House: Appointment Viewing

"Each season there are great series that for various reasons aren't found by audiences (UPN's Kevin Hill) and not-so-good ones that are (CBS's Still Standing). Then there's a series like House. This medical drama has been no less skilled than Desperate Housewives and Lost in reinventing its genre.

"Still, it was hard to persuade viewers to come to yet another show about doctors. Gradually, an average of some 17 million did, in part because the series managed to turn the stereotype of the humane TV doctor upside down and introduce Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) as the most insulting, cranky, son-of-a-gun doctor since, well, no one comes to mind.

"House is merely playing off the current fascination with detective-like procedural work. But it's Laurie's acting—the guy is such a hoot that you tune in just to hear him vent—that gives the series its allure. House managed to create more appointment-viewing business, or, as NBC used to call it, 'must-see TV.'" ...

Me being a mere 28 years old, no one else came to mind either. However, I persuaded one of my part time associates at my store to watch House and he saw the season finale. His senior self said it reminded him of Ben Casey, the 1960's "Gritty realistic hospital drama featuring manly Dr. Casey against the medical establishment."