At the time of the casting session, actor Hugh Laurie was in Namibia filming the film Flight of the Phoenix. He assembled an audition tape in a hotel bathroom, the only place with enough light, and apologized for its look (which Singer in comparison with a “bin Laden video”). Singer was very impressed by his performance and commented on how nicely the “American actor” was capable of grasp the character.

In the two-part season finale, Volakis attempts to shepherd a drunken House home when Wilson is unavailable. She reappears late in season 5 among the many hallucinations House suffers. All …