British actor Hugh Laurie has played the irascible Dr. Gregory House for eight seasons now, but all good things must come to an end. According to The Telegraph, Laurie announced this week that the award-winning “House MD” will conclude its story this season.
“After much deliberation, the producers of ‘House MD’ have decided that this season of the show, the eighth, should be the last,” Laurie said in a joint statement. “By April this year they will have completed 177 episodes, which is about 175 more than anyone expected back in 2004.”
Producers of the hit Fox medical drama said part of their decision stemmed from the desire to preserve Dr. House’s image as an “enigmatic creature.”
“He should never be the last one to leave the party,” the statement said. “How much better to disappear before the music stops, while there is still some promise and mystique in the air.”
“House” has won several major television awards for the network, but it most memorably served as a vehicle to propel Laurie to international fame. Known primarily in the U.K. for his comic work, “House” allowed Laurie to explore different aspects of an actor’s pallet.
