Painless (19 Jan. 2009)

House treats a patient who's worn out by chronic pain. Cuddy tries to do her job and take care of her new child. Foreman and Thirteen's relationship stalls.

Director:

Andrew Bernstein

Writers:

David Shore (creator), Thomas L. Moran,

Stars:

Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Laurie	...	Dr. Gregory House
Lisa Edelstein	...	Dr. Lisa Cuddy
Omar Epps	...	Dr. Eric Foreman
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Dr. James Wilson
Jennifer Morrison	...	Dr. Allison Cameron
Jesse Spencer	...	Dr. Robert Chase
Peter Jacobson	...	Dr. Chris Taub
Kal Penn	...	Dr. Lawrence Kutner
Olivia Wilde	...	Dr. Remy 'Thirteen' Hadley
Martin Henderson	...	Jeff
Jake Cherry	...	Zach
Sarah Danielle Goldberg	...	Lynne (as Sarah Danielle Madison)
Alex Fernandez	...	Fernando
Anthony Montgomery	...	James Carlton
Lori Petty	...	Janice Burke

Storyline

Adoring preteen son Zach and his mother find Jeff in his car, attempting suicide. He's been suffering with intolerable pain for three years. Finding the cause proves elusive. House also has a leg pain in addition to some domestic troubles.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide attempt | ceiling collapse | leaking pipe | isopropyl alchohol | hospital gown | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 10, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Heel & Toe Films, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In a double blind test, the doctor who conducts it is given a number of samples identified, in most cases, by numbers or letter-digit combinations. Neither the personnel performing the experiment, nor the patients know who gets the drug and who gets only the placebo; it is revealed after the experimental part has concluded and the results are processed statistically. This ensures that the experimenting personnel or patients themselves have no possibility of altering the result of the experiment. Considering how double blind test is shown in this episode, it is certain the writers have marginal (at best) knowledge how it actually is conducted in reality.

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Quotes

Dr. Gregory House: [to Cameron] This is the favor? I was expecting something that involving whipped cream and tongue depressors.

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Connections

References Jungle Book (1942)

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Soundtracks

"I Still Care for You"
(uncredited)
Performed by Ray Lamontagne

User Reviews

Far fetched

I don't like a diagnosis to affect my feelings about an episode, as there are always other things going on. But this one takes the cake. House must deal with a man who tries to kill himself over chronic pain. Meanwhile, House is trying to deal with his painful leg, and at moments, even this gets to be a bit much. The solution to the guy's condition is so unbelievable and unacceptable that it ruins much of the episode. Foreman and 13 hit a bump in their relationship road, but frankly, I am not interested in their relationship, so this did nothing for me. Cuddy continues to have problems dealing with the baby. So what else is new? You can feel the writers stretching, and I do mean stretching, with this episode.