House, MD

[Tripe]

Like the episode featuring Johnathan as the Hero.

Also Amber Benson. didn't get a regular credit till the episode in which she was offed.

[Chaos]

And didn't Joss Whedon have a habit of messing with the opening credits on his shows to mess with people?

Sometimes, yes, but sometimes the mystery returning cast member was revealed in the credits the same as on other shows. For example, the episode from Season 5 when Riley returned, his name was listed in the on screen credits during the first scene (not the title credits, the ones that flash on screen once the show starts).

Also, he specifically put Tara in the opening credits ONLY on the episode that she was killed in, to shut the fans up who kept complaining about her not being in the credits.

[MrTorso]

No kidding.  Everyone was in top form.  Although,

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

they kind of spoiled the fact that Cameron, Foreman, and Chase are coming back in the opening credits, don't you think?

Yeah, but shows always do that. It certainly defeats the purpose of having a drama, but they ALWAYS do it - like people are blind or don't read or something.

This may sound odd, but I think it's a legal issue.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

If the actors have contracts as regulars, I believe the law requires that their names be listed in the credits whether they show up in an episode or not.

Yes, but this happens with guest appearances and minor characters, too. There have been several instances over the years of "big surprises" in a show being ruined by the fact that the actor's name shows up in the opening credits. Biggest recent example: when Walt (or a vision thereof) returned to Lost... it wasn't a surprise when he showed up, because the credits told us 45 minutes earlier that he was going to be around somewhere.

It's just stupid. A show doesn't NEED to give credits at the beginning of the episode, because the full credits are listed at the end. The credits are just there at the beginning of movies and TV shows because of the continually growing egotism of the actors involved. Some of them demand it, so it has become standard practice... but it doesn't have to be. There are no legal requirements involved, it all has to do with contractual agreements - which could be removed, if some of the agencies and individuals involved just stopped demanding it.

There were plenty of X-Files episodes that had a "surprise" return and no credit was given.

[mrbasehart]

Great episode.  Laurie is brilliant as House, and the interplay between the three cast members was golden.  Without the other regular cast there, it gave the writers more time to spread between Cuddy and Wilson, and it worked perfectly.  Interesting on the whole new team members angle though - if they're going to spend so long a time on the subplot of House hiring new people, then surely it seems a little redundant to get rid of them when the old team returns.  Perhaps it's a season long arc they're planning?

[daltysmilth]

I think it'd be interesting to have at least one new team member be kept on permanently.  And since they already introduced that one chick that was like Cameron, but different, I'd say we have at least one good candidate right there.

[Blueguy]

Great episode.  Laurie is brilliant as House, and the interplay between the three cast members was golden.  Without the other regular cast there, it gave the writers more time to spread between Cuddy and Wilson, and it worked perfectly.  Interesting on the whole new team members angle though - if they're going to spend so long a time on the subplot of House hiring new people, then surely it seems a little redundant to get rid of them when the old team returns.  Perhaps it's a season long arc they're planning?

thought I already mentioned it, but in case not.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Supposedly, they'll all be back but they'll not be on House's team and will be working in different departments.

[BBQ Platypus]

Somebody please hand Robert Sean Leonard an Emmy right now.  And I wouldn't mind seeing Lisa Edelstein get one either. Brilliant work all around! If they had to ship half the team out of town, I'm grateful beyond words that it was the youngsters. I've always liked the House/Wilson/Cuddy interplay best.

No kidding.  The "Cottages" can conceivably be replaced by anyone.  Cuddy, Wilson, and (obviously) House really can't.

[Katie]

yeaaaah Robert really is ridiculously good. The whole show is so well done, it's really nice to have that to turn to on Tuesdays.

I'm pretty excited to see what next week holds.. the teaser was good "row D your fired" was pretty much a classic House moment.

biggest laugh from the premiere (for me): Are you erasing my TiVo??

His delivery was awesome

[Katie]

Oh, other great moment for me, was when the mother turns to the janitor and quite seriously asks "Dr.Buffer" what is going on. Pretty hilarious. I laughed for a while on that one.

[daltysmilth]

So you think they'll have all the changes to the show be permanent, or do you think they'll do go the NewsRadio route and have everything back to normal by midseason?

[Chaos]

I tend to think that we'll end up with a new team for House by the end of the season, but the original three will be back in the show as minor characters in other departments, sort of thing. I don't think it's in this show's style  to completely restore the status quo... I mean, House lost Cameron once before, and DID manage to get her back, but the dynamic was changed because of it. I really wouldn't expect them to mirror this previous event again... so when they do come back (the cast list confirms that they'll be returning in some capacity), I don't think it's going to be on his team anymore.

[Tripe]

So they'll be sort of Wilsonesque but to a lesser degree?

[Chaos]

That's what I figure, yeah.

[Tripe]

It'd work for me.

Personally I'd like the cute little intern from Three Stories back, I may have mentioned that already.

[Chaos]

Yeah, that is still my favourite episode of all time, too. And she played the character well. I wouldn't kick her out of bed for forgetting to warm up the thermometer.