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Parents' Guide to

House

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Gripping medical/moral drama isn't for kids.

TV Fox Drama 2004
House Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 26 parent reviews

Clairv0yance
Clairv0yance Adult
July 14, 2022
age 15+

Dr. House inspires wit and quick thinking. Always looking behind the curtain to see what is /actually/ going on.

One of my favourite series'. However, I believe that quite a few of the episodes are unsuitable for a younger audience and a a lot of the crude remarks and quick-witted responses from Dr. House will go over younger viewers' heads.
TheMovieAdvisor
TheMovieAdvisor Adult
May 16, 2020
age 12+

House M.D.

This show is on FOX so you need to expect a pretty dark show and they deliver perfectly. If your kids are younger but want a medical show try Scrubs the show is tamer and there is a character just like House, Dr. Cox they are almost the same. Dr. House is a doctor who handles cases no one else can so it can be very graphic cases at times and there are graphic back stories like a episode in season 7 its a porn star but they dont go in great detail only a small clip of sound from House´s computer but nothing is shown. Language wise Ass, Bitch, and S--- every once in a while and for a while a character is called Cutthroaght bitch. The language is very infrequent. There is a decent amount of gore so don´t eat while watching. Sometimes they go into a inside of the body scene which is like a X-Ray in Mortal Kombat X its very cartoon like. Drug use is high but this is a medical show but House pops Vicodin 40 times a episode but it cuts down after a couple seasons. Also there is cocaine and booze are consumed and shown. House handles real life issues like teen pregnancy which is a huge problem and is a great family show. In the end this is one of the best FOX shows for the ages 10/10
See all 26 parent reviews

What's the Story?

HOUSE follows the professional and personal trials of the gifted but bitter doctor Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) as he literally does whatever it takes to diagnose and treat the sick. As he obsessively rants, terrorizes patients, and browbeats his medical team, including Robert Chase (Jesse Spenser), Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), Eric Foreman (Omar Epps), and Remy Hadley (Olivia Wilde), he fights with supervisors like Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) in order to bend the rules to help his patients. Luckily, oncology department head and friend James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), helps him navigate through the ethical dilemmas.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (26 ):
Kids say (102 ):

The intelligent and compelling series combines drama and humor that raise significant ethical questions about the medical profession. Adding to the generally exceptional production values, the cast is believable and compelling. As the title character, Hugh Laurie is strangely charismatic, drawing viewers in despite his surliness. The plotlines surrounding the characters' personal lives also make it fun to watch.

It's definitely entertaining, but the show's strong sexual innuendo, language, as well as its complex subject matter makes it a better choice for older viewers. The show's gallows humor is prevalent throughout, as well as often-gripping medical detail -- House is not for squeamish viewers. But for folks looking some good dramatic TV, this one is sure to please.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the responsibility of doctors and medical professionals toward their patients. Is Dr. House's violation of hospital rules justified? What about his rudeness toward patients and peers?

  • Discuss the representation of the medical field, which in the show is often straightjacketed by bureaucratic regulations. How accurate is this representation?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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