'House' writers' room: The Huddy breakup and all that jazz

The “Bombshells” episode of “House” this past Monday shocked (and dismayed Huddy shippers) a lot of viewers. It was written by Liz Friedman and Sara Hess. They’ve taken a little time out of their busy schedule to answer a few questions about  this critical and unusual episode.

“Bombshells” had two major, major plot points: The breakup of Huddy and the re-addiction of House. What was the rationale behind tackling both of these game-changers in 44 minutes?

Sara: Well, for us the two things went hand-in-hand.  A major theme on the show is that people don't change.  House has been clean for a year and a half now, but addiction isn't something that just goes away.  When Cuddy started dating him, she told him she could accept him just the way he was ... but remember, he was sober at the time.  And while she's a doctor and knows the reality of his situation, I think she was able to convince herself for a long time that things would turn out OK.  But when someone with House's drug history starts using again, it's a seismic event.
That said, Cuddy doesn't break up with him because he took one pill.  We used House's addiction as a symbol of his inability to deal with pain. He's spent so much time and energy trying to insulate himself, but being in a relationship basically means making yourself twice as vulnerable.  And he can't accept that.  He won't let himself really experience what Cuddy's going through; selfishly, he uses the drug to protect himself, and that leaves her--in any real emotional sense -- alone.  Maybe Cuddy thinks she doesn't need him to change, but she does at the very least need him to be present.  And in the end he can't do it.

Whose decision was it to incorporate the dreams/nightmares as a plot device?

Liz: That idea came out of the writers' room at House.  The staff collectively hatched the notion of Cuddy contemplating various futures with House, each of those futures being a different genre, and those visions ultimately leading to the end of their relationship. In the original pitch, each act was a different genre ... but as we got into it, we realized that the break-up really needed to be grounded in reality, so we re-approached the dreams as a way to show what our characters were really thinking/worrying about.

How did you feel about the results of the fantasies? I still can’t get over the timing of the “Two and a Half Men” sendup, on the day Charlie Sheen is fired. Winning, duh!

Liz: We couldn't be more thrilled about the fantasy sequences.  As a long-time horror film fan, I had the best time writing House vs. zombies, using all the tricks I absorbed from endless viewings of "Evil Dead," as well as working for Sam Raimi. And the musical sequence was incredible.  It's a rare occurrence for writers when you get to pick a song and write a half-page description and then have more than a hundred truly talented people including the brilliant choreographer Mia Michaels work their butts off to turn that into a completely mind-blowing, unforgettable sequence. It was awesome.
Sara: The Charlie Sheen thing was just a major coincidence; we wrote this long before the meltdown of the last few weeks. It actually wasn't conceived as a direct send-up of that particular show, but in the execution it definitely ended up coming pretty close. 

Did this episode take especially long to film, considering the parodies of the specific shows?

Liz: We had one extra day, which is really nothing considering that each of the five dream sequences was a totally different world and look.  Production-wise that's the equivalent of doing five teasers.  Most directors couldn't accomplish that, let alone have each sequence be better than the last.  Our hats are off to Greg Yaitanes, our super-talented and resourceful exec producer director and our stellar crew for that.
Sara:The sitcom and the "Butch Cassidy" sequence were actually shot the same day.

Were you on the set as the fantasy sequences were filmed? Are the writers, as a rule, generally present on set, and if so, are there a lot of last-minute adjustments?

Liz: On "House," writers are on set the whole time their episodes are filming, so we were there for the fantasy sequences. I spent most of the time gawking at the set, the costumes, the actors, completely thrilled and dazzled at what the departments had done to make this crazy idea work. As for script adjustments, those get dealt with ahead of time, not on set.  

On a collaborative teleplay like “Bombshells,” do you all sit in the same room and scream at each other until you get the 44 pages?

Liz: We generally divide up the acts, each taking half of the script.  Then we swap halves and do a pass on each others material. Then we get in a room together and start screaming. 
Sara: Well, there's also some screaming in the early phases, when we're putting together the outline for the script.  This was the sixth script Liz and I have written together, so we've developed a pretty good system wherein we try to kill each other for a few hours, then clock out like the sheep and the wolf in that old Warner Brothers cartoon and go get Chinese food.
Liz: Funny thing is, I hate Chinese food.

Do you solicit or accept any input from the cast?

Sara: As an executive producer and our lead actor, Hugh certainly has the ability to weigh in and make suggestions.  Which he actually does surprisingly little of. He's a writer, and his respect for the script and the room sets the tone for everybody else. If an actor has a strong opinion about something, we will definitely consider that. But it doesn't happen very often.

Finally, how much, if ever, do you follow the fan feedback on the Internet, and if so, does it affect the direction of the series?

Liz: Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me and I take a peek to see how people are reacting to what we're doing.  But I personally don't believe in letting fan reaction dictate creative decisions; not out of disrespect for the fans, but because as a TV writer you have to stay true to the core vision of your show, whether it's coming from you or your showrunner. You let go of that, before long you won't know what you're writing and no one will be happy.

Sara: We certainly appreciate and are grateful to our fans, but scripted shows aren't -- and can't be -- about audience participation.  That's what "American Idol" is for. If we bent to every opinion out there -- and there are a lot of them -- we wouldn't be writing "House," we'd be writing a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-type thing.  Which, come to think of it, isn't a bad idea. I'm going to call my agent.

Show Tracker thanks these busy writers for talking about their craft, and a fun episode of their highly ranked show.

-- Linda Whitmore

Photo: In the big musical finale, House (Hugh Laurie) dips Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein). Credit: Adam Taylor / Fox

 

Comments

[Lori B]

Writers Sara and Liz: I find it very sad that you do not accept imput from your fan's comments. Granted you cannot and should not try to please everyone...but overall there is a general tone here and that is you really dropped the ball with the story line so far by commiting to this "people never change" stance. People do change..life is about change... it's always changing..that is what keeps life interesting! Not to watch House faithfully for seven years to learn that these people never learn from mistakes or change.
I am very saddened by the outcome of Bombshells... I hope you will turn it around and PLEASE listen to your fans!

[Rachel]

I have and will always be a fan of this show. I think that what they did was cool and different. They tried something revolutionary and I loved it! I am slightly saddend by the fact that Huddy broke up and that House went back to his old ways but that won't stop me from watching. I don't see why though people are saying things like how they wasted their time watching only to start back at the beginning, that's just ridiculous. Any true fan knows that they are not going to make him truly addicted again and even if they do, so what? If you don't like it anymore, don't watch. Simple as that.

[Aslee B.]

I, for one, cannot see what all the fuss is about. I loved Bombshells. There were many, many people who were actually upset about the Huddy relationship, and, yes, I was one of them. Did I throw a hissy fit and refuse to watch the show ever again? No. I didn't. I came to terms with the fact that Cuddy made House happy, and got on with the dang show. That being said, neither I nor any of my friends expected the Huddy to last for very long.

Why? Because we knew Cuddy expected House to change... we knew he couldn't. Now, why I wish he had 'relapsed' in a way not connected to Vicodin, I actually find it very plausible, as that's what he associates with pain. And he WAS in pain, maybe for the first time since he was with Cuddy.

I will always be a faithful House viewer. Hissy fits and tantrums aside, I think many people will get over their problems and come to realize what I have: It's just a television show. A Great One.

[pat Fraley]

I think House should get Married to Cutty. and they need to have kids,, with problems for house to solve.

[Susan in SF]

To Liz & Sara, this is one of my favorite episodes. Also, the other episode that Yaitanes directed, season 4 finale. I love to see writers exploring the interaction of our subconscious with our waking lives and vice versa. As a dream interpreter, I found the episode brilliant. I feel sad about House & Cuddy breaking up, but I'm familiar with the throes of addiction and find it plausible and poignant. Everyone did a phenomenal job of touching our hearts with this episode from the writers to the director to the actors. If people are hating the idea of a breakup, it's only because they love these characters. It means you're doing your job.

[Trudy]

It was interesting to read this. I found the fantasy plots a little awkward, but only because I didn't expect it with House. Then again, I thought about House's hallucinations in a previous season over the guilt over the death of two team members so the fantasies in this episode were not too far-fetched. I cannot believe they broke up, though I suspect I always knew it would occur. This season has been really good.

[Terra Butler]

This interview makes me feel that the writers are even more clueless than ever. Obviously you can't write a show and incorporate every fans opinion, but if you hear a ton of "I hate the direction House has been going this season" then I think it's worth considering. The last decent episode was the one where Cuddy's mom was dying. That was quite a few episodes ago. People stop watching after awhile if it doesn't get interesting again. I also think it's lame as hell that House and Cuddy have been doing this little dance for 6 seasons and when they actually get together, they only play it out for 16 episodes. With all the build up, it was a real let down to see it end so quickly. Every episode lately has really been disappointing and every time I think "Maybe I shouldn't even watch House any more, maybe it's just run it's course." The first 6 seasons were gold. The writers should stop experimenting with everything without worrying about what the viewers thing and go back to the things that always worked. Making a change here and there, but all these drastic changes are just too much to keep people interested. People don't like change, House would know that. Go back to things people like, you aren't writing the show for your own amusement, it's for the viewers. The mass viewers have confirmed it: WE HATE THE SHOW IS GOING!!!

[Lyndsay]

I agree with everyone single one of the people that posted here.
And I totally disagree with Sara, the one answering these questions.
I understand when she says shes writing a script; but in all reality, the fans are the one watching what they write. Therefore if the fans are not happy with where the show is going and what they doing to it. What Happens?? They pull the show off the air and it goes bye bye!
So for the viewers watching this show, and have been since the beginning. I think its time that they realize writing the show that people have had enough of the games. People do change and they can change. Its time to finally make that change. Get over himself and make him realize that he can be happy!
If not, I see this Season being the last. The fans are not going to put up with the games the writers are playing...

That is my thought.

[Tori]

Loved the musical sequence, it was very striking.

[Mia]

House as a show constantly changes, they never hold on to one idea or story arc for too long, I personally, think this is great, I am constantly refreshed, and when I start getting bored, the writers turn everything upside down and create a new twist. I loved Bombshells, I love a show that takes a chance and does different things, most of all, I love Hugh Laurie as House, and think we have the privilege of watching one fantastic actor playing a hell of an interesting character.

[Ayersy]

I, for one, am pleased that Cuddy and House have broken up.

It was nice to see House happy for a little bit, but that's not what House is about. House is about a misanthropic, drug-addicted, sarcastic, miserable doctor. It's what made the first few seasons so much better than the later ones.

House isn't a soap opera. It's not all about who is in love with who, and who breaks up with who. It's about House, the character, primarily, as well as medical mysteries.

The classic moments with House going behind Cuddy's back in order to save lives are going to be even more heated, now they have suffered a break up. That, coupled with House's misery and relapse, should make for some interesting television.

Conflict is far more interesting than lovey-dovey romance mush.

[Gina]

I could've done without the zombies, but the song and dance sequence was pretty cool.

That said, I'm afraid "House" had its shark-jumping moment the week before, when House said he didn't care if he wasn't the best doctor anymore. That's eliminating the very thing that made him House.

[Dwayne]

From a literary point of view, the sexual / romantic tension is what of the things that drives a plot forward and creates a lot of energy.

Think Moonlighting back in the day, before they get together. After they get together, the show really became less interesting.

Shakespeare tended to end the show with a wedding, because when that is resolved, the story loses major impetus. It is at the END of West Wing and Josh and Donna get together, thank you for not fumbling that out of bounds.

When the House writers decided to get House and Cuddy together, I was partly upset, because you were losing a major thing that made the show great. But then it seemed to be well written, we still had tension between them and we seemed to be ok.

My reaction to their "breakup" was not a good one. I felt set up and betrayed. And honestly, my reaction was similar to the Chase / Cameron breakup... it didn't seem to follow or make sense to me with my understanding of the characters. At some point, it feels like you're screwing people just to screw them, not because it makes sense in context.

I may be missing something, but depending on where the next episode goes, I may be done with House as well... that isn't a threat, or a hope for the writer's to somehow change their minds - just a simple fact of what I'm willing to watch.

If there is really no possibility for a happy ending, or for at least these people to come to terms with and make sense of their lives and love each other, then what the hell is the point? That's not a message I could ever agree with, I just have more hope in us as a species than that.

[Anthony]

Doesn't anyone proofread this stuff? It's Cuddy with a C! Not with an H!

[Bobbie Shackelford]

I have been watching House sense the beginning, and if he goes back on drugs,that is it for me. The show was just starting to get good again. But everyone is tired of watching him pop pills. If him and Cuddy break up and he goes back on pills, this will be the last season for me. And I have all 6 sets of House on DVD. But I will not watch it anymore let alone buy another season set.

[Lee Epstein]

Have any of you guys ever had chronic pain? Sometimes pain medication is necessary. I love the show but all this harping on House's addiction really turns me off. Most people with chronic pain don't become addicted. And how would YOU deal with pain that is off the charts? Speaking of "his inability to deal with pain" seems like nonsense to me. I have chronic pain, and here are times when I can only lie in bed flat on my back and still have pain, even taking the pain medication. It becomes agony to try to walk 10 feet to the bath room. There is no dealing with some kinds of pain, especially nerve pain.

[Lynda]

If the writers don't care about the viewers opinions, what is the point of the show? Without viewers watching there IS no show???

[Isabella Fiske McFarlin]

I feel sure this is not the end of the story. Cuddy loves House and he loves her, right? They will probably get back together again. I'd write it that way.
She could be pregnant by him or any other complication they like, but they can't take it back to the way it was before without boring a lot of people. I'll watch probably no matter what because I admire Hugh Laurie above almost any other TV actor (and I like Lisa Edelstein and the others too). But I bet that they'll lose people if they permanently dump the House/Cuddy relationship.

They will be together again, and I hope to see Cameron back sometime too because that story isn't finished either. The show has maybe one more season in it, maybe two. Might as well make it a good one and end it on an upbeat note for once.

[Pamela]

Maybe House should start smoking medicinal marijuana for his pain instead of taking pills. Also, I would like to see the musical talents of Hugh Laurie appear on a Glee episode. HA!

[Christy]

I still think that if you say you love someone. .and if you really mean it, you will help them to the ends of the earth. Unconditional Love. Maybe shows should show more of this. Show some real strong ties rather than getting out while the gettings good.