'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

[Mysti Scargill]

Absolutely hating the dream sequences... is the show turning into Glee? If so... I'm out! I don't watch Glee for a reason and soon I won't be watching House. Tragic, I love this show... but how many sharks are you going to jump before people get fed up!

[Liz]

„It's hard to believe that a great show like "House" could actually "jump the shark", but it has. Unfortunately, it happened years ago.“
Totally, Huddy was just another mistake. Glad they set that one straight, although it should have never happened in the first place.

“Look... i HATE that huddy is over, and it really needs to get back togeather, because house and cuddy, just like i guess fit with each other, and if you were watching you'd know that because of the way they acted, they really love each other, and if you can see that, you really haven't been paying attention the last 7 years now have you, haters.... ??“
LMAO. NO, YOU haven’t paid attention, you just saw what you wanted to see like delusional shipper fangirls do. Let me give you an advide: why don’t you just watch the few Huddy episodes you have over and over again, be happy about them and leave the rest of the fandom alone. Zero chemistry, I’m glad that huge junk of crappy relationship is over.

House changed into a love-sick moron, and Cuddy changed into a stupid, selfish bitch who wanted House to be someone he is not – how was that supposed to work?! It can’t! I’m glad it’s over now and I can enjoy my favorite show again. It would only be better if Cuddy had to leave.

[sana]

Get over your tantrums and move on. TV show writers always lose plot when the shows run for too long. Its about time this show folded, 7 seasons and no character development? So we're back where we started. Season 1,2,3,4 were great, 5 was good, 6 was a drag and 7, well, I'll let you be the judge of that. This move reminds me of a series called vanished.

[Steve G]

1) House has been fighting 'changing for love' the entire season. Every time he made a compromise he felt terrible about it.

2) The dream sequences were limp, worked over cliches which were poorly executed.

3) Olivia Wilde is still in the credits...where is she?

4) Jennifer Morrison is thumbing her nose at House from How I Met Your Mother just across the way at CBS. That is now one of the funniest parts of both shows.

5) The real problem with Cuddy is they never show her as being a high-powered administrator (which, of course, she must be). that would balance out her personal eccentricities and add appeal to the character.

6) House's address is 22B Baker Street. Wilson is his Watson. The show has drifted away from that at times (sharing the apartment worked ).

7) Holmes (and House) work best when confronting formidable opponents in story arcs. That's why Stacy worked so well as a female lead. Cuddy's needs and situations have not been clearly delineated. House's inability to cope with 'coupleship' would have been better drama if Cuddy presented a greater challenge and he was lured into much deeper ambiguity (which I gather was a theme behind their romance.

8) Taub is working out well. I hope Foreman has another strong arc.

[Jack Foster Mancilla]

Yes. … Well. …

If the writers do not care about audience feedback, why should the audience care about their show?

It seems that the writers have lost their mojo, and could not write stories in the direction that the show had taken, so they reverted back to the addict House. … What a waste of time this has become. I am outta here.

[becerro]

HOUSE IS NOT A HAPPY PERSON , NEVER WAS , NEVER WILL , SO STOP BITCHING ..

YOU WANNA SEE ''HOUSE'' BEING HAPPY

GO AND SEE '' FRY AND LAUIRE''

[Al]

Sorry for my English, i'm from Argentina!

I'm really happy that this absurd relationship is finally over. I don't understand why so many people liked House and Cuddy together, there is no chemistry beetween them, besides through all the season she was always trying to change him into a husband, a father, a man who doesn't stand for anything, a regular and boring family guy. I hate Cuddy since the first episode of the third season, in which she and Wilson lie to teach him some "humility".
He is a rebel, an anti hero, a jerk, if someone loves him, have to a accept that he may change some bits of his personality, but he will never stop of being who he is, his identity. She doesn't loves House, only the dream of what could she make out of him.

I think the only couple for House will always be Cameron. She loves him for who he is and end up leaving the hospital, because of risking the life a pacient just to reunite his team, but she never tries to change him, she loves and admires him. Even more, she is the only one to stand up for him. When Cuddy says that he has to learn some humility, Cameron is the only one to say "Why should he learn that? Why should he be like everyone else? "
Besides, Cameron has a strong personality. Cuddy always says no to House only to give him power to do everything he wants at the end. Cameron don't, she has principles, in many things she is House's opposite, but that would make a relationship more interesting. They're different, though they complement each other. Both are complex characters, who don't fit with regular people, they're ment to each other. House can be an ass to everybody, he always has something to say to everybody, but he stands heartbroken and speechless when she leaves. He loves her.

I'm glad Huddy is over, it was ruining the show. I hope that Jennifer Morrison comes back to the show.

[Elina]

Frankly I was disappointed about the episode storyline and where the show is going. The actors and directors were doing the best they could on the latest episode, but the plot was just naive and going for easy solutions on every turn. I do not basically care if the "Huddy" break-up was to due or not, but I'd like to have a storyline that would be at least somewhat believable. E.g. We have been lead to believe that House and Cuddy have known and wanted each other like decades and then some. We have few episodes of relationship, Cuddy acts like House would be totally new person to her and now all in sudden 180 degs around "oh, a bad boyfriend, he's an addict". This "the get them together and then break them up" - arch was so calculated and so much predictable one that even when the relationship was ongoing, it was difficult to get invested at all on it. Now, even less so when there is expected "dumped, miserable, on-drugs, but surviving House with Wilson" arch coming up. It seems like there is nothing new offered anymore on the horizon.

[Natasha]

I can't even count how many times I have cried this week. I break down at school, with my horse, before I go to bed and pretty much everywhere. Do the writers realize they wasted 7 years? Since Cuddy's first line It was apparent that her and House were meant to be.

If they don''t get back together by the end of the season I am boycotting the show and doing everything I can to get everyone else to. Because this is just a waste of time and money.

[Lynn]

I watched the InHouse video and read other interviews by Friedman and Hess.

The best part of this show has always been the character study. A great opportunity was lost as much could have been explored within the context of the House/Cuddy relationship. Instead, Cuddy was rewritten as a caricature of herself with scripts filled with sausage jokes!

It is not the story I’ve been told for almost seven years. It feels like an irresponsible disruption of the characters' continuity. This whole season where the House/Cuddy relationship is concerned felt like the writer's said, 'Ok, let's just get this over with.'

The history and experiences these two characters share offered a treasure-trove of real storytelling and real character exploration - what a shame!

I have often said the writers talk about a very different House than I've come to love - and come to love with the vehical of their writing.

We're not delusional. We have all watched a tragically hurt human being with great capacity to care and be a trusting and protective friend many times doing all this behind the scenes looking for no credit for his selfless actions.

So, House will always be a screwed up SOB. I didn't hear any suggestion of an investigation into WHY?

What was the point of Mayfield if from the writer's perspective, he won't get better EVER!

Why should we continue to watch after seven seasons if the writer's view this character as having no chance at real growth and recovery.

If the idea is that people don't really change to any degree then, WHAT'S THE POINT?

People do evolve and adapt and move forward. People do recover. If there is no effort to explore that journey I don't know why they continue to write the show.

While reading Liz Friedman's words I kept saying to myself, 'Then why should I continue to watch?'

From their gloomy perspective, why bother? I don't understand how you continue to write to push a narrative forward if the conclusion is always a brick wall?

[Lisa]

With the exception of, Three Stories, Birthmarks, and Son of a Coma Guy, we have been starving for stories about HOW House became this tragically, emotionally crippled man. The story of House and Cuddy since season one, was not about sexual tension - although it certainly was enjoyable to watch - it was about TRUST.

Sadly, the opportunity to learn more about this complex character House through the lens of a relationship with Cuddy was reduced to cliche. These characters have so much weight, and we got so much fluff.

I loved the dream sequences, and Hugh Laurie's portrayal of this character is without question, stunning. (so many Emmy's owed...)

But, I am sadly disappointed and long for the in the scripts that could have been. The writers need to rewatch House from the beginning because this script did not reflect the story I've been told through their words since season one.

[ann]

Unfortunate that the writers do not care what the fans think..it is the fans that will keep the show on the air or not keep it on the air....
There ought to be hope not hopelessness for people...

[Anna]

Where do I begin? I am ok with Cuddy and House breaking up. The story line this year was flat!!! I didn't care for the addition of the youngest female doctor to his team ... boring. It was like having a teenager at an adult party. We all know what House is about - House is selfish, brilliant, weak as a human being but a great doctor. I started watching the show because of the medical stories and his interaction with his team. I didn't like having someone constantly remind him of the being truthful etc... he isn't entirely moral and I like that.

Now as far as relationships on the show - I think this reflects on the writers. They can write brilliant story lines for House as a two-dimensional doctor who is a menace to himself and others. But will they ever House truly face his demons without the VICODIN or a therapist or a friend or Cuddy? I would love to see House just go at it alone - mano- amono with himeself without any props; where he either realizes that maybe he has something lacking or that he needs someone in his life other than hinself. If you look at House, he is narcisstic - why not address that issue that so many people suffer from or that he may have Aspergers or it could be as simple as his continuing to struggle with himself and growing through a number of three-dimensional relationships with other actors.

This show's characters are two dimensional and the writers ought to step and create full characters that we truly love watching. Cuddy's role was protrayed terribly - my God she is a Dean and head of the hospital - why make her into brainless sex kitten with House fawning over her?? It's insulting to women and men. The show is becoming more like House - everyting revolving around him. I would love to see the other characters develop personal relationships. I am also tired of the formula of having House be such a genious that he can toss a ball against a wall and come up with a diagnosis. I might like it better if the rest of the show was more entertaining. I love the actors and I think they could do more if they had the right script. Please no more child doctors bring back Olivia and Cameron's ex. Let's have House get over Cuddy and bring a new fresh partner for him - perhaps who is not so needy in character as Cuddy.

[Anna]

Oh another thought - Why don't the writers find a partner for House who is his equal, a female House his age with medical creds like his, wonderfully witty and driven as he is and someone who will keep him interested beyond his wild imagination. Cuddy is a school boy's crush. House needs an equal. Someone who can challange him in the hospital and someone who can drive him crazy.

He can't be domesticated and that's what we love about him - so why try to domesticate him like Cuddy? I like the friendship aspect with Cuddy , House and his other freind. I think it would be fun to watch Cuddy try to manage two crazy doctors versus one and have her jealous at the same time. We need a triangle with House finally giving up his crush to truly embrace his darker sides and then by accepting himself becoming a better human being.

You writers have such great actors, plum their psyche's to see what makes them who they are and then totally have fun with various sides to their personas. Cameron is such a cutie - he hasn't had one real date .. where is his chararcter going - what about Foreman .. you guys are killing it with lousy character developmemt for all the cast members. Hire me to be your creative director!

[stoogz]

i dont get why you people are all bitching...I have been watching this show for 7 years now and the whole relationship was believable. Hate to break it to you but people make mistakes. In the real world love is not enough. Cuddy needed someone to be there for her and she realized when she thought she was dying that house was not it. Im sorry to offend the "Huddy" fans out there but it was quite clear that she finally came to grips that she needed someone better than house. She was leaving her child to her sister when she died. That shows right there that she did not believe house was father material. Whatever dream world you guys live in where love trumps all need to snap back to reality. How have your relationships worked out when you love each other but that is all? exactly. Well done Liz and Sara people change but not because they want too, only because some other person wants them too. think about it, would you change who you are from day to day for some random reason or because the person you loved wanted you too? Motivation is needed to change. And for the record, house is not back to his season one self, there is something different although i dont know what it is yet the upcoming shows will definitely show you another side of house. you can believe that.

[Grimm]

I like the way house is going personally. I knew it was a matter of time before house was going to use again. I also thought that they gave some hints about he would use again. Like most addcts they do ok untill "something happeneds" then they go running back. Its the cycle of addiction. Its only when they finally want help accept help get help and understand they cant do it alone and accept help of others do they even have a chances. House only went to the psych ward because of his hallucinations, but not because he wanted to quit his addiction. He just accepted that he had to quit his addiction to stop hullucinations. But this time he has to stop because he wants to stop. He cant stop so he can get with cuddy or so he can continue to be a Doctor but because he wants to change he wants to stop. But this is just my opinion and how i see house going.

[Z Beringwood]

I'm a HUGE House fan, have seen every episode at least twice and own every DVD. I was so pleased in Season 6 to see the beautiful and real way they dealt with House's problem, which had obviously gotten out of control. I thought that the writers had realized that House had reached a point where they didn't need him to be a miserable pill popper in order to be an interesting character. And even sober and in love I was still loving the show and I saw so many possibilities for the future. House and Cuddy used to love playing tricks and games on each other; as a couple I would have loved seeing more of this. Instead they had an ULTIMATE COP OUT by making him lonely and on drugs again in 45 minutes. Sorry, while a breakup due to House's problem may very well have been an eventuality, to do it so quickly and with so little thought was truly a disgrace to the show and a slap in the face to the faithful viewer. I am not a big TV person. I only watch House. I look forward to it every week, and I am very afraid that my Dr. House days are done. I know that the writers are saying that they don't care what I think, but I'm not alone here. I don't know anybody more into House than me, and for me to say I'm done is a big deal. If they want to deal with his problem in a real way, that is great with me. But to have a 45 minute program mostly shot in dream sequence take away all the work of season 6 and put us back to season 1 is a real shame. Face it, they weren't dealing with House's problems in a realistic way.....the writers obviously just felt that the work it took to handle the tough issues was too much. I hope they all enjoy their extra vacation time, if many more people feel like me it may become permanent.

[Pamela]

I have been a big house fan since day one with every season on my shelf. "No one can touch my house" I kind of expected the break-up I did not believe that House would be happy or feel like he belonged for long, but you almost gave me a MASSIVE HEARTATTACH looking at house on that balcony. My heart was beating out of my chest and I instantly started crying. I think I spilled something when he started to fall. Yeah I am going to need you to never never never take me to that place again. I will be a fan forever. Hugh Laurie I have loved you in everything so; fan until there is nothing else to listen to or watch.

[Terri]

I have read most of the comments and find it hard to believe die hard House fans cannot figure out the genius behind the journey the writers are letting us take with them. Did you ever consider that Cuddy broke up with House because he would rather be with her, than be a great doctor? What else accounts for the lame reason she gave. She is that selfless and will not be the reason for his demise as a great doctor. Thought #2, House is really not taking Vicodan as he wants us all to think and this includes Cuddy, Wilson and his team? He is pushing himself to see what are his real boundaries and how he can prove to all that indeed he has changed. I feel by the closing of yet another season, we will all be surprized and in a way duped as the writers and those of us that follow House know this show never fails to disappoint. There is a method to the writers madness so take the ride and see that too many of you were quick to judge!

[Househunter2]

Can somebody at Fox let the fans enjoy the awesome fox show and let the romance ride it out for more than a second. between house and bones....... ugh. I am not say the writing isn't brilliant, just give us what we want----the romance...the cuddy/house (and wilson) connection has been some of the funniest episodes ever..... please please please use your writing talents for good.