Season 4
Dr. Gregory House is devoid of bedside manner and wouldn't even talk to his patients if he could get away with it. Dealing with his own constant physical pain, he uses a cane that seems to punctuate his acerbic, brutally honest demeanour.
While his behaviour can border on antisocial, House is a brilliant diagnostician whose unconventional thinking and flawless instincts afford him a great deal of respect.
An infectious disease specialist, he thrives on the challenge of solving medical puzzles in order to save lives.
For the past three seasons, House has shepherded an elite team of young experts who helped him unravel diagnostic mysteries. In addition, he has a good friend and confidant in oncology specialist Dr. James Wilson.
There's some volatile chemistry between House and Dr. Lisa Cuddy, the Dean of Medicine and hospital administrator; the two are in constant conflict over House's duties and unconventional behaviour, but even she would admit that his brilliance is worth the trouble.
In the Season 3 finale, the set-in-his-ways House was confronted with a series of major changes to his team.
Neurologist Dr. Eric Foreman left Princeton Plainsboro because he didn't want to turn into House; House randomly fired old-money intensivist Dr. Robert Chase, claiming he learned everything he's going to learn in the past three years, or nothing at all; and immunologist Dr. Allison Cameron resigned, knowing House will be completely unaffected by her decision.
As Season Four opens, House is without a team to contribute to the perplexing medical cases he undertakes, and Cuddy and Wilson are adamant that he recruit new fellowship candidates.
After 40 applicants applied for the newly vacated spots on his team, a group of five doctors - played by Olivia Wilde, Kal Penn, Peter Jacobson, Anne Dudek and Edi Gathegi - have emerged as finalists vying for the coveted and hotly contested openings.
House is from Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with Universal Television.
Katie Jacobs, David Shore, Paul Attanasio, Bryan Singer, Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner, Thomas L. Moran, Peter Blake, Greg Yaitanes and Hugh Laurie are executive producers.