A New York newspaper alleged this week that Hugh Laurie had opted to end the run of Fox's House because he was tired of the show. The story, though, was based on old quotes from Laurie, given to a UK newspaper long before Fox announced the end of the show. In this exclusive statement, Laurie responds to the story:
Some newspapers, obviously dissatisfied by the statement we released last week, have suggested that "the truth" — a modern journalistic shorthand for "not even remotely the truth but it's creepy enough so let's go with it" — behind our joint decision was that I was sick of going to work. The evidence for this was a remark I made five years ago about a different subject.
Let me say unequivocally that I love my job, and work harder at it than most journalists work at theirs. As we explained in our press release, we were trying to preserve some of the character's mystique; we never wanted to over-stay our welcome. Very possibly, we could have continued with a re-worked formula — House gets a job in a shoe shop and high jinks ensue — but none of us could face that. We wanted to keep the band together and go out with as much dignity as we could muster.
I realize that plan is looking a little scruffy now, thanks to this petty rebuttal, but what the heck. I had to put the record straight.
As House himself has repeatedly said, "everybody lies."
—Hugh Laurie
For more on the end of House click here.
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