St. Elsewhere, one of my all time favorite TV shows, debuted when I was pregnant with our son and ended when our daughter was in utero. The quirky story lines, the antics of the talent-laden cast (including Mark Harmon, Denzel Washington, Ed Flanders, Howie Mandel, Ed Bagley, Jr.), and irreverent tone were perfect medicine during the years when our son was hospitalized more times than we can count. Maybe it was gallows humor, but one scene with the reoccurring patient, Mrs. Hufnagel (played by Florence Halop) and the belly laughs started coming.
This fall, somebody thought I might like House. (Yes, the show’s been on for several seasons, but I’ve never been a quick study.) Since it stars Hugh Laurie, a favorite actor of our whole family since we first saw his rubber face on Masterpiece Theater’s Jeeves (Steven Fry) and Wooster (Hugh Laurie) series. One episode, and I was a fan. House has the perfect balance of medical finesse, multi-dimensional characters and humor.
No doubt, some of you are incredulous. What about ER or Gray’s Anatomy or even Scrubs? Well, ER’s too blood and guts for my squeamish stomach, and Gray’s Anatomy is too much soap opera. Scrubs tickles my funny bone sometimes, but parodies get old fast.
But Hugh Laurie as the crotchety, pain pill popping, and brilliant diagnostician is fascinating. His character, so different from the vacuous 1920s socialite Bertie Wooster he portrayed convincingly, proves his acting ability. My hope is to watch the previous seasons and see how the series develops, so I have plenty to keep me busy.
St. Elsewhere kept me sane during our son’s medical adventure. Maybe House will keep me sane during what is shaping up to be a very cold, snowy and lengthy winter. If that happens, Hugh Laurie gets my vote for sainthood.
St. Housewhere. Has a nice ring, don’t you think?
