Goodbye to "House"...

No, the house has not sold yet. An offer from a builder who wants to tear it down, and some interest expressed by a buyer who would want to remodel. Right now, it's a waiting game.

No, this "House" is the one that has been a prime-time tv series for 8 seasons - the one whose producers, including the star (who is also a producer), announced this week that they had decided that it is time to end the story. I think they are all very smart people. Contracts are ending, and these creative people are ready to move on. They have given this project their all for a very, very long time, in tv production terms, and they deserve to choose to move on .

The truth is, though, that I will definitely miss the show. Though there has been a certain amount of predictability to the formula as the years have gone by, the loyal part of the show's following has always been given plenty of philosophical fodder for disection, interpretation and argument. And they have been given intriguing characters who kept us continually guessing about their outcomes. And adeptly chosen passages of music to heighten and add poignancy to every kind of moment. Lighting, scoring, direction, set dressing, and costuming all very meticulously orchestrated to create as much of the story as the script did.

And then, there has been the portrayal of the title character, an interminably detailed work of actor Hugh Laurie. The description of the day-in-and-day-out demands put on his talent and stamina seem to be somewhat legend at this point, and there is really no doubt that he has put on the mantle of his "counterpart" with an unspeakable amount of patience and understanding, all while living apart from his family in a celebrity crazed atmosphere where privacy is a rare commodity.

Oddly enough, I'm not sure I would ever have been drawn into the craziness of the series had it not been for the music that threaded its way through the first few seasons - those moments when House played the piano, and especially, when he played with guest star, Dave Matthews. Nothing like that to hook another musician! So, if when he says goodbye to "House", Hugh Laurie decides to continue on his recently begun musical journey, I say, "Go for it."

Life is too short. If we give our best to what we promised to do, then we should be allowed the lee-way to follow our other dreams, and be able to be with our families and spend time in a place that we love, wherever that is.

Best wishes, "House" staff. Job done well.