The Doctor is Out. Officially.

In a statement just released to the media, Executive Producers David Shore, Katie Jacobs and Hugh Laurie have announced that this current 8th season of the hit Fox series HOUSE will in fact be its last. See for yourself after the jump.

After much deliberation, the producers of House M.D. have decided that this season of the show, the 8th, should be the last. By April this year they will have completed 177 episodes, which is about 175 more than anyone expected back in 2004.

Everybody Lies.

For his part, Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company had this to say:

While it’s with much regret, and a lump in our throats, we respect the decision Hugh, David and Katie have made. A true original, on the page and amazingly brought to life by Hugh Laurie, there is only one Dr. House. For eight seasons, the entire HOUSE team has given us – and fans around the world – some of the most compelling characters and affecting stories ever seen on television. They have been creatively tenacious and collaborative throughout this incredible run, and they are amongst the most superior talents in the business. For all the above, we wholeheartedly thank them, and the fans who have supported the show.

Any scoop on Sunday’s episode of THE GOOD WIFE?
The TV Addict: Having recently had the pleasure of sneaking a peek at Sunday’s episode (And yes, we’re well aware how awesome our job can be!) we can assure you that this weekends much-anticipated return of hit CBS series is sooooooo worth the wait. And while we’re not about to spoil the outcome of Wendy Scott-Carr’s increasingly intrusive investigation into Will Gardner’s on court activities, we will alert you to the fact that sparks will fly. Specifically between Alicia and Peter, who have exchange so tense, it would make Jackie blush! Also of note for fans of Archie Panjabi is a confrontation between Kalinda and Monica Raymond’s Dana that gets a little physical. Read into that what you will.

Cannot express how pleased I was to see theTVaddict.com jump on the SWITCHED AT BIRTH bandwagon earlier in the week. Gushing aside, any clues as to how serious Daphne and Wilke are going to get?
The TV Addict: Serious enough that the sources close to the production have let it slip that Producers are currently on the lookout for an actor to play Wilke’s dad! That’s the good news. With the bad news beings that whomever snags the part of Wilke’s dad may very soon be on the receiving end of a very upsetting phone call. Gulp!

Please tell me you know how Rachel is going to respond to Finn’s proposal on GLEE?
The TV Addict: While we’re not about to pretend we know the outcome of Finn’s proposal on GLEE, we do know what will complicated things: The Tuesday January 31st episode that will see both Kurt and Rachel hear about their applications to the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts. Double Gulp!

According to a recent tweet of yours, you recently had the opportunity to talk to GLEE’s Vanessa Lengies. Did she happen to spill anything about a possible Sugar/Artie hookup?
The TV Addict: Interestingly enough, she did. But rather than listen to us blabber on wouldn’t you much prefer to hear from the source of the information herself? Said Lengies, in a full interview that we’ll be sharing next Tuesday on theTVaddict.com, “In the episode that just aired they had to cut a scene at the end which was kind of like an Artie/Sugar cliffhanger, so stay tuned.”

Seeing as though I remain completely freaked out by Monday’s episode of ALCATRAZ, I was hoping you could prepare me for some of the insane baddies we can expect tosee pop up in upcoming episodes.
The TV Addict: While you’ll be happy to know that Monday’s criminal of the week will be far less cringeworthy than last Monday’s uber-creepy child killer. Odds are you’ll be slightly less than excited to learn that this Monday’s Bank robber Cal Sweeney will be played by none a ROOKIE BLUE gone bad Eric Johnson (Pictured below).

With the return of DEGRASSI just around the corner, I was hoping you had some intel to share on what fans might expect.
The TV Addict: With DEGRASSI having finished completed shooting their season quite some time ago, the only thing we really have to share is a ridiculous vague tease from Executive Producer/Director Stefan Brogren who had this to say during our recent visit to the set of THE L.A. COMPLEX, “One of your favorite characters is going to turn out to be not such a nice person.”

Is there any truth to the rumor that Fiona gets knocked up on SHAMELESS this season?
The TV Addict: No! That said, we can assure you that one beloved denizen of the South Side will very soon be eating for two. What’s more, she won’t be the only one harboring a secret as evidence by Steve’s unexpected return that brings with him an entirely new set of complications.

Is Monday’s episode of HOUSE really as big a deal as my Twitter feed is making it seem?
The TV Addict: Considering it’s not everyday that executive producer/director Greg Yaitanes takes the time to email select members of the media with a personal note expressing that the Monday February 6th episode entitled is “the work I am most proud of in my 16 years on the floor directing television,” we’re going to go out on a limb and say yes! What’s that… still not convinced? Yaitanes continues, “Jeffrey Wright (“The Ides of March”) is the guest star and is at the heart of our episode as the arbiter of House’s fate. Watching him and Hugh Laurie work is how I imagine the Gehrig/Ruth Yankees must have been to watch play. They spend the episode across the table from each other and their work is substantial. “Nobody’s Fault” is written by Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner and David Foster, who also wrote “House’s Head” in Season Four that I was fortunate to direct. We’ve created something very special to us – something important to the story fate of the show and something that we are excited to share.”

Some HAPPY ENDINGS scoop would make me really happy.
The TV Addict: Well consider today your lucky day, because we just stumbled across a first look photo of James Wolk’s (RIP LONE STAR) upcoming guest appearance as Max’s “perfect” boyfriend Grant from the February 15th episode appropriately titled, “Everybody Loves Grant.” Enjoy.

11:07AM: Before submitting himself to the firing squad that is a roomful of tired and cranky television critics, Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly announces plans for a new late night animated comedy block (Think: Adult Swim) that will air Saturdays at 11PM – 12:30AM starting in January 2013.

11:14AM: Despite going on record during the previous summer’s TCA Press Tour that the Network would be making a decision on the future (or lack thereof) of HOUSE sometime in the Fall, Reilly fesses up to failure to communicate. “To be honest with you, it’s hard to imagine the Network with HOUSE so we kind of agreed to mutually put off any decision until the first of the year and we still have yet to sit down and see where we are,” Reilly says, being sure to add for any anxious fans who may-or-may-not be reading this. “We haven’t had the big meeting yet, but we are not going to be unceremoniously handing out pink slips. If it’s the end of the run there is no way [Creator] David Shore is going to let the fans feel that it wasn’t capped off properly.”

11:17AM: Continuing this session’s somewhat alarming theme of a complete and utter lack of answers comes Reilly’s take on the future of TERRA NOVA. First the good news: Fox made money, the show looked fantastic and all evidence points to the show really resonated with the family audience. Bad News: Despite an immensely likeable cast and some fantastic ideas, Reilly did admit to the show “creatively hunting” throughout much of the first season. In short: Due to production needs, a decision will be made on the show’s future within the next month.

11:20AM: Reilly continues to be immensely happy with the performance of THE X FACTOR. Unfortunately for embattled host Steve Jones, he was slightly less than enthusiastic about his future job stability, only going to far as say, “It’s a much harder job than meets the eye, and whether Steve’s the guy or not, there will be some tweaks to the show.”

11:21AM: And speaking of hostesses with the mostess, Reilly claims “It’s very hard to imagine the show [AMERICAN IDOL] without Ryan Seacrest.”

11:22AM: Still reeling over the ambiguity of HOUSE’s future, well this news probably won’t be of much help. The time for a HOUSE spin-off has come and gone. “We talked about a spin-off over the past few seasons but David [Creator David Shore] just never creatively found something that excited him,” says Reilly, adding, “[Editor's Note: Unlike NBC!] We’re not in that desperate place where we need to try and keep that the show going and we definitely don’t want some watered down version of the show.”

11:23AM: Is there such a thing as too much reality TV? Short Answer: “No!” Long Answer: Although he expects ratings for AMERICAN IDOL to be slightly down this season due to the fact that it’s going on an 11 year show, audiences remain passionate. Reilly sights the recent fan reaction to SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE’s format change, “I think all of our competition shows will be here for quite some time.”

11:28AM: Bad news for all seven fans of ALLEN GREGORY, It’s over. “We had a great experience with [creator] Jonah Hill, we’re in business with him, but animation is particularly challenging,” admits Reilly, who goes on to call the future of BOB’s BURGERS very promising.

11:33AM: Duh of the Day: Fox is not in the business of losing money! Which could potentially spell doom for the future of FRINGE. For while Reilly loves the show, calling it “a point of pride” for him and applauding it for “vastly improving our Friday night,” it’s an expensive show. “The hesitation in my voice is that it’s an expensive show and we lose a lot of money,” says Reilly, who goes on to say that discussions with Producing partner Warner Bros Television have yet to really heat up. “Please don’t start the letter-writing campaign. I can’t take it.”

11:37AM: Remember last fall when the internet all but imploded on itself when word leaked out with regards to a GLEE spin-off? Well you can forget it, because according to Reilly, the GLEE kids aren’t going anywhere “There will not be a GLEE spinoff but those characters will graduate,” promises Reilly. “It has led to a very cool idea that Ryan [Murphy] and the guys [writing staff] have come up with for next season that will be set up in the Spring batch of episodes. I think it’s going to really give us something cool to dig into next season.”

11:38AM: Fan(s) of I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER (Beuller? Beuller?) will be pleased to discover that Reilly plans on airing all six or seven remaining episodes. What’s more, he’s determined to get back in the business of multi-camera comedies pointing to CBS as evidence that audiences want to see them. “I know some of them are excruciatingly bad, but audiences clearly want to watch comedy again and I want to feed that.”

Can’t wait for this week’s instalments of BONES, RAISING HOPE and TERRA NOVA? Neither can we, which is why we thought now might be as good a time as any to share a handful of behind-the-scenes photos featuring a very pregnant Brennan, an explosive TERRA NOVA and what looks to be another hilarious instalment of RAISING HOPE. See for yourself, after the jump.

It’s one thing to hate House for his indefensible actions at the end of last season that saw the not-so-good doctor purposely crash his car into Cuddy’s dining room, but it’s another thing entirely to hate his real-life alter ego Hugh Laurie. Or at least that was our takeaway following a brief one-on-one with affable actor who was kind enough to take the time to submit to a few probing questions with regards to his show’s upcoming eighth season at Fox’s recent Fall launch. Don’t believe us? We defy you to not fall for the best thing to come out of the UK since Harry Potter when he says “House was a very naughty boy” in his intoxicatingly appealing British accent. Seriously. See for yourself after the jump.

HOUSE premieres Monday at 9PM on FOX (Global TV in Canada) and stars Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps, Jesse Spencer, Peter Jacobson, Odette Annable and Charlyne Yi. Catch up on past episodes you may have missed for free online at clicktowatch.tv

Are you one of the millions of HOUSE fans still not over the unexpected exit of star Lisa Edelstein? Scratching your head over House’s inexplicable actions during May’s shocking season finale? Worried that this upcoming eight season may be the hit Fox show’s last? Suffice it to say, you’re not the only one. Which is why, when given the chance to chat with executive producer David Shore during Fox’s recent Television Critics Association Party on the shores of beautiful and sunny Santa Monica we jumped at the chance. See for yourself after the jump.

What do you tell fans who are still upset over Lisa Edelstein’s unexpected exit?
David Shore: I tell them I’m upset too. I’m sorry, things did not unfold the way I wanted. But I will say this. I am actually genuinely excited about this year. I am excited about the new dynamics we’re going to see by bringing in new people and in terms of House and the new boss I think that will be good for the show. I think it will breathe some fresh air into the show — not that we needed it — but I think it will and we’ll sort of get back to what made the show great initially.

Is there any chance Cuddy could return for the finale, should this end up being HOUSE’s final season?
I would love that but I have no idea if it would be possible. I can’t say more than that because I really don’t know.

Not to dwell on this, but do you think Cuddy should or could forgive House for his actions last season?
Could or should? Could, yes because he’s just as screwed up as she is. Should, maybe forgive but not forget. You’ve got to learn you know? I keep saying this, I don’t believe he was trying to hurt anybody, I believe he was trying to hurt her house.

Can you see though how the finale might have been misconstrued by those watching at home?
I realized that afterwards, but we were very careful in the cut to make sure you see the people leaving the room. House sees the people leaving the room before does anything. Of course, that doesn’t make it a responsible act!

Did you expect the level of controversy surrounding the finale?
I didn’t expect people to start saying House was a murderer, which I don’t know whether a lot of people did that, but I didn’t expect that which is worrisome because it becomes tricky. You intend ambiguity, but I think it’s one of the first times in the history of show where a significant number of people simply interpreted the episode not in an area where I wanted interpretation. They simply got something from the episode that I didn’t intend to be there. I wanted it to be an act of violence, I wanted him acting out, I didn’t want it to be an attempted murder.

Changing the subject to a more positive one, what will Charlyne Yi bring to the show?
Charlyne Yi is going to bring to the show Charlyne Yi. We’d be idiotic to take Charlyne Yi and try to force her to be something else. I mean, she’s acting at the same time and we are imposing various character traits on her but she is so interesting, just a very interesting human being that is unlike anyone else I’ve ever met. Yet very real, very personable and very vulnerable and that’s really interesting.

Will she be more comedic in tone to say that of Amber Tamblyn’s character last season?
Amber was pretty funny, but she’ll be more comedic. One of the things I like about the show personally in terms of a writing vehicle is the opportunity to be funny and dramatic at the same time so you never want to do one without the other and I think she’s going to be great for that.

Are you writing this season as if it’s HOUSE’s last?
We’re not going into it like it’s the last season, but if it is going to be the last season I want to know that very early and I’ll make sure I do know that very early because I want to end it right. I want to have lots of lead time on that so if there’s going to be a season nine we need to know that early — and I would l love there to be a season nine — but we need to know it early and if we don’t know it early this will be the last year and I’ll make sure we go out great.

Assuming this is HOUSE’s last season, would it be safe to say that this isn’t the type of show where everybody lives happily ever after?
We’re not big on happy endings. We’re not big on pat endings either so I think you can count on a certain degree of ambiguity to the ending. Endings are difficult to do, because much like relationships that people love or hate — endings are difficult.

Do you have a favorite style of series finale?
Yeah and it’s something I can’t duplicate by its very nature. NEWHART, I just thought was fantastic, just that one moment [where Bob Newhart wakes up and realizes that the entire series was a dream from his previous series THE BOB NEWHART SHOW] but obviously I can’t do anything even like that. If you quote me on that you have to say I would never do that and I can never do that!

What’s your take on how THE SOPRANOS ended?
I have a theory on it, that is he [Tony Soprano] is definitely dead. So I’m okay with the ending because of that, that’s the only way it’s okay, in my view he’s definitely dead.

And finally, most Showrunners don’t stick around their series past three seasons let alone seven. What is it about HOUSE that has kept you coming back and excited as ever?
It’s kind of the perfect show for me, this character is kind of my alter ego in some ways and that’s a rare opportunity. As a writer you get to speak to millions of people, but I get to write in a version of my own voice to spout off my on my own personal views of mankind and have millions of people listen and have this sort of success, I don’t expect to get it again, it may happen that would be wonderful, but not this specific and not with this kind of voice.

HOUSE returns with brand new episodes this Monday October 3rd on FOX (Global TV in Canada). Catch up with past episodes you may have missed for free online at clicktowatch.tv

Deadline reports that Chris Meloni will not be reprising his role as Detective Elliot Stabler on the next season NBC’s long-running procedural, LAW & ORDER:SVU Meloni and his phonically-pleasing co-star Mariska Hargitay — who previously announced that she will be scaling back her presence on the show — have anchored the Dick Wolf series for 12 seasons.

This comes after news broke that Lisa Edelstein, one of the two female stars of Fox’s testosterone-leaden medical drama HOUSE, will not return for the show’s eighth and final season. This is a particularly tricky development considering how the show finally consummated her’s and Hugh Laurie’s character’s own Sam and Diane-esque relationship. In fact, Edelstein’s exit wasn’t made official until after the season finale had been shot, so there’s a chance that her character, Lisa Cuddy, will just disappear without a proper goodbye. 

Both actors play pivotal roles in their respective shows: Can they survive without them? In both cases, it doesn’t really matter. HOUSE is ending and SVU, like others in the L&O franchise, shouldn’t have a problem with a cast change. But could this be the beginning of a change of how closely actors’ contracts tie them to their shows? Hopefully. Take Chris Noth’s with CBS’ THE GOOD WIFE as a potential antecedent: He always gets “special guest star” billing in the credits, but by appearing in 14 of the second season’s 23 episodes, you can go ahead and call him recurring. This is actually better, for the show creatively and Noth, who’s made it clear in the past — just like his Mr. Big in SEX AND THE CITY — that he doesn’t like to be tied down. 

A problem faced by network shows with large casts and episodes orders is fatigue. Stretching the narrative over nine months and 22 episodes is creatively challenging even for the best shows (THE GOOD WIFE included, which had its share of duds this season). And while I’m sure being paid for 22 episodes is fine by most actors, we’re beginning to see with Noth and Calista Flockhart (who reduced her role from series regular to recurring on BROTHERS & SISTERS before it was canned) that it might be just as exhaustive a commitment for them, too. 

Could a more cable-like approach be better? Sure, much has been made of how the broadcast nets should have 13 episode seasons: the stories are tighter and better for it. But we might also consider reducing just how many episodes each actor is in during the season. Had Chris Noth’s Peter Florrick been in every episode of the season, then the producers would have had to devote more time to pad out his story, potentially cutting time from far worthier story lines (like Alicia and Kalinda, or Cary at the State’s Attorney’s office). No doubt, Noth’s character is integral to the show (there wouldn’t be a show without him), but he doesn’t need to be in every episode to effectively tell his story; so he isn’t. 

Of course, beyond the show’s main star (you couldn’t have THE GOOD WIFE without Julianna Marguiles every week), most shows could benefit from not being forced to address all of its principal actors in every episode. Not only is it logistically difficult carving out time for every character in every episode, it strains the story and if there are too many plot lines, confuses the viewer. How about leaner seasons that take time to really flesh out a handful of characters? It’s better for us to watch and surely more rewarding for actors to play. And if there are fewer episodes in a season, then ostensibly more shows could be on air in a year; that’s more opportunities for acting.

But these high-profile actor exits put the spotlight squarely on an obvious issue: payment. For everyone to be a little happier, there needs to be changes to attitude along with structural adjustments. Future actors might need to accept that their money might not be coming from just one series regular TV gig; it might be from multiple. Will TV networks let this fly? (You’ll remember the trouble Neil Patrick Harris ran into when he wanted to guest star on GLEE last year.) For now, I’d likely receive a flippant, yeah, right; but if network TV continues down its current path, I wouldn’t be surprised if we could downgrade that response to a speculative maybe.

Aleks Chan is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas. You can email him at alekschan.thetvaddict@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter (@aleksnotalex).