The Creative Types: David Shore, Katie Jacobs, et al
Since folks keep asking if we need a topic for the show runners, and I haven't seen one, I'll start one -- though feel free to delete or change if necessary. And I'll start with a question: Why do people hate Katie Jacobs? And I mean something other than "I don't know, she just bugs me somehow."

I don't have a problem with Katie except I think her wardrobe is perhaps one of the worst things I've ever encountered.

Nothin' here to see ......

Copying my post from the spoiler discussion thread: I don't know why you'd dislike her POV, since she's been pro HoYay in interviews As an entertainment tool, sure. She likes to "play" with it. But from what I've read, she doesn't view House nor Wilson as anything other than conveniently hetero. If it ever turns out I'm off beam, I'll be throwing a banquet in her honour. But her strictly straight POV aside, though it usually goes together, I dislike her soap-operaish perspective of the show&characters in general.

And I'll start with a question: Why do people hate Katie Jacobs? And I mean something other than "I don't know, she just bugs me somehow." I don't mean to assume what anybody means by "I hate KJ"- tone is something that's a bit difficult to determine online, but I didn't take it in a "I hate her and wish her bodily harm" way...more of a "I hate peas" kind of way. As for myself, I got no real feelings about her good or bad. She does strike me as the kind of person who tells people what she thinks they want to hear... and that's a bit off putting. I suppose it's also her job, so I'll forgive her though I personally would prefer more direct, honest, less PR sounding answers from her.

I personally suspect that some of the dislike of Katie Jacobs stems from the fact that she's the public face of the production team. David Shore rarely does interviews these days, instead leaving Katie as the contact. I don't view that as her forcing herself on the public, but rather as a splitting of duties between the two of them. From what they've said in past interviews, DS is the big thinker, long term kind of guy for story arcs and character developoment, Katie Jacobs is the day-to-day business person. She may be more comfortable with the press side of the job. (A lot of companies appoint people as the public face, and -- speaking as a reporter -- it's very nice to have a specific contact person because you know who to call, rather than guessing.) But because she's the public face, she's been blamed for developments that people don't like. I'm just curious as to whether there are specific instances that people refer to for their dislike, or if it's a perception issue. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

Thank you Melly all I can say is WORD!! and more WORD!!! and I should probably point out that I also hate peas. I am not sure why butKJ as the public face of the show just grates me. It may be that I associate her with two of episodes that I hate (in a pea-hating kind of way) so much, I only rewatch them if there's a piece of information that I need. One of them had a kiss and the other, a very unsympathetic rape victim (at least for me). IMHO, it appears that DS, St. DE and LK all talk about the show in a way that is different from KJ. DS talks about the House character and how it drives the story. LK and St. DE focus on how the stories reveal something about the character or those around him. KJ emphasizes her feelings about the characters. Maybe that's the part I don't like because it doesn't really tell me anything about where they're taking the story. Cause you know I'm a spoiler whore :)

Let me start by saying I love peas. :D As for KJ, like I said in another thread, hate's a strong word, I guess I don't hate her, but to me, she comes off as very fangirly, that probably doesn't make any sense. It's like others have pointed out she's always talking about her feelings and it seems like all she talks about is the romance (an exageration I know) but that's the way it feels sometimes. She just doesn't seem to take some of the more serious aspects of the show or the characters...well, seriously. I have that same problem with LE too (even though I do like her.) YMMV.

I'm going to link to two of Katie Jacobs most extensive interviews. I'm sure that some members haven't seen them. From the end of season two, here is one with Mo Ryan. From mid-season three, here is an interview with Diane Kristine. I don't mean to assume what anybody means by "I hate KJ"- tone is something that's a bit difficult to determine online, but I didn't take it in a "I hate her and wish her bodily harm" way...more of a "I hate peas" kind of way. Not here, but in other segments of the fandom the vitriol is frankly alarming. It may be that I associate her with two of episodes that I hate (in a pea-hating kind of way) so much, I only rewatch them if there's a piece of information that I need. One of them had a kiss and the other, a very unsympathetic rape victim (at least for me). How is she associated with OD, OR more than most other episodes? She didn't direct it or do any commentary for it. David Shore wrote it. The only episodes where it is evident that she may have had more influence are Half-Wit and Human Error, as the director. But television directing isn't like film directing, where the "auteur" idea is firmly entrenched. Film directors have enormous control over the final product, whereas television directors serve the writers. Her official duties as executive producer: I cast every episode, I do all the editing and music, post-production on every episode, I oversee production and choosing of the directors, and then I collaborate on the scripts. Obviously she has help with many of those duties, but even so, I don't see how she has anywhere near as much influence as David Shore or the writing team on storylines. I'm not trying to be KJ's great defender. I really have no opinion about her. I just don't see any logical reason to dislike her.

I don't know anything about her, except seeing her in House press related videos and reading interviews with her. Do we even know anything personal about her, except who she's with? She has three kids, and she went to NYU for graduate studies in film direction. At the other place, there was a link to an article about her (and not House) in the magazine LA Confidential from this September, but the link doesn't work anymore, and I don't believe that anyone from the fandom has archived it online.

Thanks misere. Now that you mention it, I remember reading about what she studied. How does she find the time for three kids? Busy woman!

I don't have a problem with Katie except I think her wardrobe is perhaps one of the worst things I've ever encountered. I agree. Tim Gunn's Guide to Style is on Bravo, which is also owned by NBC Universal. Surely he could take a trip out west to amend this. :lol: