"Terra Nova," "House" and "Fringe" have life for now, but the clock is ticking.

As for "House," which is currently in its eighth season, Reilly said all parties agreed to make a decision soon after Jan. 1.

"It's hard to imagine the network without 'House,' " said Reilly, who added that there are no plans for a spinoff to the David Shore-created medical drama. "It's no secret it will be a close call."

Because the show is produced by NBC's Universal Television, the Peacock would have the option of bringing it back on its own net if Reilly cancels the show. NBC entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt said a few days ago at TCA that this scenario would be unlikely due to the show's high costs.

If Fox does decide to say goodbye to the Hugh Laurie starrer, Reilly said Shore and his writers would be given ample time to give the series a proper send-off.

In particular, the fates of House, Fringe and freshman series Terra Nova remain undecided, Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly told reporters Sunday at the winter TV previews. "We've done a good job of avoiding some of these big decisions," Reilly said with a laugh. "I do feel fortunate that we have some high-class problems."
House's future has been in question since Reilly first announced a year ago that the show's eighth season may be its last. But Reilly says he's yet to come to a firm decision with show creator David Shore. "It's hard to imagine the network without House," Reilly said. "We're talking as we go along, but we haven't had the big meeting about what we want to do."

However, two things are certain: If this is the end of House's run, Reilly said it will "absolutely have a satisfying conclusion. ... It's not going have an unceremonious finish." Secondly, a House spin-off is definitely not in the cards. "That time has come and gone," Reilly said. "David just never creatively found something that excited him. Maybe something comes up in the 11th hour, and I would always want to hear that, but we're not in that desperate place where we need to keep some vestige of it going."

Question: Last summer, you said that you would probably be making a decision on House by the end of the Fall, which has come and gone, and we haven’t heard anything yet. What’s your sense on that now?

KEVIN REILLY: I think we have just been avoiding it, to be honest with you. It’s hard to imagine the network without House. It’s not going to be like the pink slip goes out, and that’s the end of House. David [Shore] and Hugh [Laurie] and the whole crew have been very busy. They are doing great work. We agreed, mutually, to put it off until after the first of the year. Then, we’ll sit down and see where we are. We haven’t had that meeting yet. Obviously, we are talking, as we go, but we haven’t had the big meeting about what we want to do. We are going to size everything up. It’s no secret. Last year, we said it was going to be a close call, and it’s probably the last year, but we honestly haven’t made the decision.

When you do have that meeting, will that still allow for enough time for David Shore and the crew to wrap things up, if you decide to end things?

REILLY: Should it be the last season, it’s not going to be an unceremonious finish, I can tell you that. They are just really one of the best units of people I’ve ever worked with. They are so professionally, consistently, creatively tenacious. They are collaborative and responsible. Hugh [Laurie] is not only a great actor, but an incredible leader for his organization. It’s just really the dream scenario with that show, and that’s why it makes it a very hard decision, and, honestly, one that I hope we can make together, and I think we will.

If you do decide not to have it come back, could it jump to another network next year?

REILLY: It could, but that will be their business. I’m not even going to speculate about what that would be. I know there’s going to have to be a lot of deals. The deal structure would have to be reworked. But, it will absolutely have a satisfying conclusion to this season on FOX. If it’s the end of the run, I can guarantee you that there is no way David Shore is going to have the fans feel like it wasn’t properly capped off.

Do you see any options on House spin-offs?

REILLY: No, I think that time has come and gone. We talked about spin-offs, over the last number of years, but David [Shore] just never creatively found something that excited him. But, who knows? Maybe something will come up at the 11th hour, and I would always want to hear that. But, we’re not in that desperate place where we need to try to keep some vestige of it going. That whole team, for the most part, has stayed together, through the entire run of the show. It’s why the show has been so consistently good. They’ve always taken chances. And, it’s going to end strong this season. Whether there’s another season, I don’t know. But, we’re definitely not going to do some watered-down [version]. Could we go in and slash the price of it and do a lesser show? We could. But, we’re definitely not going to do that.