The Wisdom of MTW

I was talking about formulaic television series with my coworker Matt today, and we mentioned some of the big ones: The West Wing, and House, MD. He pointed out one of House's staples: he's usually berating one of his staff or an anonymous patient in the clinic when, mid-sentence, he realizes what he's saying is the cure for cancer.

Matt: "You have to stop chewing bubble gum and take—! Hey.... I just cured cancer!"

At this point, I pointed out that, like solving a maze puzzle by starting at the finish and going backwards, the writers on House probably start with the problem and come up with the most outlandish solution they can imagine.

It was then, and only then, that Matt said what was, quite possibly, the funniest thing he has — or will ever — say. In the persona of a dialogue between two of the series' staff writers, he simply blurted:

"Can we have cancer that's cured by bubble gum?" "Hell yeah we can, we're House!"