The Hollywood Reporter is claiming Lisa Edelstein will not be returning for the next season of House. FOX told some of the principals to take a pay cut of unknown size, presumably so they can pay off Simon's third island. She refused.She's certainly within her rights in leaving. No one's blaming her outside of angry Internet message boards which have probably already turned it into a political argument. But as for what this does to the show's dynamics...
...
...should we just call next year the final season now and save a lot of time?
Last night's season finale gave them the easy way out (and all they had to do was send Greg so far off the rails as to land on an international flight). She wants nothing to do with him, she feels he's a risk to her life and that of her daughter -- so she leaves P-P and doesn't bother with a forwarding address. Her ex might have a few hints on how to properly disappear...But to keep her out of the season... well, unless the writers are willing to relocate the show, fellowship members, and provide another hospital with some really flexible rules, you'd have to figure Greg's going to be reeled in eventually. And as soon as he gets back, he's facing criminal charges. Cuddy would have to either go under Total Failure To Appear And No One Else Cares To Chase This or change her mind about those charges before vanishing. Greg pulls another Karma Houdini and the series goes on. Gosh, won't that feel realistic. Almost as realistic as refusing to head back to that oh-so-helpful shrink -- wait, that did feel realistic.
I'm starting to wonder if the last scene of the series will be Greg's own suicide. It's just about the last place he has left to go.