TVSquad

Rules are meant to be broken... especially for these ten television characters. For them, the rest of the world has one standard to live by and they have another. It makes them interesting and fun to watch... you just wouldn't necessarily want to be the person having to deal with them because they could drive you to distraction. Here's my ten pack of characters who live in a world of their own, according to no rules except their own. From the not-too-bad to the really bad.

10. Patrick Jane, The Mentalist
You would think that as a consultant to the CBI -- California Bureau of Investigation -- Patrick Jane would be compelled to uphold the rules and regulations of the department. However, Jane is a free spirit when it comes to office protocol. He does his own thing. For instance, bugging the office of a CBI higher-up is definitely not kosher. Jane doesn't care; he did it anyway and will probably get away with it.

I have a problem with procedurals. I tend to get bored with the same formula week in and week out. And yet, I've been enjoying House for years, despite the incredibly repetitive sequence of events we get every week. The reason for that is because of the brilliance of the character Gregory House, and Hugh Laurie's portrayal of him.

As Jonathan mentioned in his review of House's season premiere, this two-hour trip into the insane asylum broke the procedural formula completely. Not only did we not see House cure any medical ailments, we didn't see the rest of the cast at all, save a quick cameo by Wilson. Instead, we got a character study and a major breakthrough for House.

But a breakthrough is a beginning. What if the show, like the character, had a transformation of its own? How about a medical-based drama instead of a medical procedural? We can still have cases and House diagnosing them, but dump the weekly formula and instead make it about the characters and their lives.

Hey, Fox! Would you rather lose Hugh Laurie as the curmudgeon Dr. House, or would you rather risk what could happen to the show if he lost that trademark limp? He's been limping around the set for five years now. He's no spring chicken, and the limp is starting to take such a toll on his body, that Laurie might consider leaving House over it.

"The show might last through to (season) seven, eight or nine, but I don't know if I will because I'm starting to lose my knees," he said. "It's a lot of hip work. There are things going badly wrong." I've been reading for a few years now about how the limp has been affecting Laurie's actual health and physical well-being. I don't see why Fox doesn't just resolve this problem by eliminating the limp.

I know the chronic pain is supposed to be a facet of his character, but it's season six now. The viewers like him and can accept him as he grows and changes. We'd certainly rather deal with a pain-free House than a House-free TV schedule.

The fine art of interrogation may seem lost thanks to suspects lawyering up and the Miranda warning. Whatever happened to the days when a snarling cop could throw a perp against a brick wall to get him to squeal? Or a sly questioner could finagle a confession by laying on a guilt trip? Still, there are some very clever, brilliant interrogators plying their trade on these days. In fact, when you look at these eight interrogators, you'll probably agree that they know just how to get to the truth. Here are the eight top interrogators on TV today:

8. Captain James Brass, CSI
Brass is the most "old school" of all these interrogators. He's like Andy Sipowicz from NYPD Blue, only without the violence. Brass talks to suspects with a modicum of respect, but a healthy cynicism. He's seen it all and knows the truth is in there somewhere. He asks questions and waits for them to trip themselves up. When they do, he has them write it down. Despite the laconic attitude, Brass has the brass to get the job done.

I adore Carl Reiner. There. I said it. What are you going to do about it? No, seriously, if there's another actor/writer/director/producer in show business who's made me laugh more than Mr. Reiner, I can't think of him/her right now. He's been one of Hollywood's prime time jewels for six decades. So, the news that Carl Reiner is guesting on the House season finale makes me very, very happy.

According to the House powers that be, Mr. Reiner will be a clinic patient at Princeton Plainsboro, and his interaction is slated to be with Dr. Cuddy. Good for Lisa Edelstein!

Random House defines outrageous as highly unusual or unconventional; extravagant; remarkable. It's as though they've been watching TV, and wrote their definition to fit some of the crazy characters on television shows today.

Oh, don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining. I love these larger-than-life characters, played to perfection by the talented actors who grace these roles. Some fit in perfectly with their surroundings, others stand out like a sore thumb amongst castmates. One thing they all have in common, though, is that watching them is pure entertainment.

Patrick Jane (played by Simon Baker on The Mentalist)
Jane doesn't quite have the social graces to blend into society, and that's why I love him. The frumpy suits, the obnoxious antics, and the constant pushing of the envelope make for some good TV. From card counting in the casino to reading Lisbon's mind; hypnotizing suspects to making a sandwich in a victim's home, Jane's done it all. Unconventional, to say the least.

...Nine foreign Americans

With all of the starry-eyed, out-of-work Midwesterners who litter Sunset Blvd., one would assume that our television landscape would be similarly populated with corn-fed blonds. You would, however, be wrong. In fact, there are a ton of non-Americans who have come to Hollywood to take all of our primetime show-starring jobs.

What's fun for me is watching the shows to see who does a good version of an American accent, and who needs to spend a little more time with their dialect coaches. Below are nine stars who've jumped the pond to come to the good ol' U. S. of A.

Let's get nostalgic for a moment, shall we? Well, as nostalgic as you can get for shows that premiered only three and four years ago. Wouldn't you like to relive the first time you saw Gregory House berate a staffer over at Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital? Or, watch one of Temperance Brennan's first
"official" pairings with Seeley Booth? And, rather than watching it on DVD, uninterrupted, wouldn't you like to review these moments on network television, complete with commercials and constant reminders that American Idol is premiering very, very soon?

Well, FOX is giving you that chance on January 8th as it airs "encores" (aka: repeats) of the House and Bones pilot episodes. This will give new and old viewers a chance to see how their beloved characters looked and acted in the very beginning, and how they grew (or not) as their respective series progressed. It's also a chance to watch these two shows in proper Tuesday night order before the schedule is ripped asunder by the monster known as American Idol.

'Tis the season to be thankful and, more particularly, to perform an inventory of what we are thankful for. The list can be a bit overwhelming, so I'm happy to parse it down to what I am thankful about television-- and not just what's on the air now (which is fortunate, considering the current WGA strike).

(S04E07) All right, back in the saddle! Thanks to the wonderful and beautiful Jen Creer for taking over the last two weeks. I will be guiding you through the world that is House this week and next. Then, who knows? If the gods of television are listening everyone will come to their senses and the Writer's strike will be over before Christmas.

If not, well then you'll see reviews of Marcus Welby, M.D. every Tuesday at this time. Let's pray that the strike is over soon.

I can't remember when I have enjoyed a research project more. We have an opportunity to create our own lists of the hottest guys on TV today, and let me tell you: It was not easy. We originally had 30 men on our list (thirty-one if you count our top guy, but you'll have to click to Kristin's post to find out where to see who he is!), but we were asked to pare them down to ... three apiece?!

Here are my three. Well, I suppose you get a big clue as to one of them right here and now, but I couldn't resist putting up this photo. Yum! You will notice that my tastes don't run strictly to candy: I have someone who is not quite human; a self-admitted asshole; and an arrogant coward. Come to think about it, you could apply these descriptions to all three of my guys, but I love 'em anyway!

(S04E01) Look to your left. Now, look to your right. By the end of the six weeks one of you will be gone . . . as well as 28 more of you. Wear a cup. -- Dr. Gregory House

With that ominous statement I welcome you to House 2.0, otherwise known as season four of the medical drama. As you all know by now there was a bit of, er, housecleaning (wait for groans to subside) during the season three finale. That's when Doctors Foreman and Cameron resigned and Dr. Chase was fired (don't worry, they begin to return in other roles as the new season progresses). This has left House quite alone. And, while he's quite content about it the rest of the administrative staff at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital wants to see old Greg establish a new team.

There's nothing spectacular about the House, M.D. - Season Three DVD box set that will be released on Tuesday. Sure, it features the entire season on five discs, and it does have some all right extras (which we'll talk about in a moment). However, all in all, it's not much different than any other TV on DVD box set you would find on the market. Well, except for this . . .

By buying this DVD set you will have in your hands the complete last season of House before everything changes. If you are a fan of the show, or a reader of TV Squad, you know that the three Fellows that Dr. Gregory House has verbally abused over the last three seasons are moving ahead in their lives. As the fourth season begins they will be replaced with a whole new bunch of people for House to mold. What does this mean to you? Well, in one year you'll either be saying 'Gosh, season three was so much better' or 'The fourth season was the greatest one that has ever been aired on television!'. Only time and a season premiere will tell.

Three out, five in. With the resignations of Doctors Eric Foreman and Alison Cameron and the firing of Doctor Robert Chase during the third season finale of House there isn't really anyone that Gregory House can abuse anymore. Don't despair, though, because five new actors are joining the cast of the FOX medical procedural for House to play with like a puppy's chew toy mold into fine healers.

Being added for the fourth season (which begins on September 25th) are Olivia Wilde (The Black Donnellys), Kal Penn (24, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle), Peter Jacobson (The Starter Wife, Transformers), Anne Dudek (Big Day, Bones) and Edi Gathegi (Lincoln Heights). They will all be in recurring roles for a undetermined amount of episodes; however, I have a feeling if one of their characters clicks with the viewing public they may be promoted to full-time status.

(S03E23) Well, I guess we don't have to worry about Piper Perabo for the moment, at least. But seriously, folks. With revelations (both here in Spoilers Anonymous and in the comments) that Omar Epps' character, Foreman, wouldn't be leaving House next season, combined with what happened this week, are we thinking that he'll actually stay on board as a doc on House's staff, or will he only remain as just a recurring character who works at the same hospital, or elsewhere? Inquiring minds want to know, and cliffhanger or not next week, I'm presuming we'll get the answer to that question. I mean, how long can one show stretch out someone's two weeks' notice?