Comments on: The Best Show On Television: Echoes of The Fall and Glimpses of Grace in “House, M.D.”

By: Tim Enloe

Tim Enloe — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Outstanding essay! Though I haven’t seen any of the shows you mention, you made them come alive for me and explained quite vividly what might be called their “presuppositional” dependence on the Christian story. Thanks so much for writing this!

By: Daniel Whitfield

Daniel Whitfield — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

When I saw Hugh Laurie was playing a heavy in a TV show, I was astounded. The foppish prince from Black Adder? Bertram Wooster? How could he possibly pull it off? I vowed to watch the show.

However, I never watch TV and I never can remind myself to turn it on for House or any other show. I guess my only hope is if it comes out on DVD.

By: Caine

Caine — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

I too discovered and have become “addicted” to “House, MD.” I found a different role for House than what you have expounded: that of Prophet. Often the prophets were declared unruly, subversive, and rude as they presented Israel with the unruly, subversive, and rude truth.

I see House at war with Powers and Principalities, not only those of illness and death, but the destructive lies of hospital bureaucracies. His refusal to give a speach in honor of a new drug developed by his board of directors’ company was only partly due to his dislike of being told what to do. Another part, shown in the speech he did give, exposed the mammon worship behind the supposed “gift” of $100 million. It was being used to push drug improvements that were little better than their predecessors but would ultimately raise medical costs needlessly to everyone. It was used to test drug therapies using that same company’s drugs, using only patients that would slant the statistics in the company’s favor.

In short, House would give good company to Ezekiel and Amos. And as House shows, being a prophet is a lonely and painful adventure.

By: Momma K

Momma K — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

I really enjoy House, Without a Trace and the CSIs—have you seen Numb3rs? Nice relationship between father & 2 sons–one a Math professor and one an FBI agent.

By: Irenicum

Irenicum — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

THAT Hugh Laurie! Oh my goodness, I knew I recognized him from somewhere! As a confirmed Anglophile, I love Bertie and Blackadder. I really miss Millenium too, it was so dark. Excellent essay.

By: One Salient Oversight

One Salient Oversight — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Hmmmm, Imonk’s a closet Millennium fan!

These links might interest you:

http://www.fourthhorseman.com/Abyss/

http://www.fourthhorseman.com/Abyss/Fiction/VS4.htm (a “4th season” created by fans – I wrote many of the reviews)

My favourite episode was “Somehow Satan got behind me” – where four demons sit in a coffee shop talking about how they work on getting people damned… and how much better the work was in the “good old days”.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Just linked in today from Amy Welborn’s. I haven’t seen any of the shows you mention either, but, man, you sure can write!

I will definitely be back for more.

By: Julie D.

Julie D. — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

I don’t think that you can make a case for House being a prophet because he answers to no one but himself. The fact that he is stubbornly honest is a prophet-like quality but he is not always honest (such as with Cameron) and there is no higher authority to call him to reckoning. He is going it all alone …

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

“House” has just started over here in the UK – first show this week. Will be watching. Thanks for your insights. We are also loyal to the three CSI’s, Cold Case and Without a Trace.

By: Mark Kasper

Mark Kasper — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

“how people REALLY talked and REALLY act could never be published by a major evangelical publisher. This doesn’t just extend to saying “golly gee darn, Bob,” but to the portrayal of realistic characters”

I think that a lot of people are frankly not interested in watching “realism” on TV after living it day after day. Our friends, our neighbors, and our family members are far more realistic than anything that could be observed on TV. The day-in, day-out misery of life is not made more bearable by seeing others immersed in it fictionally or realistically. Is it somehow rewarding to know my neighbor’s son is just as messed up on drugs as my own? Is it somehow relieving to know that people other than my own parents are divorced?

There is a reason that Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings are so popular. They aren’t about us. We live so intensely in our own lives, so self-obsessed with our problems and the struggles of life, that we just get so tired of the narcissism and want a break from ourselves.

Some might call it escapism, but I’ll have to ask: “Do you have a bed? Do you ever sleep in it?”