The End Of House Is Near

Producers David Shore, Katie Jacobs and series star Hugh Laurie made an official statement late Wednesday, where they announced Dr. House’s 8th season will be its last.

A total of 177 episodes will have been produced by the end of the show, “about 175 more than anyone expected back in 2004,” (when the show started) said the statement. “The decision to end the show now, or ever, is a painful one…because the show itself has been a source of great pride to everyone involved.”

House suffered a drastic change this season, since the sudden departure of series regular Lisa Edelstein. Ratings dropped, but House was still one of TV’s most popular medical dramas, especially in Canada.

“Should this be the last season, it’s not going to be an unceremonious finish,” Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly told reporters in January. “This is not going to be a case of the pink slip goes out and that’s the end of House. We agreed mutually to put a decision off until after the first of the year. It’s no secret. Last year, we said it was going to be a close call.”

(MS)