I'm in that camp too, I don't believe Cameron was ever intended to be that central either. Just looking at Foreman & Chase, Foreman was specifically created for OE, there are plenty of stories of how difficult it was to cast Chase, going as far as re-writing the part when they finally found JS & JMo gets the "well, either one will do" story. Yes, the crush thing was planned, but I doubt anything more long term. When the option came up because of fan feedback, sure they looked at it as an option, but IMO the notorious "s4 H/Cam" comment turned into the early s3 arc with Cameron & I'd dearly like to know what they thought of the execution (we've had comments on Tritter, & Wilson & Cuddy & lack of Chase, but nothing on Cameron or Foreman that I've seen). & yes, being told repeatedly there's chemistry, not a good sign; ditto re the "she's beautiful" - JMo is very pretty, but Cameron? S3 not so much either physically or personality-wise.

Who wants to talk about why DS appaarently decided to give Cameron a close to non-existant sense of humor?? Ooh, ooh..I do! Hey, I'll talk about almost anything until the next season starts. After watching the seasons 1 and 2 dvd's I suspect that we're going to learn that Cam was responsible for or had some part of a major medical decision placed on her even before PDH. (My sole reason for this belief is that she's seems to be around a lot or has something to say during those "tough decision" moments and I think her article dealt with the subject as well. It's hard to be sure, since JM doesn't quite sell those "there's something else going on" moments the way HL and JS do) Perhaps that is the reason why she often seems self important, overly serious and essentially humorless to a large chunk of the audience ,but TPTB seem to keep insisting that we're seeing "good". Perhaps we're just not picking up all the clues that we're supposed to be about the character, since I do think she's supposed to be"damaged" and essentially likeable despite her faults.

Just looking at Foreman & Chase, Foreman was specifically created for OE, there are plenty of stories of how difficult it was to cast Chase, going as far as re-writing the part when they finally found JS & JMo gets the "well, either one will do" story. I didn't know this... and what you mean with the "either one will do" story? the crush thing was planned Yes I believe it was planned, what I found peculiar is that they chose to start "the crush" in the same episode they introduced Vogler. The Vogler arc, as long I know, was an idea from the network executives, wasn't it? I suspect (because I'm paranoid) that love interest!Cameron was their idea to put romance in the show, too. Maybe DS was planning to show how House fascineted Cameron (something that I could see in the early episodes) and the executives thought it would be "so cool" if he fell for her, because "OMG! Sex and violence are the best thing to show on tv!!!" And so Cameron's character was doomed! The lack of humor: I don't thing there's a particular reason. It was a character trait. I suspect that we're going to learn that Cam was responsible for or had some part of a major medical decision placed on her even before PDH. I sincerely hope not. I don't really want to know anything more about her. I just want they give her a rest... JMO, of course!

In today's NYTimes review of JMo's television movie on Princess Diana, the review offered this capsule summary of the Cameron character: "In her role as Dr. Cameron, one of Hugh Laurie’s comic foils on “House,” Ms. Morrison spends much of her time wrinkling her brow and rolling her eyes, and those talents come in handy here as she senses that something is awry at the Ritz." I am highly amused at the idea that anyone might see Cam as a comic foil! This totally shoots down the notion that Cameron comes across as a romantic option for House. I think that only the deluded cling to that notion now. The rest of the review is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/24/arts/television/24dian.html?ref=television

I am highly amused at the idea that anyone might see Cam as a comic foil! I could see a character being both a romantic & a comedic foil, but definitely not Cameron, and the thought that she's a comedic foil - I've never really thought about it in those terms but in a way she is, she's the indignant straight person.

I could see a character being both a romantic & a comedic foil Dr. Elliot Reid? I don't see how Cameron's a comic foil either. The only time I am amused by her is when she gets all upset because it's funny to me that none of the guys care and she's just so exasperated. It's also another reason I can't buy her "love" for House. She has no sense of humor and you need one to really connect with House, or you at least need to lighten up a little bit more than she's capable of doing.

She has no sense of humor and you need one to really connect with House, or you at least need to lighten up a little bit more than she's capable of doing. Once in a blue moon it shows up in a genuine manner, like the cotton candy scene, but I rather wonder if that wasn't JMo rather than Cameron? The rest of the time its almost like the character has rehearsed the jokes - which may well be deliberate, but ITA its part of why I can't see her with House, a shared sense of humor seems so central to him & its a lot of why I see House & Wilson's relationship work, & even House & Stacey, they got each other's jokes. Just looking at Foreman & Chase, Foreman was specifically created for OE, there are plenty of stories of how difficult it was to cast Chase, going as far as re-writing the part when they finally found JS & JMo gets the "well, either one will do" story. I didn't know this... and what you mean with the "either one will do" story? I don't have the original press reports because its been so long, but when the show first aired & probably for the first year or more there was a lot of press about how they found the cast. OE had Foreman written for him, DS wanted to work with him & OE was one of the first cast as a result; JS was one of the last cast because they had such problems finding the person they wanted for Chase - the guy who plays McDreamy on GA even read for the part & didn't get it, he got the GA gig afterwards, they even expanded the search overseas & when they found JS they re-wrote the role for him to be from Oz & dropped the age etc (he was supposed to be a 35 year old radiologist from SF & he, Wilson & House were all supposed to be in their late 30s). JMo read for the role as a brunette & as a blonde on separate occasions - and DS was reported (& I think said specifically) "oh, either one will do" about what he thought were two different actresses for the casting decision. Doesn't suggest he was particularly invested in either the actress or the character. JMo was asked about this & replied that she hoped that DS saw something in her that reflected who he thought Cameron would be, & that she was therefore the right person for the role, but its always been a bit ambiguous to me exactly how much thought they put into the casting. Its doubly interesting because she's the only one of the kids who repeatedly makes comments about how she discussed something with DS & it seems that a lot of decisions about what Cameron should look like (for example, hair etc) are things she pushes for & DS either hasn't thought about or doesn't much care about. I have no idea, but it all seems a bit odd to me in light of how clearly the other characters seem to have been predefined at the start & maybe somehow Cameron wasn't.

I thought it was Bryan Singer who couldn't tell it was the same woman, actually, not David Shore.

Thanks for the explanation Saara :) and Vitawash99 So interesting to know how Cameron's character seems to be cast in such a random way. Explain a lot of things to me. I could see a character being both a romantic & a comedic foil, but definitely not Cameron Definitely not Cameron! Her lack of humor could have being comic but sense of humor seems to be an essential quality in any kind of relationship with House, romantic or otherwise.

Thanks, vitawash :D - my memories not the greatest on all this & I'm sure I've made a number of mistakes in the above, but hopefully Lully, that's a reasonable gist of the situation.

She has no sense of humor and you need one to really connect with House, or you at least need to lighten up a little bit more than she's capable of doing. I think Cameron has a sense of humor -- witness the "jello shots" line or "I'm hitting that" bit -- but I think she keeps it locked up. Maybe she's afraid her sense of humor won't play well, but I think it's overcompensation for some other failing of hers. I'd say it goes back to the "damage" issue, and what we were told in the pilot: that Cameron is not necessarily who she seems to be on the outside, and what we've seen of her with Chase, that when she lets herself go, she takes things to the other extreme. Maybe she's afraid of taking things too lightly, so she stamps down that lightness. That doesn't mean I think she's a good match for House, she's not. But that I think she does have humor. Maybe it also falls into the commentary for half-wit, in which David Shore and Katie Jacobs note that Cameron is the type to both kiss and stab at the same time. She's two polar extremes living in one person. (Not in the bi-polar sense, sense though.)

Surely what that reviewer mean was that Cameron--with her naivete, gloom and earnestness--served as a foil for the comedic element of Laurie's portrayal of House.... Or else they never actually watched the show.... :lol: Or maybe they got Cameron and Cuddy mixed up? In which case they were either legally blind or...had never watched the show... :lol: My vote goes for sloppy writing. :evil:

I think Cameron has a sense of humor -- witness the "jello shots" line or "I'm hitting that" bit -- but I think she keeps it locked up. Maybe she's afraid her sense of humor won't play well, but I think it's overcompensation for some other failing of hers. You're right. She is capable of making jokes but as someone said, when she does they sound very rehearsed and frankly I think a lot of them are an attempt to impress House, like "see? I can be dirty. I can be bad. I can be like you." Typically, she's not amused by House or his jokes. I just think that she's way too serious to be with House. Wilson and Cuddy are able joke and have fun with House and I think that's part of why House likes them and vice versa.

Cameron has a sense of humor -- witness the "jello shots" line or "I'm hitting that" bit See, I didn't find these particular bits humorous. She sound annoyed and a little angry to me. I'm not saying that she doesn't have any sense of humor, but I think it's very hard to her to show it. Maybe it's because she's afraid of losing control, or it's because she thinks that people wouldn't see her as a "serious doctor" if she was more playful. Or maybe she really is humourless (is this a word ???) and bitter. At the end I still find her character confusing and somewhat wrong. I didn't see the commentary for Half-Wit yet, but from what I've heard it seemed they are describing more a treacherous person than a confusing one, but maybe it's just me, because I seem to have the worst opinion on her... but hopefully Lully, that's a reasonable gist of the situation. Yes, Saara. I understood the process, thanks!

How about her "sex can kill you" speech to Chase? Hilarious. Otherwise I agree: she can be snarky, but she's not funny. She's a serious and pretty much humorless person. I found completely believable her direct denials to Tritter in "Finding Judas" and then Wilson in "Resignation" that she had any residual feelings for House. I do think she is finally over him. Me too. There still may be lingering feelings there, but she's accepted that she'll never have House and rationally doesn't WANT to have House. So she's denying those feelings and they're fading away. I liked the commentary saying that Cameron will kiss you and stab you at the same time. All through S3 we were saying that Cameron was nutty, now we have confirmation that she's supposed to be.