Half-Wit 

House struggles to find out why a pianist savant is losing his ability to play. Ultimately, a decision must be made as to how much brain is necessary for a normal quality of life.

Director:

Katie Jacobs

Writers:

David Shore (created by), Lawrence Kaplow

Stars:

Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps

Cast

Episode cast overview:
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
Dave Matthews	...	Patrick Obyedkov
Kurtwood Smith	...	Dr. Obyedkov
Ingrid Sanai Buron	...	Nurse Bev
Kendra Cover	...	Patient
Scott Weintraub	...	Stage Manager
Tyler Patton	...	Neurosurgeon
Bobbin Bergstrom	...	Nurse

Storyline

Musical savant Patrick Obyedkov ends up at Princeton-Plainsboro care after he suffers muscle spasms in his left hand during a piano concert. House learns that Patrick was in a terrible bus accident at age 10, which resulted in severe brain damage - and a sudden, inexplicable ability to play the piano perfectly despite having had no musical training. House and his team race to find the cause of Patrick's rare movement disorder and bleeding problems in time to save the savant's life. Meanwhile, Cuddy suspects that House has applied for a job with another hospital in Massachussetts, only to learn that he was really applying to be a patient in a clinical trial studying brain cancer.

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Plot Keywords:

savant | concert | tying a bow tie | push button | disabled character | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Bovard Administration Building, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bad Hat Harry Productions, Heel & Toe Films, NBC Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

44 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hugh Laurie was nominated for the Emmy of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Dr. Gregory House in this episode.

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Goofs

While discussing the initial patient's diagnosis with the rest of his team in his office, House is eating a bagel that begins as sesame when removed from the bag, is plain when he takes a bite, and is sesame again as he chews it.

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Quotes

Dr. Robert Chase: You can't just randomly stab the temporal lobe and hope you hit the right spot.
Dr. Gregory House: I'm only gonna take little tiny pieces.
Dr. Allison Cameron: Until what?
Dr. Gregory House: Until I find the problem.
Dr. Allison Cameron: Or you kill him.
Dr. Gregory House: No, I'll keep going even if I kill him.

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Connections

References General Hospital (1963)

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Soundtracks

I Have No Memory
Written by Shem McAuley (as Slacker)
Performed by Hugh Laurie and Dave Matthews

User Reviews

House and the piano genius

House encounters a half-wit who is only that in everyday life. A bus accident has turned him into a musical genius when he was a kid. As House is trying to diagnose what is causing seizures and his losing the ability to play, his team and colleagues try to find out why House himself is planning on traveling to Boston. At first they assume it's for a job interview but they soon find out it's a much less nicer opportunity. Watch how his team cares for their bad*ass boss and how he tries to push everyone away again as each lackey tries to break through House's hard defense mechanisms. In the meanwhile, always a sucker for good music, House is moved endlessly by piano playing of Patrick, played by none other than Dave Matthews. Brilliantly, may I add.