From Business Week (subscription required):

As the TV world descends upon New York City for the annual advertising scrum known as the up-front market, . . . the show that may cause the biggest ripple isn't heavily hyped or star studded: House, the medical drama about a sarcastic, self-indulgent, pill-popping doctor who hates his patients as much as he despises himself.

Starring British actor Hugh Laurie, House is the biggest surprise hit not only of this season but also of the last several.

It's dreary to reflect on the surprise that a show with a supurb lead actor (playing a character with considerably more subtlety than BW says), wonderful writing, a fine cast, and adult treatment of the inevitability of medical error and human pain should be a hit.

May those who create and air this show make a fortune from the IP rights and go on for years.