Fox to End 'House' After This Season

Medical drama to end its run on net after eight seasons

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/8/2012 6:09:52 PM

Fox has made a decision on the fate of one of its dramas in question, announcing Wednesday that the current eighth season of House would be the show's last.

"After much deliberation, the producers of House M.D. have decided that this season of the show, the eighth, should be the last," said executive producers David Shore, Katie Jacobs and Hugh Laurie in a statement. "By April this year they will have completed 177 episodes, which is about 175 more than anyone expected back in 2004."

Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly signaled last summer that this season would likely be House's last, after series co-star Lisa Edelstein declined to renew her contract at the end of season seven. The network is also facing somewhat of a shelf-space problem with new drama Alcatraz performing well and a solid preview for Touch, which will start its run in March (the fate of the fall's Terra Nova still remains undetermined).

"While it's with much regret, and a lump in our throats, we respect the decision Hugh, David and Katie have made," said Reilly in a statement. "For eight seasons, the entire House team has given us -- and fans around the world -- some of the most compelling characters and affecting stories ever seen on television."

House is produced by NBCUniversal-owned Universal Television, which has led to speculation that the series could be picked up by NBC. In Wednesday's announcement, the producers seemed to leave the door open, however slightly, for a new home for the series.

"The producers can never sufficiently express their gratitude to the hundreds of dedicated artists and technicians who have given so generously of their energy and talent to make House the show it has been -- and perhaps will continue to be for some time, on one cable network or another," the statement said.

NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt, for his part, seemed lukewarm to the idea of picking up the series at TCA last month, before Fox had decided House's fate.