Those who love the quirky Dr. Gregory House are in for some disappointment.
The producers of "House," the FOX medical drama that began in 2004, announced Wednesday that the show will be coming to a close this April. The program will finish with its 175th episode.
"After much deliberation, the producers of 'House M.D.' have decided that this season of the show, the 8th, should be the last," the show's executive producers said in a statement.
The show's creators let it be known that a sudden exit by the program helped to maintain the "mystique" of the enigmatic Dr. House.
The odd behavior and unorthodox style for treating patients by Dr. House, played by British actor Hugh Laurie, was the show's draw. Dr. House would often butt heads with fellow physicians when he suggested alternative methods for treatment, and it was this premise that drew in fans.
Dr. House seemed to create a love-him-or-hate-him persona, and judging by the show's top-notch ratings, it seems viewers across the globe were enthralled by the drama. From 2005 to 2008, "House" was one of the top-10 rated television shows in America. Additionally, the drama was seen in 66 countries across the world.
However, in recent years, the show's popularity seemed to dwindle, as recent ratings placed the drama's viewership at about 10 million people, down from the 20 million of the program's heyday. While that certainly factored into the decision to halt production, speculation also revolves around Laurie, whose contract with the show concludes after this season. According to TV Guide, Laurie makes about $700,000 per episode.
Despite the sagging ratings of recent times, "House" left its mark on the television scene. The show received four nominations for the best drama Emmy, and Laurie won two Golden Globe Awards for his portrayal of Dr. House.
While Laurie was certainly the main character, "House" also featured several big name actors to support the main doc. Omar Epps (Dr. Eric Foreman), Olivia Wilde (Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley), Lisa Edelstein (Dr. Lisa Cuddy) and Sela Ward (Stacy Warner) all starred or made frequent appearances on the show over its eight years on air.
Apparently, some fans aren't willing to let their show fade quietly to black. Soon after FOX announced the show's cancellation, a "Save House" Facebook page was created. As of Wednesday afternoon, the page had 12 "Likes."
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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