—References to "General Hospital"
Why House Watches GH
I've been noodling this question for a while, "Why does Dr. Greg House watch a soap opera? Why General Hospital, in particular?"
A corollary question is, "Why does Dr. James Wilson join him?"
1. Why does House watch a soap opera?
I think it's because it's taboo, mainly. Like the BOUO, the decision making with the Magic 8 Ball, the yoyo, the "lying on the floor listening to music", the racial slurs, the snarky comments to people.....all of these actions are designed to get a reaction.
House watches, interprets and concludes.
That's what he does.
What better way to figuratively pin a butterfly to a corkboard than to stun people with inappropriate behaviour?
Add to the mix that he's an adrenalin junky (monster trucks, motorcycles) and we've got a man who simply loves the rush of getting yelled at. He loves to tease the inmates.
For years now, soap operas have been taboo for several reasons. First, they are aired during the daytime so the assumption is, if you have the time to watch one, you are unemployed. What began as the domain of the unemancipated housewife developed into the domain of the weak and worthless non-job-holder.
There was also a prevailing opinion that the actors in soaps were second-rate because what self-respecting actor wouldn't rather be in primetime, Broadway or film?
VCRs and DVRs (TiVo) have changed all that.
But the stigma still lingers.
So, to snub everyone and rub their noses in the taboo, House watches soap operas. (They are also addictive, Doctor. Another trait of yours.)
2. Why General Hospital, then?
Well, first of all House only goes for the best of the best. (GraveDigger, for example.) Regardless of what I think of the show, the Emmy Academy definitely thinks GH is the best. For a couple of years running now, the show has raked in the Emmys, not the least of which were Best Soap Opera and Best Writing. Its actors routinely take home the supporting actor statue and, occasionally, the best actor one.
The ratings, while not brilliant, are typically in the top three or four and are respectable. This fact tells us that the audience is agreeing with the top quality.
Okay, most of the audience.
Of course the most obvious reason is that it's the one set in a hospital. Contrary to popular belief, most of the show is set there. Even though it's gotten very mobular, you'd be amazed how many shootouts end up with people needing surgery.
Another good reason is that he enjoys diagnosing the patients along with the show's doctors. ("Maternity")
I have yet to be able to connect the snippets of dialogue they show us to House (either the character or the entire show) and I'm not convinced there is any relevance to the content.
3. Why does Wilson join him?
Although, I think Wilson has a bit of every reason House watches in him, I think the main reason is that he gets to hang with House. His watching is more a product of enjoying the companionship than actually caring if Carly and Sonny get back together.
Also, while I don't think Wilson would ever consider rocking the boat like House does, I do think he gets a perverse thrill watching House do it. He doesn't mind being a partner in this particular crime.
===========
PS: I just received tragic news. The character of Courtney Matthews Quartermaine Morgan Jax is not dying a slow and painful death but is being recast with Erin Hershey. sigh One consolation is that she and Kelly Monaco can reminisce about their time together in the cast of GH-Lite "Port Charles"; a noontime half hour extension of GH that was cancelled a couple of years ago.
Ya know, this makes me want to add that I bet House not only gets a kick out of diagnosing the characters on the show but he probably enjoys getting inside the heads of the actors, too.
He does read celeb rags, after all.
(Again with the cocktail of "taboo" and "curiousity".)
I wonder what Laurie thinks of that trait. Does he really want to encourage his viewers to emulate House and try to get inside the lives of the actors? I'd bet not.
Tee-riff, now my brain feels like a Mobius Strip.
A corollary question is, "Why does Dr. James Wilson join him?"
1. Why does House watch a soap opera?
I think it's because it's taboo, mainly. Like the BOUO, the decision making with the Magic 8 Ball, the yoyo, the "lying on the floor listening to music", the racial slurs, the snarky comments to people.....all of these actions are designed to get a reaction.
House watches, interprets and concludes.
That's what he does.
What better way to figuratively pin a butterfly to a corkboard than to stun people with inappropriate behaviour?
Add to the mix that he's an adrenalin junky (monster trucks, motorcycles) and we've got a man who simply loves the rush of getting yelled at. He loves to tease the inmates.
For years now, soap operas have been taboo for several reasons. First, they are aired during the daytime so the assumption is, if you have the time to watch one, you are unemployed. What began as the domain of the unemancipated housewife developed into the domain of the weak and worthless non-job-holder.
There was also a prevailing opinion that the actors in soaps were second-rate because what self-respecting actor wouldn't rather be in primetime, Broadway or film?
VCRs and DVRs (TiVo) have changed all that.
But the stigma still lingers.
So, to snub everyone and rub their noses in the taboo, House watches soap operas. (They are also addictive, Doctor. Another trait of yours.)
2. Why General Hospital, then?
Well, first of all House only goes for the best of the best. (GraveDigger, for example.) Regardless of what I think of the show, the Emmy Academy definitely thinks GH is the best. For a couple of years running now, the show has raked in the Emmys, not the least of which were Best Soap Opera and Best Writing. Its actors routinely take home the supporting actor statue and, occasionally, the best actor one.
The ratings, while not brilliant, are typically in the top three or four and are respectable. This fact tells us that the audience is agreeing with the top quality.
Okay, most of the audience.
Of course the most obvious reason is that it's the one set in a hospital. Contrary to popular belief, most of the show is set there. Even though it's gotten very mobular, you'd be amazed how many shootouts end up with people needing surgery.
Another good reason is that he enjoys diagnosing the patients along with the show's doctors. ("Maternity")
I have yet to be able to connect the snippets of dialogue they show us to House (either the character or the entire show) and I'm not convinced there is any relevance to the content.
3. Why does Wilson join him?
Although, I think Wilson has a bit of every reason House watches in him, I think the main reason is that he gets to hang with House. His watching is more a product of enjoying the companionship than actually caring if Carly and Sonny get back together.
Also, while I don't think Wilson would ever consider rocking the boat like House does, I do think he gets a perverse thrill watching House do it. He doesn't mind being a partner in this particular crime.
===========
PS: I just received tragic news. The character of Courtney Matthews Quartermaine Morgan Jax is not dying a slow and painful death but is being recast with Erin Hershey. sigh One consolation is that she and Kelly Monaco can reminisce about their time together in the cast of GH-Lite "Port Charles"; a noontime half hour extension of GH that was cancelled a couple of years ago.
Ya know, this makes me want to add that I bet House not only gets a kick out of diagnosing the characters on the show but he probably enjoys getting inside the heads of the actors, too.
He does read celeb rags, after all.
(Again with the cocktail of "taboo" and "curiousity".)
I wonder what Laurie thinks of that trait. Does he really want to encourage his viewers to emulate House and try to get inside the lives of the actors? I'd bet not.
Tee-riff, now my brain feels like a Mobius Strip.
2 Comments:
I ran across your blog recently and can't wait to catch up on your musings -- House and GH are my favorite shows as well (add in Veronica Mars and you pretty well have the only shows on TV in my opinion!)
My brother and I did a marathon viewing of House Season One DVDS over the holidays. I was hoping that a "slow-motion" viewing would show the House version of GH reflecting the episode (like "Jules and Mimi" on Sex and the City). The only commonality I found was that the lead doctor character strongly resembles Dr. Chase.
Happy viewing!
heather
Hi, Heather! Hope you enjoy the blog as much as I enjoy doing it! :-)
There has been a dearth of GH references in House Season Two. If you go back a month or two in the blog, though, I went through every reference I could find in Season One.
Remember, not everyone reacts to soap opera characters quite the same so you may not always agree with my assessments.
Feel free to chime in any time!
PS: As you say, I haven't been able to get any connection between GH and the fake bits House elects to show, either. The only thing I am noting is that GH is starting to capitalize on the popularity of the new hospital primetime shows. I'm just not sure if Patrick Drake is supposed to be an homage to House or to Grey's Anatomy. While I'd love it to be House (ob), I think Grey's is more logical since it really is a soap opera itself.
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