Hugh Laurie Sparks Debate with Controversial Response

Hugh Laurie delivered a scathing response to a viral review of his hit show House.

In a tweet that has been viewed over a million times, freelance journalist Janet Murray shared her thoughts on Laurie's medical drama which aired from 2004 to 2012. 

'Late to the party, but I've started watching Season 1 of House,' Murray wrote before critiquing the show's formulaic storylines.

'Same narrative every episode: Patient has mysterious illness. Hugh Laurie (House) gets diagnosis wrong. Patient nearly dies.'

'Hugh Laurie gets diagnosis wrong again. Gets threatened with being fired. Patient nearly dies again. Hugh Laurie has last minute leftfield idea. Gets diagnosis right. Doesn't get fired. Eight seasons of this?'

Laurie, 66, replied to the online review with a lengthy response dripping in his cantankerous character Gregory House's signature sarcasm.  

'Thanks for your critique, Janet. We actually tried a couple of episodes where House (Hugh Laurie) (please put the brackets in the right place) gets it right first time, but they were only 6 minutes long. NBC weren't happy,' wrote the actor.

'Then we tried some where House never gets it right and the patient dies. The audience wasn't happy.'

'One could apply your trenchant analysis to other art forms: JS Bach wrote 30 Goldberg variations on the same chord structure; Frida Kahlo painted 50 portraits of herself; Henry Moore, what?? The point is, or was, variations on a theme; if all you see is hospital, medical blah blah, then it wasn't meant for you.'

He ended the reply with: 'Nonetheless, I look forward to your first novel!'

Whilst many told Murray that it was 'a badge of honour' to receive a reply from the man himself, Laurie was criticised by some for being 'classless' with his message, to which he replied: 'OK.'

Another pointed out that 'the series stopped 14 years ago. Is it really worth going to such an effort to put someone who thinks it might be a bit “samey” in their place? It was a popular, long-running series and consensus is that you were great in it. Isn’t that enough?'

'I put no more effort into my message than you have into yours. It just happens to be closer to my heart,' replied the actor. 

Murray saw the funny side, adding in a further tweet: 'Woken up to a few new followers this morning. Who may be disappointed to learn that TV reviews are not usually my forte. Plus I may now be too busy working on my first novel.'

House ran for eight seasons and earned a plethora of Emmy nominations, including outstanding drama series four times, and six nods for Laurie. 

Last year a podcast host shared the brutally honest rejection he received from Laurie when he asked him to appear on his medically-themed show.

Doctor Mike, whose real name is Mikhail Varshavski, is a family medicine physician who launched a podcast named The Check Up With Doctor Mike.

The podcast has featured a segment where Doctor Mike reacts to old House episodes and debunks what is medically accurate or not.

During an episode with Noah Wyle, who stars in The Pitt and played Dr John Carter in ER, Doctor Mike revealed Hugh's reaction when he was asked to come on the podcast. 

Doctor Mike said: 'We invited  to our show because a lot of folks like when we do House M.D. reacts. And his staff was like oh this is a good fit. We're going to reach out to him and see what he thinks. 

'I'm gonna read you quote-unquote what he said. 'He is not interested in opportunities like this, frankly doesn't care about the audience or reliving the show.'

Noah was clearly impressed with Hugh's line, and said: 'That's so baller'

While Doctor Mike added: 'It's just such a direct and honest reply. Not just that he won't do your show, he just doesn't ever wanna be House M.D. ever again.' 

Noah insisted he is much more amenable, and said: 'I'm a gemini, middle child pleaser. I'll answer any question you'll ask me.'