t miss an episode, is soooo good for all the reasons you just said 😀 Glad that you get to see it now 🙂
@Bluefish – Same here, I watch the show on my laptop… isn’t technology convenient!
@LIsa ~ Urban Native Girl – I heard of Californication, I remember this one because of the Red Hot Chili Pepper song. Maybe I will give it a shot…
@Tulsa Gentleman – You know what, I used to watch CSI in France, where it’s dubbed and called “les experts”. But since I’m in Canada, I hardly watch anymore… there are just too many re-runs! Every time I turn on the TV, there is an episode on the air!
@Baoru – Give it a try, you will be hooked 😉
@kyh – I know, same here… but I swear House is less of a medical drama than most series!
@sir jorge – Me too 😆 I can’t believe he is never fired…!
@Seraphine – Thank you! I have to look interesting for this blog’s sake 😆
@silverneurotic – Cool, a House fan! Did you watch from Season 1?
@Linguist-in-Waiting – Mmm… just try pain killers. According to House, it’s “yummy”! 😆 May improve your studying as well 😆
@Caroline – I watch on my laptop when I have time, I don’t actually follow it on TV.
@Bill Miller – No you are not! 😆 You were sincere! You are not boring nor grumpy because you don’t like a trendy show! I follow your blog and you see beauty in everyday’s life (and post it on you blog) and seem to have a better social life than I have!
@Seb – I think I know the show you are talking about… it was on TLC a few years ago. Arg, to gory for me! I finally found your blog feed, I will be there shortly 😉
@Gabriel – Mmm…My little fingers says that if you bring Jennifer home, your wife may have Mr. Pitt or another handsome Hollywood guy at home too! 😆
@Aiglee – It was in Venezuela? Wow! I think France just started showing the series not that long ago.
Awww, thanks for the visit and kind words Zhu! Wanted to tell you, my sister will be in Paris in the summer, are you going to be there? I think you guys would get along, she is big into traveling, and international studies and all that good stuff 🙂
We are two of a kind in a lot of ways: I was at a concert with Guns and Roses in Oslo, Norway 15 years ago with my daughter who now are 30. It was a great experience for both of us.
I don’t watch much TV either. The only show I see, is 24. I have great fun watching Diane watching Grace anatomy though 🙂
But blogs, like yours: I love to read them – I’m addicted you know 😆
Housisms..lol
Hey, am not much into watching tv either except cricket. And I love PF and GNR…to me they are eternal!
Hey Zhu,
Looking at youth today, I’d say I am pretty boring myself *nodding*.
I love reading, thinking, conversing about what I think and that isn’t cool to others LOL.
TV? It sucks everywhere…the commercials take an infinity and I since even those suck nowadays (yes, because many moons ago commercial were good and I actually watched them) I don’t have the patient for them any longer.
But there are a few channels that do have commercials, and those…I watch (series channels).
E.R….I am still watching it lol. Next season, it will be the last one and I will be here to watch it (and if I am travelling, I have it scheduled to be recorded). E.R. rocks!!
House is amazing!! I watch every single episode…don’t you just love the man? We are in the 5th season as well.
Gregory House claims to be an atheist, but he is not deep down (there is an episode that hints at this – but I will let you watch it). He is an apparent pain in the neck, but he has a good essence and he always means well (although he never admits to it). Plus, he is utterly intelligent…so I forgive anything in him LOL.
Cheers
I started watching House a couple of months ago but I’m currently curbing my habit because my husband doesn’t enjoy it as much as I do. The station here was playing a couple of episodes every night and I was watching it every night. So, I totally understand how my husband got sick of it. I wasn’t giving him any attention!
I’m just waiting for the rare illness that I have to be featured. I have Behcets. Of the episodes I’ve watched so far. It was in the running once but excluded. Another time the Mediterranean Familial Fever was the culprit that House uncovered. Mediterranean Familial Fever is very similar to Behcets.
What I find interesting is that the writers come up with the worst possible symptoms to feature on the show. That’s why I’m curious to see what they would do with Behcets.