The House cast has reunited for season 8 after splitting up in previous seasons. However, rumors suggest Jennifer Morrison (Dr. Cameron) may be leaving the show. While the producers have not confirmed this, her character will be absent for several episodes after November due to the direction of her storyline. The reunion of the original cast has been enjoyable for the actors, but changes are still coming for the characters as the show explores new dramatic situations.

1. House?
The Princeton-Plainsboro gang’s finally
back together—but how long will it last?
b y d av i d h o c h m a n
Photographs by
G AV I N B O N D

2. edge is that the choice to remove Morrison,
here’s nothing like a little Internet even if only temporarily, has only to do
with the direction of the plot. (Morrison
porn to bring together dear old col- would not comment on the rumors.)
leagues. Hugh Laurie is hunched over “We approached Jennifer well before
her departure script came out,” Shore says.
his character’s laptop on the set of House “We reassured her that this has nothing to
as his original crew of TV homeys— do with her personally. It is where we see
the story going, and moreover, we love Jen-
Dr. Chase (Jesse Spencer), Dr. Cameron nifer. We didn’t use her as much as I would
have liked to in the last couple years. But
(Jennifer Morrison) and Dr. Foreman she’s been a wonderful part of the show.
(Omar Epps)—gives House crap for And she took the news with class, frankly,
and grace. It was not easy for her to hear,
what’s streaming across his MacBook screen. but it has not been an issue.”
With or without Morrison, the show
must go on, and in the coming weeks,
Chase will face serious repercussions.
Malpractice? Jail? “Let’s just say he expe-
[Chicka-chicka-bang sounds from stein) agreed to let House, still without riences deep internal and external agita-
House’s computer] his medical license, return. House was tion about all this,” says Spencer of the
Chase: Can we turn that off? back—“or at least back enough to irritate Dibala fallout. As for Foreman and Thir-
House: Because Cameron thinks Foreman,” cracks Epps. teen, Epps says, “It’s not over yet. Thir-
pornography is evil? The episode was a doozy. If you didn’t teen will be MIA for a few more
Cameron: [Indignant] I don’t think… see it: House sat in on the diagnosis of an episodes. But there will be residual anger
“It’s been really fun for and passion. It wouldn’t be fair for them
House: [Rolling his eyes] …Well, the ailing African dictator named Antipas all of us,” says Morrison
actors that do it. [Beat] But look at this Dibala, played by Darth Vader himself, of the reunion. “We to just end it without some heat.”
guy. He’s not without talent. James Earl Jones. Foreman, Cameron and were all there at the ultimately, though, all this is just a side-
beginning, when no one show to the man with the cane. And while
Chase worked to save Dibala, but failed. knew what was
The House cast is pretty talented, too. The dictator—who likely would have gone happening with the House’s old team may be back together, it’s
show, so we have that another team that will become the focus of
Laurie, Spencer, Morrison and Epps were on to commit genocide—died, and now it mutual experience.”
the backbone of the show, along with looks like Chase has blood on his hands, attention later this season. “House and
Robert Sean Leonard and Lisa Edelstein, specifically blood from a morgue patient ing its arteriovenous malformations from its work on this episode,” Shore says, “and I team back together, but that reunion was Cuddy will once again explore and deepen
as the Fox drama found its footing and an Chase secretly used to purposely misdiag- intestinal intussusceptions. But factors on think someone took that to mean it was never intended to be permanent.” their personal relationship,” Shore says.
epps' shirt: band of outsiders; vest and pants: John varvatos; shoes: paul sMith. laurie's suit: toM ford/neiMan MarCus; vest: paul sMith;
ever-growing audience after its 2004 nose Dibala. Meanwhile, Foreman and camera and off at House indicate the group- her last scene of the series and called up Asked outright if Morrison is leaving “We thought throwing him into a relation-
debut. Then, two seasons ago, the team Thirteen broke up, and Foreman got all hug thing is only temporary. As Spencer somebody, and it was reported that she was for good, Shore says, “This rumor is a ship this close to his mental break might
split up, making way for a trio of new weird with House for treading on his turf. says, “The darker side of our show is that leaving.” The leak greatly annoyed the rumor. Dr. Chase is going to face a conse- be crazy, but his relationship with Cuddy
still has room to grow.” Great, but how
previous spread: Morrison's dress: naeeM Khan; shoes: Casadei; Cuffs: swarovsKi; rings, earrings, neCKlaCes: neil lane.
doctors. And while House’s original side- Kick your TiVo if you missed it! nobody’s ever happy for too long.” producers. Says Laurie, “It’s a bit upsetting quence from his actions, and Jennifer will
spenCer's suit: MosChino; shirt: dolCe & gabbana; tie: Jil sander; shoes: paul sMith. for all other Credits, see page 1
will that play out? “We have a wonderful
shirt: Canali; poCKet watCh: neil lane. this page: top: see page 1 for Clothing Credits. bottoM: MiChael Yarish/fox.
kicks landed positions elsewhere at the What’s easy to ignore amid all the orga- Let’s start with the on-screen drama, that someone in our midst who we think be leaving for a while as a result. I don’t
hospital, they looked more like the lost nizational dysfunction is how cool it is to though you might want to skip ahead if of as friend and ally is selling us out.” want to deny or diminish that, but I also House-Cuddy story coming up,” Shore
tribe of Princeton-Plainsboro while atten- have the band back together. “It was fun, you suffer from spoileritis nervosa. In The day the news broke, executive pro- don’t want to act like this is the end. says, “but I’m not gonna spoil it now.”
tion shifted to newbies Thirteen (Olivia after scattering these characters, to have the October 12 episode, Chase’s role in the ducer Katie Jacobs spoke exclusively to Having said that, I really don’t know. We In ot her words, l e t th e r umor-
Wilde), Taub (Peter Jacobson) and the late them in the same scenes like this, because death of Dibala comes under close scru- TV GuIDE MAGAzINE for a story that ran are mapping out our stories as we go along. mongering begin!
Kutner (Kal Penn). “I tell you, you practi- it really shows how much they’ve grown tiny. The ethical quandary that ensues online. She stopped short of confirming We certainly don’t know what the end House Mondays, 8/7c, Fox; fox.com,
cally need a spreadsheet,” says Laurie. and changed,” says creator David Shore. sparks a debate that affects every rela- Morrison’s departure, saying, “If I wanted of the season is. We don’t yet know what hulu.com, iTunes
It’s musical chairs once again on House, “Cameron, Foreman and Chase were like tionship on House’s team, including to make an announcement that Jennifer Episode 16 of the season is. We are
and now come rumors that a beloved mem- House’s ducklings before, but now they Chase and Cameron’s. Not that anyone was leaving the show, I would say that,” figuring it out.” Jacobs says the
ber of the original cast may be leaving for stand up to him, and they’re more adult should be surprised. “If your spouse com- but admitted the Dibala story line is forcing writers have penned scripts through
good. But more on that later. Things started than they were even two seasons ago.” mits murder, what do you expect?” says Cameron “to separate from her husband Episode 11. In the meantime,
beautifully this season with the mesmeriz- Adds Laurie, “It’s emotional having Spencer. “Your partner is going to have a and marriage and proximity from the hos- “Jennifer is still on payroll,” Shore
ing two-hour premiere that followed House us all together, because it’s been quite reaction at some point.” pital.” (Go to tvguidemagazine.com/house for adds. “She is still a series regular.
through treatment at a mental hospital for a journey. Jen made the point that the But where things get really interesting the full Jacobs interview.) But she will not appear in a number
Vicodin addiction and what we might call show represents about a fifth of her life.” is behind the cameras. Last month, Mor- Shore later elaborated on what hap- of episodes after Episode 8,” sched-
Major Curmudgeon Disorder. It pulled in (Morrison is 30.) “For me,” says the rison filmed a scene several episodes down pened for this story: “It’s just a very dif- uled to air in November.
a whopping 16.5 million viewers. 50-year-old Laurie, “it’s more like the road that includes a pivotal moment ficult situation,” he says. “It’s not that we Whether a series as important
The following week, with Foreman 1/200th, but it’s still emotional.” between Cameron and Chase. By all don’t want to follow through with the to Fox as House can really run with-
tensely helming the department in That’s a House specialty. Yes, Cameron accounts, the episode ended with Cameron story or incur the wrath of fans. It’s just out a road map to the season’s end
House’s absence, Taub quit and Foreman and Chase ended last season by tying the taking leave of the hospital and the that we wanted the story to unfold as is a matter only the producers and
fired Thirteen. This set the stage for the knot after several seasons of flirtation. And marriage. “We did have a little round of stories should unfold.” He adds, “We do the suits above them can know for
October 5 episode, when Cuddy (Edel- no medical team anywhere is better at tell- applause for Jennifer after she finished her spend a number of episodes with the old sure. But what Shore does acknowl- “Every script is a surprise to us,” Morrison says
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