Question: Have you seen the House premiere? If so, thoughts? —Robin Ausiello: Yes, I’ve seen it—it’s the reason this column arrived a little late. If you’re a Huddy fan, you’re going to swoon yourself silly. The Sept. 20 opener features the star-crossed lovers cuddling, bathing, massaging, champagne-toasting, and—of course—kissing. I think I counted a dozen smooches in the first 15 minutes alone. The episode will also answer the burning question, “What does Hugh Laurie look like wearing nothing but a laptop?”
Question: Should we read anything into the fact that Chase is touching Thirteen’s shoulder in House‘s season 7 key art? —Nina
Ausiello: After watching the premiere, I would have to say HELL YES YOU SHOULD.
Question: How does House’s team—specifically Chase, Taub, and Foreman—react to House and Cuddy being an item? —Brandon
Ausiello: To quote Dr. Crankenstein in episode 2, one is “in favor,” another is “indignant,” and a third is “indifferent.” Now head to the comments and match the adjective with the character! But first, repeat after me: “Games are fun.”
For the first time in recorded history, House and Wilson will be involved in serious relationships simultaneously. What impact will that have on TV’s most popular bromance? Exec producer Katie Jacobs offers a preview.
Question: Any word on if we will see House babysitting Cuddy’s baby this season on House? —Janine Ausiello: We will. An early season 7 eppy will find Dr. Crankydoodle spending some one-on-one time with little Rachel. The playdate will underscore one of the biggest challenges facing Huddy. “She’s a single parent, and I think it’s only right that we deal with that issue,” says exec producer Katie Jacobs. “House is her significant other, and she also has a kid. We will explore the reality of what that means and how willing Cuddy is at first to share Rachel and expose her child to the relationship. And because it is a real relationship, I think she feels obligated to.”
Question: My birthday is this Thursday, so I think I deserve some House scoop. I miss Jennifer Morrison and I was wondering if she is still returning for a few episodes this season. —Jen
Ausiello: Producers have an option to bring her back for three episodes, but it remains to be seen if that option will be exercised. My guess is it will, but not until later in the season.
House fans who have been following the show’s app-only spin-off series, Nurse Jeffrey, the past 13 weeks are in for a treat: Tonight’s finale features a cameo by the Queen of Princeton Plainsboro herself, Lisa Edelstein!
“Jeffrey gets caught by Cuddy,” reveals executive producer (and Nurse Jeffrey brainchild) Katie Jacobs. “Instead of bringing House down, he’s forced by HR to take a six-week unpaid vacation. It all comes full circle.”
And let there be no mistake: That really is Edelstein in the appisode. “We’re crafty about the way we show her because we want you to think it’s done on the down low,” says Jacobs, “but it is Lisa.”
Previously, only folks who downloaded the inHouse iPhone/iPad app had access to Nurse Jeffrey. But starting tonight at 8 pm/ET, all 13 appisodes will be available on Fox’s website. And moving forward, select House Season 7 app content will also be featured on Fox.com after a one-week exclusivity period on iPhone/iPad.
Might Nurse Jeffrey be back for a second cycle next summer? “I haven’t figured that out yet,” admits Jacobs. “But Jeffrey’s determined not to give up. There’s a voice inside of him that knows House is just wrong and should be taken to task on some of these things. But unfortunately he’s not successful the first go ’round.”
News that Spencer has been cast in the Spike Lee-produced indie The Girl Is In Trouble has fans worried that Chase may be checking out of Princeton Plainsboro. Executive producer Katie Jacobs is here to set the record straight.
“We have not written him out at all,” Jacobs tells mae. “We have done everything we can do to [adjust] our schedule to allow him to do this. He’s by no means out of the season or even out of any episodes.”
The New York-set Trouble stars Studio 60‘s Columbus Short as a bartender caught up in a mystery involving a desperate young woman, a missing drug dealer, and the son of New York’s most powerful stockbroker.
Spencer’s House costar Olivia Wilde is also currently off shooting a film, next summer’s sci-fi western Cowboys & Aliens, and—as previously reported—she will be MIA this fall. The exact length of her leave of absence, however, remains a mystery. “I can’t [tell you],” says Jacobs, “because it’s linked to a [story] that’s not even on the table just yet.”
As House counts down to its seventh season premiere this fall, burning questions loom: Is Thirteen ever coming back? Will Amber Tamblyn’s new MD be sticking around full-time? Will the Huddy experiment succeed or fail? And is this the season the show finally gets a new opening title sequence? Luckily, not only was series creator David Shore on hand at Fox’s press tour shindig last night, but he was in a very chatty mood.
With an under-the-weather Hugh Laurie MIA at Fox’s press tour party last night, his House leading lady, Lisa Edelstein, was forced to serve as the sole spokesperson for Huddy. No surprise, the Emmy-snubbed actress was more than up to the task.
Dirty Dancing‘s Jennifer Grey will find herself in a no-win situation when she guest-stars on House this fall, sources confirm to me exclusively.
Grey—who begins work on the House set today—will play Abbey, the mother of an infant daughter who is displaying signs of a life-threatening illness. As House and Co. investigate her daughter’s developing symptoms, Abbey is faced with a treatment decision for her newborn that could affect not only her baby’s life but her own.
Question: Can you give us a little spoiler regarding House? —Krista Ausiello: The show has quietly been casting the role of an ex-model and psychiatric resident that ends up joining House team. But there’s a catch. And it’s a fairly big one (as in too spoilery to reveal. (And no, this is not the role Amber Tamblyn is playing.)
Question: Your wedding blind item is keeping me up at night wondering which pairing it could be. Please help me get a good nights sleep; give us another clue. – Khalia Ausiello: The show in question is not-I repeat not- Bones. Nighty-night!
House fans who have been following the show’s app-only spin-off series, Nurse Jeffrey, the past 13 weeks are in for a treat: Tonight’s finale features a cameo by the Queen of Princeton Plainsboro herself, 
No one puts Baby in a corner…except 
