Lisa Edelstein's sudden, sad choice to not renew her contract with "House" was so shocking many fans forgot all about the show's male eye candy, Jesse Spencer aka Dr. Robert Chase. While all other regular cast members outside of Spencer were still under contract, had renewed, or rejected in Lisa's case, their new contracts, there was no word, not even a well-founded rumor on Jesse's resigning-- until today that is. As of late in the evening of July 12, 2011 Jesse Spencer is back under contract for Season 8 of "House."
Did fans really want him back?
While you'd think a blond, attractive doctor with an accent would be a shoe in to top a show's fan favorites list, reactions to Jesse's tweet from the beach about finally coming to an agreement on his contract, was met with mixed replies. While some fans are still googly-eyed for the righteous murdering, promiscuous, ambitious member of House's team, others didn't think he measured up to the shows other actors in skill from the start. Whether all the fans wanted him back or not, it's good to hear the writers don't have to work around yet another missing cast member.
Will Chase be in fewer episodes?
After "House" took a budget cut, producers presented some cast members, including Chase's tall dark counterpoint Dr. Foreman (Omar Epps), with not only a pay cut, but a reduction in guaranteed episodes. It's likely these contract changes lost the show Lisa, and delayed Spencer's resigning'"well, that or he was too busy surfing. While the fine details of Spencer's contract have yet to be revealed, the majority of secondary cast members that were up for renewal were offered the new nerfed contracts. It's likely he also signed on for 18 episodes.
Fans should keep in mind that a contract for a certain number of episodes doesn't guarantee that's the number of episodes the actor or actress will be in, it simply means that's all the more they are guaranteed to be in, at the rate agreed upon in the contract. There is no knowing how many episodes any cast member will be in, until the new season airs. "House" will return October 3, 2011, a slightly later air-date than the typical third Monday of September. This is likely the result of contract delays such as Jesse's, and the loss of a major cast member.
You may also enjoy:
'House' Season 8: What Can We Expect?
Will Hugh Laurie Sign a Contract for Season 9?
What is Lisa Edelstein Doing Now That She's Not on 'House'?
Sources:
http://www.tvline.com/2011/07/house-jesse-spencer-will-return-season-8/
https://twitter.com/#!/Jesse_Spencer
http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/robert-sean-leonard-omar-epps-set-to-return-to-house-series-renewal-imminent/
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