House

TV review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
House Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Gripping medical/moral drama isn't for kids.

Fox Drama 2004
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 43 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 138 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this medical drama deals with life-threatening illnesses that are often depicted graphically. Characters routinely work their way around hospital regulations in order to save patients, a practice that raises complex moral dilemmas that may confuse younger viewers. They also drink, smoke, curse, use drugs, get in arguments, violate rules, and lie. The show also contains some salty language ("crap," "damn," "hell") and some sexual innuendo. House's addiction to painkillers is a recurring theme.

Community Reviews

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

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Trijer
Trijer Adult
March 19, 2019
age 14+

This title has:

Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 43 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?

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

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