'House' 4.2 - Scottsdale brat

What a huge bummer to find out that Cameron and Chase hadn't really moved to Scottsdale (480 shoutout what what), it was just a playful gambit on the part of one James Wilson. I was all excited to call them up, maybe take in dinner at Cowboy Ciao or hit Martini Ranch, then grab some late night grub at Mickey's Hangover. Pity.

This was a really super great episode, with plenty of comic relief from the team of wannabes (referring to them exclusively by number sorta reminded me of "Gossip Girl" characters calling each other "S" and "B"). A black Mormon, wha? It stretches believability somewhat that a dude with no medical degree could get that far in the interview process, but I guess House was serious about not reading resumes.

Looks like Kal Penn is going to be a series regular - I knew he had that bold, experimental style that House was looking for! Good for him, I mean, between this and the will hotly anticipated "Harold & Kumar 2," we're in a new era of Penntasticness. But it also sounds pretty awkward, given that it doesn't exactly take a world-renowned diagnostician to see that Chase, Cameron and Foreman will be back on staff soon.

'House' 4.1 - Not accustomed to your face

The first "House" without Foreman, Cameron and Chase - definitely didn't have any of those people in it.

That's surprising. I thought they'd be back by the first episode of this season (maybe not at their old jobs, but at least on the show), but, nope (teasers for next episode show they'll at least be there in ghosty hallunication form, though).

Pretty much, the episode was exactly what it sounds like - an episode of "House," but without most of the supporting cast. The illness o' the week had a good twist, and we got to see hilarious scheming Wilson. But a lot of people were probably hoping to find out more about what the old team is up to, but it looks like we'll have to wait at least a couple weeks for that, since we've got madcap House interviewing job candidates to look forward to next eppy. Which actually does sound fairly great.

I can't stand it

I know you've been wondering, feverishly, where I've been - here I am. There's just not much to say these days. "House" and the "Nip/Tuck" season finale tonight should be good. Last night's "How I Met Your Mother" (now officially abbreviated "HIMYM," which I pronounce "him-yim") was alright but (and believe it) not nearly as funny as the Wayne Brady episode.

If you haven't seen this yet, here it is. It's pretty nifty - I'm having trouble deciding if it's just a lot more dirty than normal "Scrubs" humor of if it just seems more dirty since it's coming out of the mouths of "Peanuts" characters.

House rules

Did Hugh Laurie write this "attractive teenage girl is in love with House" subplot or what?

Other news

- Unintentional comedy: radio ads for this week's "House" have ol' Greg saying "The lab couldn't identify the metal. They don't even think it's terrestrial." in a real dramatic voice, like that's a big mysterious plot point. But in the actual episode (and the "scenes from next week teaser on the season premiere) it's just a quick gag, and he immediately says, "No. It's titanium" and that's pretty much the end of that.

- If you haven't heard or seen it yet, Keith Olbermann laid the smackdown on Bush pretty bad Monday night. It's a way better read than your average Dan Patrick ESPN the Magazine column. It was the second boldest political condemnation I saw on 9/11, after this Ted Rall comic strip.

- Finally, a good use for all those Gregory Itzin shower pictures I've somehow accumulated over the years! In other "24" news, Babe's owner is Jack Bauer's dad. I would not have guessed.

- Tomorrow is the first day for Meredith Vieria on "Today." which means those "It's a New Day" commercials might finally stop.

- Looks like Patton Oswalt got his wish!

- This is such a non-story, and it's annoying to see how many places it's popping up. Not only can we obviously not discount the possibility of Eva Longoria ever doing TV again (and nor can she - and if she does, she'll get taunted for these comments), but with people like Kiefer Sutherland finding so much success in TV, it's actually a little insulting to see her go back to the "TV good, movies better" mentality. But I still wanna say hi to her at the Hispanic Women's Conference in Phoenix.

- Some dude won "Big Brother." I know very few people who will admit to seeing a "Big Brother," even by accident.

- Not only is John Leguizamo going to be on a new Spike TV show, he's also apparently a terrible person.

- Music videos in old tyme settings are officially tired - The Killers, Panic! at the Disco, now Evanescence. And that song. YIKES.

- Alanis Morissette as the love interest of Liz Cruz on "Nip/Tuck"? She could do better (I'm talking about Liz).

- Don't forget about the Ricky Gervais video podcasts!