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UPDATE: Lisa Edelstein just released the following statement: “After much consideration, I am moving onward with a combination of disappointment at leaving behind a character I have loved playing for seven years and excitement of the new opportunities in acting and producing that lie ahead.”
PREVIOUS: There will be Huddy no more on House — co-star Lisa Edelstein will not return to the veteran Fox medical drama next season. Edelstein was one of three main cast members of House, along with Robert Sean Leonard and Omar Epps, whose original contracts expired at the end of this season. Leonard and Epps re-upped earlier this month, when Edelstein’s deal also looked on track to make. But word is that she ultimately decided not to return to the series for the next eighth (and likely final) season, putting an abrupt end to the on-again-off-again romance between her character Dr. Cuddy and Hugh Laurie’s Dr. House — aka Huddy. Along with Epps, Edelstein had been asked to take a cut from her most recent salary of $175,000 an episode, but the offer was still pretty good, so she is walking away from more than $2 million. Her departure will leave Olivia Wilde as the only regular female cast member, but with Wilde’s hot movie career, she is rarely on full-time.
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Wow, did not see that one coming. Wonder how they’ll write her off…
You don’t even know what a write off is.
Do you?
No, I don’t.
But they do. And they’re the ones writing it off.
If a “write off” is a throwaway line explaining a character’s departure which they hadn’t planned for, then I’m sure the “write off” will be inane and unsatisfactory.
Yeah, for a “writeoff”, watch the episode of what they did to Kal Penn’s character with his suicide, and having 13 and Foreman finding him dead in his bedroom in a pool of blood with his brains probably forming some form of abstract art on the wall.
How did she go? in which episode? under what circumstances? I will like to know. Thank you.
Sadly her character was given nothing interesting to do this season. She has had better years.
Good for her for chosing not to take a paycut. She’s worked hard for the past 7 seasons, why should she?
> Good for her for chosing not to take a paycut. She’s worked hard for the past 7 seasons, why should she?
Residuals?
I agree it’s low by Hollywood standards, but let’s put it into perspective. $175,000 for eight or nine months worth of work is four, sometimes five, times the yearly salary of many people. Lisa’s very talented, she’ll be just fine and get more work, too.
Sorry, I meant $175,000 22 times over, not once over eight or nine months.
$175,000 x 22 (or, about $3.8 million) is not 4 or 5 times more than what the average person makes in a year – more like 75 times median U.S. household income.
Last I checked, most 44-year old actresses were not exactly in demand.
Another stupid actor….
I will miss her. However, she should not have to take a pay cut from what is a relatively low per episode rate to begin with. Shame on Fox. I hope she turns up in something new very soon!
She thinks she’s worth more than $2 million? She’ll learn when she’s up against people like Glenn Close and Susan Sarandon for roles.
The show gave her an opportunity she’ll never get again.
You are unbelievable. Why should an actress that has been on since day one have to take a cut? She along with RSL are vital to the show and for FOX to treat her so poorly is unacceptable. She thinks that she is worth more than this shoddy treatment. She will continue to do fine in her career because she always has been a good character actress. So, if you have nothing positive to add to this discussion maybe you shouldn’t even be here.
So Kath, probably want to rethink your “expert” opinion regarding Edelstein leaving House. She will be a recurring/regular on the hit show The Good House Wife. See it’s a funny thing, opinions, they don’t mean shite and are often spouted by those with the least knowledge on a give subject.
Good for her.
They should have kept her and gotten rid of Peter Jacobson. He never added anything to the show.
I agree. Peter Jacobson’s character has really fouled out. Actually, I don’t think this year’s scripts have been all that great. Kinda disappointing.
I cannot believe this! Really? I didn’t see this one coming. ‘House’ will most certainly end next season. Will it get to 22episodes? Too bad, her character should have been given a proper send-off.
Not unless the writers make House a crazy person who can’t deal with Cuddy leaving.
I think the producers thought she would happily accepted the pay cut. Good for Lisa.
Word. This is unbelievable, the execs can’t work it out for one more season–the last season?? So disgraceful and way to let down the viewers, cast and show. I am done with House, how can they shoot themselves in the foot for the final season? I won’t be there to witness it. If they have any sense they’ll renegotiate with Lisa NOW!!
I hope enough fans complain about the shoddy treatment afforded Lisa. She, Hugh and RSL make the show. Obviously the powers that be don’t care about the ratings dump this will cause.
Taub is a good character, and his episode was great. If there is anyone who is completely useless on the show it’s Olivia Wilde. It amazes me she’s still there. It also amazes me tht she is doing all these movie. Her skills as an actress leave MUCH to be desired. Of course, she is pretty, with a body she has no qualms about showing which I think is why she gets these parts, not her acting ability.
Do something FOX!!! RENEGOTIATE WITH EDELSTEIN, FOR THIS LAST SEASON, and let the show go out with a bang as it so deserves.
she should take a paycut because she was still going to get at least a 100,000 dollars an episode and it’s going to be the final season of house so why not end it with the original cast, maybe they’ll bring back jennifer morrison that could be the only good that comes of this
i doubt it. Jennifer Morrison is starring in a new tv show due in the fall.
Good. The Huddy crap made House unwatchable.
I couldn’t agree more…I HAD QUIT watching it for a few months cuz of the stupid “HUDDY” crap…really??? I’m glad she’s gone, never did like her.
Good riddance! Not going to miss her or her snide comments and bad attitude toward co-stars and guest-stars on the show.
I agree about this statement. Lisa is a piece of work. She is a good example of someone who does not love herself. She has a really bad attitude and is very cynnical and negative. Whonwants to be around that. Good riddance!
great to see the beginning of people saying no to undeserved cuts. good for you Lisa!
What’s a “Huddy”?
House + Cuddy = Huddy
Good for Edelstein, but the show is going to suffer for the loss. Jennifer Morrison was OK to lose and Amber Tamblyn I was willing to gouge my eyes out to get rid of, but, but Cuddy’s character and history with House is integral to the show’s creative success. She enables his behavior because a combination of guilt, love, respect and admiration that comes for their years of interaction (their “history” goes way beyond when the show started).
The show was more successful before Huddy started.
I think Anne Dudek and Jennifer Morrison were greater losses. Cuddy was played out. She was a good character in the first seasons but since Huddy started, she’s gone further and further downhill.
again… agree totally
Okay, so a pay cut but believe me she is not hurting!!! What happened to being a team player?
The point is, why should she have to take a paycut? Omar Epps & RSL didn’t have to take paycuts. They make as much as she makes.
“The point is, why should she have to take a paycut? Omar Epps & RSL didn’t have to take paycuts.”
RTFA:
“ALONG WITH Epps, Edelstein had been asked to take a cut from her most recent salary of $175,000 an episode…” (Emphasis added.)
So Epps DID have to take a pay cut. RSL didn’t, but he also has the expense of commuting from New Jersey every week, which made him think seriously about not returning to the show at all. The producers probably thought that it was more important to have Wilson for the final season of “House” than either Cuddy or Forman, so they paid him what they had to and offered the others what the budget would bear. Would you be happier if they had just cut the two actors outright? They gave them the choice. Epps said “yes”, Edelstein said “no.” There are no great moral principles involved here. It isn’t personal, it’s just business.
What utter gall.
“Thanks for 7 seasons. Now we’re syndicated worldwide and makes tens of millions per episode. But FOX won’t pay more in licensing fees, so we’re taking it out of YOUR END.”
Bring back Sela Ward !!!!!!!
Yeah !!!! Bring back Stacey !!!! She was the only one i liked with House !! and she was the one House got all messed up over…brung her back, i love Sela !!!!
Sela Ward can’t come back because she’s on CSI:NY.
Jennifer Morrison can’t come back because she’s got a new show on ABC.
Anyone else think this may have played into Lisa Edelstein’s decision to walk away? Now Cuddy will remain the love of House’s life.
ODG, NO! I can’t stand Sela Ward. After the crap they’ve put on the air this year I’m almost ready to walk away anyway and bringing back Sela Ward would be exactly what would get me to quit. The other thing that would get me to quit is bringing back Amber Tamblyn’s Martha Masters character. Some people are saying that Peter Jacobson’s Taub character is awful, but I like Taub and I think Jacobson plays well off Hugh Laurie. As bad as the writing as been this year the other thing that would make me stop watching is a romance between Olivia Wilde (13/Remy Hadley) & Jesse Spencer’s (Robert Chase) characters. It’s the obvious thing to do, so don’t do it. Plus, 13′s already slept with Foreman and all you’d end up with is another female character being a sex toy for the male characters.
Totally agree!! she’s hot!
YES!!! Bring Back Stacy!!! I liked Sela Ward’s character on House, she was a beautiful addition to the show. But, she’s doing CSI:NY now so she might not be back :’(
Oh My God!I can not believe!I was hoping they were going to be together at the end of the show. I think Cuddy is the only woman that can handle House! I love them..
If this is truly the final season of House (and I kind of hope it is) I’m sure Edlestein will show up in the last episode or 2 to tie out the story.
I think House already has a mother.
Why would ANY actress NOT accept that deal? It’s only a few more episodes of one of the best shows ever made. Just do your job, take the money and move on. Let’s see her go out and make 2 million elsewhere during the time they are shooting the final season. Plus all the exposure and attention they will be giving the final season… bad move Lisa. It’s business… I understand Hugh is not being asked to take a cut, but this time in your career will NOT come around again. You are SUCH an important part of the show for the fans… if nothing else, do it for them. Finish off the show with respect, not for being the incredible actress who wouldn’t take a cut in pay. Not a great way to be remembered on a show like HOUSE.
I don’t think TV history will look on Edelstein’s decision negatively.
You’re probably right: she probably WON’T find a gig that pays her this well, even with the demeaning paycut. All the more reason to be somewhat impressed with her for walking away. If she’s not feeling it creatively anymore AND she isn’t being fairly compensated–considering her seven year service to the series–then good on her for packing up.
You think that $2 million for less than a year’s work is demeaning?
I wish someone would demean me like that.
“I don’t think TV history will look on Edelstein’s decision negatively.”
I don’t think TV history will look back on it at all.
Because she has the dignity and self-respect to recognize that they were giving her a bad deal. Employers all across the country are doing this to their employees – cutting pay and benefits because hey, the economy sucks, what else are they going to go? House makes Fox an absolutely obscene amount of money and to ask Lisa to take a pay cut so they could protect their own interests was insulting, and while I adore Lisa and her performance on House I am so happy to see her stand up for herself. While I am sure she did not want to “hurt the fans” she has to do what’s right for HER, and that means not letting Fox take advantage of her.
Good for you, Lisa. This fan supports you 100%!
Ttoally agree!!
) Me too Lisa F’m 
Well said … House has become a “dinner guest” every episode and will be missed greatly – not because of any one cast member but because of all of them. True, I have had my favorites as well as those I’d have killed off (myself) but part of the enjoyment was the anticipation. I, too, thought that the Cuddy/House relationship was a stretch and hoped it wasn’t an omen. I guess my instincts were right but I wish Lisa had stayed thru the end. Having said that, I’d like to believe money isn’t/wasn’t the only reason she’s leaving and wish her well … best to you all!
I LOVE this series. Initially, my thought was how come the executives never take a pay cut? Then I realized that I’m glad this character is gone! I certainly UNDERSTAND Hollywood, but come on…A professional such as her character would never show at the office that much cleavage day in and day out. Yes, I AM a woman, and it got old. I hope she goes on to do roles that extol her acting virtues.
you are wrong about “professionals in her position” not dressing that way…in her exact profession…dressing exactly like her…often enough that it is not rare..
She means dressing that way in Cuddy’s profession (medicine), not in Lisa Edelstein’s.
Doctors/administrators don’t usually dress like hookers or look like they got their positions by sleeping their way to the job.
Glad I wasn’t the ONLY one that thought that, she’s had her boobs hanging out since day 1… and no administrator of a hospital i know wears a skirt so tight she can’t even bend over… get real~!!
Are you serious? The character of Gregory House has always been much more unreal than Cuddy´s.
Brierwolf –
Give me a break. Your comment about professionals in her position not dressing that way is so ridiculous. Just another blinded and ignorant person walking around in this town? State? World?
Grow up.
I work in the real world, in a large hospital in fact, and someone dressing like Cuddy wouldn’t make it past a secretarial position.
Cuddy’s clothes have always been a joke but the tighter and smaller they got, the worse the joke was.
This is a huge mistake by both parties. Cheap-ass FOX needs to pay the actors that have made them a fortune with this show for the past 7 years, and Lisa should finish what she started and do ONE MORE year of a show that relies heavily and her and the main characters chemistry.
What a disappointment for us fans that have watched the show waiting to see how it ends with these two characters for so long…
This show is over with or without her.
Hugh Laurie could lie down and read the phonebook and still keep this show worth watching. A shame to lose such an integral character, but they’ll survive and everybody but “Over” will still watch. Good for Lisa.
I’m so sad to hear that Lisa Edelstein won’t return!!! The storyline with her and house is the most interesting thing on tv. Their romance was magical and it still drives me crazy that they’re not together anymore.
They have the most incredible chemistry I’ve ever seen.
Pay her whatever she wants to keep her… Without her it won’t work
They (Edelstein, Epps, Leonard and Spencer) should have taken a cue from the Seinfeld crew. All three main supporting actors would negotiate together, so it was all three or nothing for NBC. If I’m not mistaken, the six “Friends” stars did the same thing. Strength in unity. Beyond that, glad to see she told them what to do with their offer of reduced episodes AND pay. Maybe Jesse Spencer, the lone unsigned, will do the same. I understand Leonard will have reduced time on the show now that he’s on Broadway. How much fun will that be to watch Taub and 13 non-stop next season? Oh, joy.
I agree, Michelle. She’s one of the best characters, and one of the reasons I still watch. Fox needs to pony up.
The show is over for me.
Shame on Fox for letting her go. How dumb.
I’m sorry she’s not coming back, but this could be great opportunity for the show, creatively. It could be very interesting to see how House adjusts to not having Cuddy in his life every day, to see what happens when House really and truly misses somebody. To see how he handles real loss.
The writers and producers could use this to push House’s character into new territory for the final season.
We’ve already seen what happens when House “really and truly misses somebody” in the beginning of Season 5 after Wilson quit.
Because isn’t it terrible that she should only make $170000 per episode. I mean good grief, it’s not like anybody else in the world is starving or anything. Give that girl a raise, don’t you know playing a character on TV is akin to saving lives.
I’d kill to make that much a year……
We’d all like to make that much – and you can. All you need to do is go to work in a position where you make your employer 1000x what they’re paying you – at that point you can negotiate anything.
Professional athletes , film/tv celebs, top models, music stars…. They can command salaries like that because for every dollar the network pays them… they take in $999 more because the celeb is there. Hines Ward makes $10M per season…half a million bucks per game +/-.. but what do the Steelers generate in ticket sales, TV sales, etc. because he’s there? Hundreds of millions
Most “regular” workers (factory…office …medical…schoolteachers….. public safety .. etc.) do not generate $1000 in revenue for every dollar they’re paid. If they did they’d be making $5000K/yr ($50M) not $50K/yr. CEOs on the other hand… do (or at least.. should) guide their ship to that kind of ROIh
She is actually very UNDER-paid. Fox will soon realize it was REALLY dumb to nickel-dime her contract.
Fantastic breakdown of the numbers. Thank you.
There’s a difference between “fair” and “adequate” compensation. She is more than adequately compensated, but is she FAIRLY compensated? I’m not a regular house viewer, but her performance and her relationship with House is clearly one of the biggest drivers for buzz about the show.
Unless Lisa goes on a talk show claiming that she is being woefully underpaid, and crying about how she can’t live on 170K an episode, save your global poverty critique. All she’s done as far as we know is negotiated discreetly behind closed doors with her employers.
I thought they were great until they started moving them to romance. I figured something was up in order to make budget.