Those of us who grew up on Blackadder (arguably the finest comedy series ever to grace the TV screen) and Bertie and Wooster were enthralled by the razor wit of the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Stephen Fry; why even Rik Mayall had us in splits as the irrepressible Lord Flashheart.
But always skipping on the periphery in a blubbering daze and with the “wit and sophistication of a donkey” was the Prince Regent, Bertie Wooster and of course, Lt the Honourable George Colhurst St Barleigh. All these characters had one thing in common, apart from their intellectual awkwardness, and it was that they were all played by Hugh Laurie.
Laurie was never a show-stealer, how could he be. He wasn’t good looking, he was far too gangly, and he had all the force of an ant recovering from a particularly bad bout of flatulence. But Laurie was saving his towering role for later; for 2004; and for America.
When Laurie was cast to play Doctor Gregory House in the drama series House M.D., America held its breath. TV critics at the liberal Press like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times, who were brought up on British comedies hailed it as a daring move, some even called it genius. Others were less impressed — a Brit playing an acerbic Yank? Surely you jest!
But House is more than just acerbic, he’s downright nasty in a way that only a deeply troubled human being can be. As a practitioner of diagnostic medicine he is peerless. As a person he is peerless too, only in this case it’s because nobody wants to be seen with him.
His genius is never up for question, his Vicodin addiction rarely is. House is in the business of solving medical cases that few others can. His ability to treat every human being as an intrinsic liar, and look at each case with an objectivity that beggars belief gives him an edge over everyone.
He has no bedside manner, in fact he has no manners at all. House is a creature unadulterated by social form and function. He is base as much as he’s elevated to a pantheon. And in this paradox lies the magic of the series and of the character.
House M.D. is essential, because he is what we all aspire to be, but just don’t have the courage to try.
