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IS IT LUPUS? Epps, Edelstein, Spencer, and Morrison think not

Greg Gayne

G GUNSHOT
After Doc Tactless told a patient of her husband's cheating, she killed herself. Then the hubby (Elias Koteas) shot House. Shore wanted House to wrestle with the cost of his ruthless rationalism out of concern that his antihero could be a role model. ''That thought scared me a bit,'' says Shore.

H HONDA MOTORCYCLE
Inspired partly by Laurie's two-wheel passion, House's bike is his preferred mode of transport. Isn't that risky for a guy with a bum leg? ''He's a man with a self-destructive streak and a bit of a daredevil side,'' says Laurie.

I INFARCTION
The source of pain in House's life, at least physically. This is the term for the clot that crippled his right thigh, making him dependent on a cane and pills. The idea was to give the brilliant House an ironic fatal flaw. ''Unfortunately, characters who are pillars of strength aren't all that interesting,'' quips Laurie.

J JAZZ MUSIC
House is a big fan of the genre. In fact, prior to becoming a doctor, he played piano in a jazz trio. Laurie thinks House's tastes are fitting: ''Jazz is an endless tension between major and minor, which is where a bluesman lives, yet remember he's also fond of the hard logic of Bach. I think there's a romantic under all that crust, so I suspect he's got some Beethoven in his closet, too.''

K KILLING PATIENTS
While very few have died under House's care, viewers can expect it to happen again soon. ''House does believe that practicing medicine the way he does, he will make mistakes,'' says Shore. ''But ultimately, he believes he will save more people than he will kill.''

L LUPUS
The rare disease is usually a suspect in any House mystery, but has never yet been proved guilty of any health-sapping crimes. Lupus gets name-checked so much on House that Shore was given an award by the nonprofit organization Lupus L.A. for spreading awareness of the illness.

M MONSTER TRUCKS
One of House's many decidedly low-culture passions; he even once took Cameron to a monster-truck rally on a quasi-date. During lunch breaks — or while trying to evade clinic duty — House has been known to hide in various corners of the hospital to watch soap operas or play videogames. ''He certainly has a juvenile streak,'' says Laurie.

N NEUROCYSTERCERCOSIS
The solution to the very first House medical mystery, and the fancy way of saying ''You've got a nest of parasites growing inside you.'' Shore used the illness to establish a number of House themes — uncooperative patients, the indignity of illness, and the unpleasantness of hospitals.

O OCCAM'S RAZOR
A principle attributed to 14th-century egghead William of Occam: The simplest solution tends to be the best one. Says Shore: ''It's how we approach these mysteries — take something predictable, then find ways to make it unpredictable for close to an hour.''

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