The TV cranny doesn't hold with using its valuable space to constantly convey the burbling enthusiasm of people in the TV racket. The yada-yada interview kinda thing. There are exceptions, of course. Like when the author (that's me) leaves town and meets interesting people in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Halifax or St. John's. Especially if their name is Doyle. That's a given.
Another exception might be the chap in charge of one of the biggest shows in the universe of shows. Thus, when I was invited to talk to David Shore, creator and boss of House (usually on Fox, Mondays, but there's baseball event of note pre-empting it tonight), I said yes. Shore is in Toronto later this week to host an event for the charity Ve'ahavta and introduce Bob Geldof there.
The thing about Shore, a Canadian, is that he doesn't do much in the way of giving interviews and making speeches. He's busy with the series, one that is seen in so many countries that, two years ago, it was named the most popular show on the planet. And, well, since the whole Dr.-House-loves-Cuddy thing erupted this season on House, certain questions need to be asked.
The lovey-dovey relationship between the pathologically sarcastic Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) and the always strong, calm Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), has unnerved some fans of the show. They brood about it online. Some are outraged.
"I tend to avoid the online comments," Shore says on the phone from L.A. "If they're good, you shrug. If they're negative, you shrug. Can't please everybody. I think the relationship is a natural and worthwhile development for the characters and the show. It was in the cards from the start. Maybe not from day one of House, but from day three or four. Having said that, I acknowledge that this season started differently. The episodes subsequent to the opening have put us back in our wheelhouse, though. House is still House, Cuddy is still Cuddy. It's been fun to explore the relationship. It's about whether people can change. And in the case of House, it's all about him changing. It's about him striving to be happy and make others happy."
I can't not ask Shore about the House-as-Holmes issue. Before the BBC series Sherlock arrived in North America, its creative team made a point of saying that a Sherlock Holmes figure has existed on U.S. television for years now - Dr. House.
So I asked, "How conscious are you of House as a Sherlock Holmes-in-a-hospital setting?"
"There is a similarity, certainly. Holmes was an inspiration and we've never hidden that. It's House and Wilson, instead of Holmes and Watson. His [House's]musical nature is a coincidence. His drug addiction is a coincidence. Dr. House's essential nature is to use reason and deduction as opposed to emotion. That's Holmes too. I'm fine with the similarities. We've even dropped big hints about that."
About his gig for the charity Ve'ahavta, Shore is self-deprecating. Asked why he's the host for a big fundraising event when he rarely makes public appearances, he says: "A friend explained the charity's work to me a few years ago and I became a supporter. Last year they honoured me with an award and, apparently, I made a humorous speech. This is a charity about the phrase 'repair the world.' It supports hospitals and delivers medical supplies in many countries. That's why Bob Geldof is speaking this year. He's a shining example of somebody doing what they don't actually have to do - make the world a little better. I'm not particularly religious but I believe in that, and admire Geldof a lot. To him, I just want to say, 'Thank you.'"
And are his beliefs reflected in his work on House? "I think so. Dr. House is not a perfect person, but he's striving."
Shore's career in television began in Canada, working on Traders, Due South and other local productions. Does he, by any chance, pay attention to Canadian TV these days? "I watch Hockey Night in Canada all the time," he says, laughing. "I've got the hockey package on my TV service. But, no I don't have a lot of time to study what's happening in Canadian TV. I meet Canadians working all the time in L.A. And I mean, all the time. That's my main connection, apart from visiting family in Canada."
Most people in the TV business are working on several projects simultaneously, always developing something new. Is there anything Shore is involved in outside of the House series?
"I should be working on more, but House takes up all my time. Last year I delivered a new version of The Rockford Files to NBC. It didn't work out. But it won't die. I hope it comes back, that project, and I have a feeling it will. You know, this is just a great time to be involved in television. There are so many excellent shows. I watch Modern Family with my own family and the quality of the writing is wonderful. There are so many shows I want to see every week. If I'm invited to see a movie, my first thought is the day and time. What show am I going to miss? I can PVR it, but maybe I want to see the show when it airs, not later. I'd rather see the show, usually."
Then Shore went back to work on House, which will return when the big baseball thing is over.
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By the way, In Treatment (HBO Canada, 9 p.m.) continues beautifully. Last week I suggested that the sessions between Paul (Gabriel Byrne) and patient Frances (Debra Winger) were exquisite. But it's the sessions featuring patient Sunil (Irrfan Khan, from Slumdog Millionaire) that are truly, gloriously good. Sunil is the first of two episodes airing tonight.
Check local listings.