"House" vs. "The Wire"

I think every pop culture fan has their favorite award show travesty (Mariesa Tomei anyone?). One of mine happened at this year's Emmy Awards. In the Writing for a Drama Series category an episode of "House" ("Three Patients") beat out a episode of "The Wire" ("Middle Ground").

Yeah, it's crazy.

Everytime anyone writes anything about "The Wire" they write that it's a novel for television. To read it in every article does get tiring but it's an apt description. You have to watch it from the beginning and pay close attention cause they're not stopping if you can't keep up. It's complex, entertaining and genuinely moving television.

If "House", on the other hand, were a novel it would be one produced by the Strathmeyer Syndicate (the folks who brought us Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys)- it's that formulaic. Every episode, with one exception, follows a rigid pattern. Dr House is called upon to diagnose a mystery illness with the help of his three young impossibly good looking minions. There are two or three wrong turns, House says a few incrediably callous things that cause everyone to gasp (they really do) but then there is one moment where his kindness is revealed so we know he's really a softie at heart. The one exception to this template is our Emmy winner. It cleverly breaks the pattern, tells us how House became a cripple and even features a cameo by Carmen Electra in golf clothes. Now that is tough to beat.

I'm not saying "House" is all bad-Hugh Laurie is fantastic and carries off the role with his usual aplomb-it's just not award worthy writing that's all.