‘House M.D.’ Season 8 Promo Spells Trouble for Dr. House

Season 7 of the medical drama “House M.D.” ended with a scene that probably left many fans in shock for a variety of reasons. As expected, season 8 of the series will see Dr. Gregory House in prison, as the first teaser shows.

Released a couple of days ago, the brief promo promises lots more action and perhaps even more drama than previous seasons for the simple reason that House (Hugh Laurie) is now in prison.

“When is a single word a very long sentence?” is the question the promo opens with. “Prison.”

The next frame shows House, with slightly longer hair, sitting on the bed of a cell while a very mean-looking fellow inmate is staring at him.

What follows is a series of quick cuts meant to offer only a glimpse at what the future holds for House – and it’s definitely not pretty, since it doesn’t seem like the other inmates are warming up to him and his difficult nature.

In fact, it would seem that, far from scaring him into becoming a good boy, prison does the exact contrary of that, since a couple of scenes hint at a riot inside – perhaps caused by House himself.

As fans must already know, season 7 ended with House ramming his car in Cuddy’s house, after seeing her through the window, in her living room, talking to another man.

Before the episode aired, Fox had already announced that Lisa Edelstein would not return to the show as Dr. Cuddy for another season, which prompted some talk among fans that the ending was hurried to justify Lisa’s absence in the upcoming season.

At the same time, there’s plenty of speculation about how season 8 will also be the last of the series: after a drop in ratings but several raises in pay for the stars, Fox executives no longer consider “House M.D.” that lucrative, word has it.

The new season premieres at the beginning of October. Below is the first teaser for it – keep an eye on this space for more details.