Oscar and Felix, Joey and Chandler. Sponge Bob and Patrick. Over the years, television has served up some stupendous "bromances." But it wasn't until a women got between them last season that we realized how big a man crush Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) has on his longtime Princeton-Plainsboro colleague, Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard). The deeply awkward triangle between House, Wilson and Wilson's girlfriend, Amber (Anne Dudek), unleashed so many sloppy emotions, there was no choice but to kill poor Amber off.
The dying scene, which closed season 4, was one of House's most poignant moments. But because the brilliant curmudgeon had a tangential role in her death, it also sent ripples into this season. House is wracked with guilt. Wilson, still in mourning, wants nothing to do with him. House seems desperate to get his only real friend back, and he's even been fishing pathetically for replacements in other colleagues and the potential House spin-off private-eye character, Lucas (Michael Weston). But as Wilson prepared to leave House's side forever in this season's opening episodes, the chemistry between doctors remained as charged as any two straight guys could allow it to be. So charged, in fact, we needed to stop by the set to let Laurie and Leonard talk out their feelings about their characters and each other—man-to-man-to-magazine, as it were. On October 14, the death of House's father causes him more angst—and we'll learn how our boys first met. We begin with the foremost question on every House fan's mind.
Gentlemen, can this bromance be saved? Leonard: [Groans loudly] Is everyone obsessed with homosexuality? Wait, we weren't suggesting... Laurie: No, no, let's talk about it. Wilson and House have an unusual relationship so you have to explore all angles. It's not simple buddydom. House and Wilson clearly care about each other and even House has joked about it [House once blurted to former girlfriend Stacy (Sela Ward) that being gay would explain a lot about his own behavior: "No girlfriend, always with Wilson, the obsession with sneakers..."]. But, no, I don't think they're... Leonard: Thank you. I mean, not that there's anything wrong with that. Laurie: I think House and Wilson are closer to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. What was that relationship, after all? Was it a marriage? They weren't just two guys on horses. They couldn't live without each other, that's for sure. Leonard: I agree. Or look at Cesar Millan and Daddy. Laurie: I beg you pardon? Leonard: You know, the Dog Whisperer guy and his pit bull. They have a special bond. But the question was... Leonard: Oh, yes, our bromance, can it be saved? Laurie: To be serious for a moment, I think House is embracing the bromance, actually. Leonard: Can you be serious and still use the word bromance? Laurie: Yes, because what we're seeing this season is how vulnerable House really is. I think it's fascinating to watch House pursuing Wilson. He needs him, and I suppose he's revealed himself more than ever this year precisely because he's so needy. Despite House's vaunted independence and grumbled disdain for humanity, we're seeing that he's a man with real human emotion. What exactly is the need that Wilson satisfies in House? Leonard: Why do all your questions sound vaguely dirty? Laurie: Let me answer the question. One thing House needs Wilson for is vanity. He needs someone to laugh at his jokes. If a tree falls in the forest and Wilson doesn't hear it, does it make a noise? House needs an audience as much as he needs patients for his clinical skills. And I should point out, the jokes aren't simple comic relief. They're quite profound. House's ability to find humor in the absurd, whether it's during an influenza outbreak, let's say, or in the privacy of his own mind, helps House cope with the daily traffic of human misery that runs through the hospital. And he needs Wilson to be the foil for those thoughts. Leonard: It's sort of the way Hawkeye and Trapper John used to work on M*A*S*H. Hawkeye was more audacious, but he needed the grounded one, Trapper, to be fully understood.
"Robert exudes an almost invisible aura of wit, intelligence and kindness, but also has that necessary streak of sarcasm, and that's what makes this show work"
Laurie: Wilson and House are so equals the way those characters were. Leonard: Exactly. Wilson's the one person in House's life who doesn't have any power over him or whom he doesn't have power over. He didn't hire Wilson. Wilson didn't hire House. There's a freedom in that which is essential to telling the story. It's a relationship chosen by House, not by employment. Laurie: And I must pay a compliment here to Robert. Leonard: Oh, no, you mustn't. OK, go ahead. Laurie: Robert exudes an almost invisible aura of wit, intelligence and kindness, but also has that necessary streak of sarcasm, and that's what makes this show work. I was watching a scene with Robert and Lisa Edelstein recently and thought, these are the two actors I most want to watch on television. Leonard: Wow. I'm touched. Laurie: In fact, and Robert may fight me on this one, but I believe this show is at heart about Wilson, not House. Leonard: I object, your Honor! Laurie: It's Wilson's view of the world that lets the viewer in. it's his levelheaded narration, as it were, that provides a backbone for the show. As in the Sherlock Holmes stories, where Watson was writing about "my brilliant friend" of "my brilliant, annoying friend," it's the same thing. House is the acerbic outsider. It's Wilson who runs the place. At some point when I go, "I'm out," the show will indeed become Wilson's. Does that mean Wilson isn't leaving the show anytime soon, even though he's resigning form the hospital? Laurie: Did I just give something away? Oh, dear. I hope not. Leonard: I wasn't going to stop you. Robert, here's your chance to return the compliment. What does Hugh bring to this role? Leonard: It's funny. I read stories like these where actors talk about each other, and I always think, "ffff! That person's lying." So nobody's going to believe me when I say this, but I believe Hugh is House. And frankly, as an actor, I don't believe anyone. I watch actors on show like Law & Order... Laurie: Careful, Robert, careful... Leonard: What?! I love Law & Order. It's one of the only shows I watch! But as an actor I don't believe those are lawyers. I know they're remembering lines. "Did the district attorney ever turn the, uh, subpoenas?" Aha! You forgot the word "subpoena" for a second! And they act like they're being "human," but really they just had an actor's mind fart. Hugh's the opposite. When this man gets going, Dr. House is suddenly alive. He may be scowling but he's alive. And let's not even talk about the fact that Hugh's a Brit doing the part with an American accent. He's got a true gift. I feel like I'm working with Carroll O'Connor. Laurie: My God, this is turning into a bromance. Where's this friendship headed this season? Leonard: Certainly Amber's death has changed Things between them and will continue to affect that relationship. My favorite moment of any House episode was in the scene on the bus last season with House and Amber. He's telling her in that dream moment that he doesn't want to get off the bus because he doesn't want Wilson to hate him. To me, that's the most naked House has been in five years. He's like a 7-year-old at that point. I found it really touching. I like that we're seeing this new side to House. "My favorite moment of any House episode was in the scene on the bus last season with House and Amber. He's telling her in that dream moment that he doesn't want to get off the bus because he doesn't want Wilson to hate him. To me, that's the most naked House has been in five years" Laurie: I do think if House and Wilson are able to get through this period, their bond will be stronger than ever. There's a line coming up that sums up where they're at. I won't give too much away, but House characterizes their relationship with a phrase and Wilson repeats it: "Still not boring." Which means? Laurie: It's a rather male way of saying, "We have something special. Whatever else may happen, what we have is never dull." Leonard: Are you getting misty-eyed, Hugh? Laurie: [Sniffling] No. No! Never. Are you guys friends in real life? For instance, Robert, have you been to Hugh's house? Leonard: Yes. [Awkward silence.] Leonard: How can you possibly follow up on that question? Laurie: Do you want to know how long he stayed? Leonard: All I remember is there were scented candles and Hugh came out in a robe. Laurie: That's a lie! Leonard: Hey, I was just trying to make it sound, you know, bromantic.
ffff! That person's lying." So nobody's going to believe me when I say this, but I believe Hugh is House. And frankly, as an actor, I don't believe anyone. I watch actors on show like Law & Order...
