Headline, Industry News

House writers work in Canada references

TORONTO (CP) _ Is "House" becoming the new "West Wing"?

The late, lamented political drama capturing the day-to-day workings of the White House was rife with references to Canada. "O Canada" was even played twice at a White House function in one episode.

The abundance of Canadian references on the former NBC hit only served to highlight the fact that many American shows _ even those shot in Canada or with Canadian actors in their casts _ rarely acknowledge the existence of America’s neighbour to the north.

But the medical hit "House" may be picking up where "The West Wing" left off. Or maybe the writers of this week’s episode, "Fetal Position," were just poking fun at the show’s creator and executive producer, David Shore, when lead character Dr. Gregory House barks at an airline booking agent while trying to book a flight to Cambodia.

"I don’t want to layover in Frankfurt, Taipei, Singapore or London, Ontario," the curmudgeonly House snaps.

"That’s why I asked for a direct flight to Phnom Penh."

Shore is a native of London. The southwestern Ontario city does have an international airport but it isn’t exactly the hub of connections that Frankfurt Airport is.

Later in the same episode, chief of staff Dr. Lisa Cuddy offers House a first-class ticket to Vancouver Island for his holiday. Though House admits "everybody likes Canadians," he rips the ticket in half as soon as he gets home.