Thirty-something actor Jimmi Simpson, best known for sporadic appearances as "Lyle, the Intern" on the Letterman show, does a super-cool yet sympathetic portrayal of a Catholic priest who comes to Princeton-Plainsboro after hallucinating the bleeding Christ at the door of his parish house in a ghetto neighborhood in New Jersey.
Father Bresson has not been treated kindly by the Church and has lost his faith. He remains a priest, he explains, because "it's my only marketable skill". Victim of a false but damaging accusation of inappropriate contact with a young male parishioner, he has been bounced from one parish to another ever since. Yet he is so cool and self-contained, with an appealing iconoclasm, you have to like him if you have any youth in you. He also is that rarity: a patient who is the equal of House in intellect and wit--so much so that House takes to hanging out in Father Bresson's room in the ICU, not to treat or diagnose but for theological discussions!
Regrettably, Jimmi Simpson has too little screen time in this episode, and through most of that he naturally enough is flat on his back. Yet he still is able to use to good effect his best features: open, Nordic face, expressive eyes and a delivery that is articulate but in no way stagey or affected. Even his throwaway lines are clearly understood.
I hope that Fox Network can find roles for this still youngish actor in which he can really shine.
