She was one of two (startling) established series regulars who were very important characters on their respective series, who will not be appearing in their shows next season.

One is the subject of this article, actress Lisa Edelstein of HOUSE; and the other actor is Christopher Meloni of LAW AND ORDER SVU.

I’ve written here before about how much respect I have for Hugh Laurie, and his characterization of Dr. Gregory House. (and I so seriously bow my head in reverence for the acting depth and dimension that Laurie embues this character with, and seamlessly. Yet, he does it with such poise that there’s no giveaway, that he isn’t playing someone close to the way that Hugh Laurie is, in ‘real life’. For one thing, he’s a Brit. For another, he’s such a skilled actor that he makes it appear easy, that he’s not acting. There are no-visible-seams…)

The Backstory Of HOUSE’s Evolving Storyline

As a show, HOUSE was so fresh when it first came on. Uniquely intelligent, too; what a TV anamoly. It’s medical mysteries were vexing, and it kept me interested; especially along with Dr House’s callousness, personal issues, drug addiction. But when the Producers increased the relationship between House and Cuddy, the show made a necessary dramatic progression in the nick of in time. (Before it got tiresome without it.) A deeper dimension, call it: House Gets Personal.

HOUSE has a lead star that’s the show’s namesake, in the character of Dr. House; and at the same time, it’s also an ensemble show. So many of the stories are about interactions with and between House and the other actors, and sometimes the show focuses either entirely on relationships and issues between Dr House and a character within the ensemble, or between two members of the acting ensemble. That was what the general stories were about, in the first few seasons. Dr House was a misanthropic genius, so his focus was solving the medical mystery of each show’s patient, while he acted outrageously mean to the patient, or members of the acting ensemble of regular actors, or both.

As the show evolved to be more and more about Dr House confronting his relationship demons, he and Dr Cuddy’s relationship increased. When the intimacy between Cuddy and House became one of the show’s central issues as main topic, Edelstein became elevated from simply one of HOUSE’s ensemble. She became almost as central a character as House himself. Their relationship became, centrally, the main character of HOUSE. Even when Dr Cuddy spent a good amount of episodes involved closely with a different guy (who was a friend of Gregory House’s in the show story), it was a relationship between Dr Cuddy and Dr House arc, in actuality. House’s jealousy and his longing and efforts to get Dr Cuddy ‘back’, was the stronger subtext, beneath her live-in relationship with ‘the other guy’. The romantic tension, and suspense, was far greater. That lead-in, and the eventual coming together of Dr House and Dr Cuddy was so long awaited, and the suspense of how Dr House was going to handle, or not; and grow through the intimate love relationship between the two. It was the central dynamic of the show, and nothing else seemed as important anymore.

The Love Story Between Dr House And Dr Cuddy Became The Star Of That Show

It, or their relationship, became the true star of the show. Dr Cuddy, then, became the 2nd main lead. The two actors that comprised that ‘character’ became essentials, where before the only truly essential character was the show’s namesake, Dr House.

As an actor, Lisa Edelstein figured that out, and came forward with a new salary. I don’t know how much it was, but I am guessing that it was an amount more commensurate with her importance, and newer responsibility as a one of the two major characters around which the show revolved. HOUSE’s story focus had changed dramatically since it’s inception, and earlier seasons. That focus needed her ying to House’s yang.

(I am an outsider looking in. Much of this is what I only assume.) I do know, however, how the acting business works, within TV especially. I also know the show HOUSE, and have watched it over it’s run. I can tell you that no matter what the storyline the writers wrote; I know that what kept me coming back and what I watched for in every episode, was what was going on in the on again off again love coupling between Dr House and Dr Cuddy. What was the latest in the increasing intimacy between the two; and most important, in the emotion progression of the emotionally wounded, emotionally crippled, intimacy-issues-addled, Dr House. Their intimate chemistry upstaged everything else on that show, as it evolved; and was the strongest of any show on TV, while their storyline ran. It was an unbeatable chemistry.

HOUSE really became the DRS HOUSE AND CUDDY show. Obviously, the showrunners, the writers, knew this too; and knew this prior, because they steer the ship. They wrote those episodes.

Lead-Actor Series-Regular Salary Is Higher Pay, Per Episode, Than Ensemble Actor Pay

Which is probably why the actor who played Dr Cuddy asked for money that would be more commensurate with a series lead actor salary, rather than the ensemble actor salary she was probably getting. Because the last time her salary was negotiated, that’s what she was, at that time. One actor in the ensemble.

Instead of paying her a salary as important as she was, the show showed the actress to the exit.

And, I felt badly for her.

It smelled then, and still does, of the attitude of “actors are too easily replacable and interchangable”, from the powers above. From those that make the money decisions on that show.

Are Female Actors Regarded As More Replacable Than Male Actors?

I think they are.

Women, as actors, are usually deemed more replaceable than men. Here’s why: More than not, roles for women are described in scripts, and in casting breakdowns, by physical attributes. If you look at most major movies with this lens, you’ll notice that studio films often cast one pretty ‘girl’ after another in movie after movie. An extreme example is TRANSFORMERS, where lead gorgeous actress Megan Fox was replaced by another actress. Not because of acting ability, or lack of. Not even because she lost any degree of sexiness or beauty. Nope. It was that she spoke too frankly, outside of the set, and that’s a big no-no for sex symbols. F-ability, at all times, is a requirement for this type of actress. Call ‘em what you want, but the “drop-dead beautiful type” isn’t hired for her acting ability, even if the male star she is playing opposite, is hired for that specific (acting talent) reason. She and others of that type is hired because she is considered by the director, or by a group of men, a sexy dream. –I state that gently.)

(To be absolutely frank, it isn’t okay for any actor to speak frankly about their director to the press. It’s not a rule for actresses, or sexy actresses. It’s a rule for any kind of actor, it’s simply Hollywood ettiquette. On the whole, frankness is not appreciated nor acceptible in Hollywood. No kidding, very serious.)

Dr Cuddy Was Dressed Almost Too Sexy To Run A Hospital, But Not For TV

Lisa Edelstein was as sexy as could be, on TV, on HOUSE. To a straight woman, me; she seemed almost too sexy to truly be running a hospital, in those unmovably tight skirts, and those unwalkable highest heels. She was a good actor too, and did a bang up job. Maybe it made them uncomfortable because Edelstein could play so smart, and in control of it all during chaotic times, and especially, when Dr House created the chaos. As I already said, she and Dr House had an unbeatable chemistry, which also means that on the show, as an actress, she was irreplacable.

A tight skirt can’t be simply put on another actress, with the same results. On an intelligent show.The HOUSE producers, and network, may not be as smart or evolved as their show is. It seems they should place a higher value on those that act on HOUSE and truly are valuable. If they are going to write about the growth and overcoming of House’s intimacy issues, they may need to tackle some of their own, first. Like, to value their actors at the worth they have clearly demonstrated.

I may watch it next season because I want to see how they stick in a new actress and attempt to make that work. Storyline dictated by a sudden change…because they didn’t want to pay Lisa Edelstein what she was worth, and as high as her professional acting value was to that show.

Maybe they were tired of her character being too damn smart or too damn strong. If there’s one thing that doesn’t fly in Hollywood, it’s a smart woman. Smart and pretty and sexy is a deadly combo for an actress.

In Hollywood-ese, it’s okay to play a smart woman. Just so the actress isn’t truly perceived as such. In other words, to actually be one. No matter how tight the skirt and how nice the legs; smart, on a woman, is sexy-dream-kill for most of the men who run the show here in this business town. (Unless, the actress is pretending. Pretend smart is okay.Remember, Dr Cuddy held Dr House together, in certain ways. She was the leader, in love, holding the light that showed him the path of intimacy. Maybe it was too much, to powerful, a way to be for the woman in the pair. That is, to the men who run the show. Maybe it made her too dominant, in their eyes, for her to be the more emotionally healthy one in the relationship. As well as his boss.

Who knows.So much here is my own subjective guess. I really don’t know anything, but that Lisa Edelstein went into salary negotiations asking for more money. Or rather, her agents did. And they left these negotiations without anything. Suddenly, not even her acting job.

She was surprised. Everyone was. I felt badly for her, and felt that she must’ve been treated unfairly. As a woman with Hollywood acting experience, and my own hyper-awareness of how difficult it can be to be an actress of a certain type looking for acting parts in a business where roles for women are described by physicality before character traits (or instead of character traits, most often), and that the description is not often brunette, ethnic, smart, strong, etc etc. Yes, I did worry about her next job and how long it may take.

Lisa Edelstein Will Be Acting On THE GOOD WIFE, Without Missing A TV Season

If you felt the same as I about her suddenly losing her job on HOUSE; well, worry no more! This deserving actress has

not had to wait, at all, for another acting job. (Don’t hate her now because she’s beautiful, or got another great acting part right after losing another, either, please. -wink-)

With the same TV hiatus that everyone else got; she’ll start on another acting job as soon as the new season starts, on another show, and this time it’s a network show. A hot show at that: THE GOOD WIFE.

(She’s already started working on it, as shows have begun their new season’s shooting schedule, hiatus is over. Fall TV Season is about to begin…)

Lisa Edelstein’s acting will air in this upcoming, new season of THE GOOD WIFE. Edelstein’s set, so far, for at least 3 episodes as Celeste Serrano, attorney and previous love interest of Will (Josh Charles.)

If you know her, please tell her “Break A Leg”…from Hollywood Actor Prep.