HOUSE Spoilers - What's Next?: david strathairn

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

House Spoilers: "Lockdown" Interview with Hugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie talks about how he was given the chance to direct House. This was not his first in directing because previously he has done it with commercials. It was his first when it comes to a big size of a production project. If you haven't seen it, you should. All I can say is that there is comedy, drama, suspense all in one hour of "House". You get to feel mixed emotions in the whole episode which is craftly done. Listen to his interview from MsHousefan.

Monday, April 12, 2010

House Spoilers: "Lockdown" Promo 3

Here is another promo video of MsHousefan for tonight's much anticipated episode "Lockdown". Three things you must remember: 1) it's Jennifer Morrison's last episode for the season; 2) it's Hugh Laurie's first ever directorial job; 3) David Strathairn will be the POTW for this episode. You must not miss this comeback episode on FOX tonight.

House Spoilers: Hugh Laurie Writes About His Directorial Job in the "Lockdown" Episode

[Photo: Spoiler TV]

Hugh Laurie has an article about his first directorial work of art which will air tonight on FOX. TV Guide Magazine is very lucky to publish the Laurie's article under them. He is really versatile, a good writer indeed! Here is the carefully written and artistically composed writeup of Laurie:

Hugh Laurie Goes Behind the Camera
by Hugh Laurie

Physician, direct thyself. That was the offer/challenge/piece of lead pipe they swung at my head, and I knew straightaway I was in trouble.

For six seasons of House, I’ve sat in the passenger seat and complained while long-suffering adults took the wheel. I’ve fiddled with the radio, spilled soda on the gear lever, misread the map, whined about feeling sick, been sick, screamed useless warnings whenever a distant dog looks like he’s thinking of approaching the curb—in short, I have been a complete pain in the neck. As a way of shutting me up, they tossed me the keys and said, “OK, then, you drive.”

What was I to do? If I said no, I’d lose my hard-won complaining rights. If I said yes, who would I complain to?

The script of “Lockdown”—Episode 17 of this season’s House—was written by David Shore, Garrett Lerner, Russel Friend, Eli Attie and Peter Blake. If you’re wondering why there were five writers involved, you will wonder less when you see it. I’m not going to tell you what happens, except to say that there is a Precipitating Event at the beginning that justifies the episode’s title. (Rest assured, it’s not a bomb or a stuck elevator, both proscribed by the House Manual of Plotting.) The event effectively traps four pairs of characters in four separate places, and House himself features in only one of them—which meant that, for six out of the eight shooting days, I could just wear my directing hat. And yes, I actually did have a hat. I also wore my own clothes and carried my own phone, keys, wallet and wristwatch, which was a welcome respite. Actors in costume spend so much of their time unable to communicate, unlock a door, buy a sandwich or know what time they should be doing any of these things that they end up feeling like infant convicts. If that’s a category.

Besides the hat, there was also the question of which accent to wear. I would be directing not as Gregory House but as Hugh Laurie, proud subject of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II—and yet I had spent the preceding six years as an ersatz American. How would my coworkers respond? Would the sound of a British accent rouse some ancient colonial resentment and start them emptying my PG Tips tea bags into the lavatory? It was a chance I’d have to take. When I converse as an American, I am often constrained by the accent to say only what I can say—if I don’t feel sure how to sound the phrase “cream and sugar,” I will just say “black”—and this obviously wouldn’t do for a director. A decision is a decision. Or choice, whichever is easier to say.

Then there was the issue of preparation. In the normal course of events, an incoming director is hired two weeks before shooting begins. The good ones fill this time with careful meditations on design, casting, special effects, narrative arcs and the rest; the less good ones watch Internet porn and steal stationery. Since I was neck-deep acting in Episode 16 right up until my first directing day, neither of these options was available to me, which meant I was hideously, savagely unprepared for the ordeal to come. I also didn’t have enough envelopes.

And all the while, there was the nagging question of how I was going to direct myself. Would I be able to give guidance, instruction, encouragement to myself and then reject those things with my usual sullen bad temper? How would I talk myself out of my own trailer? Could I throw a tantrum with one hand and catch it with the other?

To help me in this task, I asked for, and got, the rare luxury of video playback: a tiny prism in the camera that siphons off just enough light to generate a rough video image of whatever the film lens is capturing, which can be instantly reviewed. It’s a time-consuming device, but it allows an actor/director to see and adjust his own performance, assuming he has the necessary mental equipment to look at himself and make an accurate assessment. I don’t think I used it once.

What saved me—and you will judge for yourselves whether it was really a save, or just compassionate euthanasia—was the skill of the House producers, writers, technicians, designers and, most of all, my fellow actors. For a time I worried that joining the ranks of Management might create some odd tensions among the cast, perhaps put a strain on the comradeship we had built up over the years; in fact, it went completely the other way. I finished my stint as director with an even greater appreciation and affection for the cast of House than I had when I started—which is saying an awful lot.

These actors did things, created moments, found nuggets of tragedy and comedy that I couldn’t possibly have foreseen; they brought energy and good humor and put up with my grating British accent. This is the best cast on television, make no mistake. I’ve watched other casts receive trophies and acclaim but have never doubted that Lisa, Robert, Omar, Jesse, Jennifer, Olivia and Peter could take them all with one hand tied behind their back. (Not that acting with one hand behind your back is especially difficult. Come to think of it, it’s often easier.) The fact they don’t make it look difficult doesn’t mean it isn’t. Ars est celare artem, as some Roman geezer once put it—the art is to conceal the art.

Lastly, I must make special mention of the actor playing the character of Nash, a terminally ill patient who spends his final hours in House’s reluctant company. Many names were bandied about for this role, but when our executive producer, Katie Jacobs, uttered the name David Strathairn, a peaceful certainty descended on the production team. I have watched some of David’s scenes a hundred times in the editing room, and been moved every single time by his astounding skill and honesty. (He is also, by the way, a gentleman.)

So there you have it. I invite you to try your luck with the work of an inexperienced, underprepared foreigner who complained his way into the driver’s seat. Was he saved by his passengers, or did they all hurtle over a cliff in a grisly fireball of destruction? Fasten your safety belts and tune in to Fox, Monday, April 12, at 8.

House airs Mondays, 8/7c on Fox

(Source: TV Guide Magazine)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

House Spoilers: "Lockdown" Behind-the-Scenes

Here is MsHousefan's video showing a peek behind-the-scenes with Hugh Laurie as he does his job as a director in the much-awaited, very controversial episode "Lockdown" which airs tomorrow night April 12 on FOX.

House Spoilers: "Lockdown" Promo - Extra

Thanks to MsHousefan for this extra promotional video of the "Lockdown" episode which will air on Monday night, April 12 on FOX. This video includes a commentary by Olivia Wilde on how Hugh Laurie is as a director. It also features the 5 things you may not know yet about Hugh Laurie. Three other stars who were also considered to play the role of Dr. Gregory House were shown. To find out their identities, watch this video now!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

House Spoilers: More for "Lockdown" Episode

[Photo: SpoilerTV]

On Monday, Apr 12's episode, "Lockdown" is the title. Wanna know the reason why? Michael Ausiello at EW gives us this:

Question: Aus, I gave up EW.com for Lent. Have I missed anything huge? Or better, do you have anything to welcome me back with? —Laura

Ausiello: Hugh Laurie directs Monday’s House and, to mark the occasion, he’s giving Ask Ausiello readers this exclusive preview: “A baby goes missing from the maternity ward — you know how babies are low-jacked in the hospital these days — so the hospital is locked down until the baby is found. It’s a rather more elegant way of doing the ’stuck elevator’ plot line.” Oh, wait, you asked for big news. Um… Dean [spoiler] [spoiler] in Supernatural’s 100th episode next Thursday!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

House Spoilers: "Lockdown" Sneak Peeks

The videos below are so interesting, I can't wait to see the whole episode. MsHousefan got our adrenalin pumped up for the following sneak peeks from the Hugh Laurie-directed episode "Lockdown" which airs next Monday April 12 on FOX.

From these videos, it looks like Wilson and Thirteen are having dead moments of silence since both have nothing to talk about so they end up in a truth or dare conversation. It is also good to see David Strathairn in this episode. I love him in the movie, Spiderwick Chronicles. Plus, we all know that Hugh Laurie is the director, it is just wonderful.

Missing Baby Preview

Truth or Dare Preview

Snoop on Our Boss Preview

More Than One of Me Preview

House Spoilers: "Lockdown" Global Promo

Thanks to http://www.house-md.pl/ for this global promo for the upcoming April 12 episode of "House". Five days to go and the wait is over. I can't wait to see Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer meet each other after a long time of being apart from each other. I'm interested in what will Taub and Foreman discover about their boss. Intriguing, right? Sound-off below, what do you expect from the "Lockdown" episode?

Sunday, April 4, 2010

House Spoilers: "Lockdown" Promo 2

Here is another promo video of "House" on it's come back this April 12 on FOX. Thanks to MsHousefan. I'm really excited to see this episode. Can't really wait!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

House Spoilers: Lockdown Spoiler Pics

The much-awaited episode of House is entitled "Lockdown" which celebrates the directorial debut of Hugh Laurie and the one-night-only comeback of Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Cameron. Don't you just love how Hugh Laurie stands there as he directs this episode? Well, I do. See the pictures below to keep you more excited of this up-coming episode on FOX on April 12. All from Spoiler TV.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

House Spoilers: "Lockdown" Promo

Who's not excited about Hugh Laurie's directorial debut on April 12? It's definitely a "Lockdown" for all characters who will come into play like Cameron and Chase, Taub and Foreman, and Hugh and David Strathairn who plays Nash (patient-of-the-week). Two weeks from now, we will know for sure what's going to happen when Cameron and Chase meets again. I hear that it's a sure tearjerker. Visit House Spoilers for updates on this episode while we wait for it. Watch this video from MsHousefan and sound-off below for your comments.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

House Spoilers: House Season 6 Episode 16 "Lockdown" - Press Release

[Photo: FOX]

House - Episode 6.16 - Lockdown - Press Release

PRINCETON PLAINSBORO GOES ON LOCKDOWN ON AN ALL-NEW “HOUSE”MONDAY, APRIL 12, ON FOX

Episode Directed by Hugh Laurie

David Strathairn (“Temple Grandin”) Guest-Stars

When a newborn disappears from the nursery, Princeton Plainsboro goes on lockdown, preventing anyone from entering, leaving or moving within the hospital. While House and his team members are trapped in various parts of the building, new insights about the team’s personal histories, relationships and regrets surface in the all-new “Lockdown” episode of HOUSE airing Monday, April 12 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (HOU-617) (TV-14 D, L, S, V)

Cast: Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House; Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Lisa Cuddy; Omar Epps as Dr. Eric Foreman; Robert Sean Leonard as Dr. James Wilson; Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Allison Cameron; Jesse Spencer as Dr. Robert Chase; Peter Jacobson as Dr. Chris Taub; Olivia Wilde as Thirteen/Dr. Remy Hadley

Guest Cast: David Strathairn as Nash; Neill Barry as Donald; Riki Lindhome as Sarah; Riley Thomas Stewart as Walker; Shely Cole as Nurse Maldonado; Vernee Watson as Nurse Smits; Dava Krause as Daria; Al Foster as Davies

Source: FOX

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

House Spoilers: David Strathairn and House

[Photo: Flickr.com]

As you all know from the previous House spoilers, Hugh Laurie will be given a break at his directorial debut this season of "House". He will direct the 17th episode of season 6 and he's already prepping up for this event. It's now attracting some serious Oscar buzz, according to Michael Ausiello at Ew.com. The patient-of-the-week on that episode has been chosen by Hugh Laurie himself, according to producer, Katie Jacobs. Who is the lucky guy? It is actor David Strathairn, who had an Oscar nomination for portraying the character of Edward R.Morrow in the movie, "Good Night, and Good Luck". Jacobs also said that this episode of Hugh will have a different format, "a tense, change-of-pace hour".

HOUSE Spoilers - What's Next?