TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews

Related Links 'House' Listings More About Omar Epps

Oct. 11 -- It's been almost 15 years since Omar Epps made his acting debut in the gritty, urban crime drama 'Juice.' After a number of equally impressive film roles, he made a jump to the small-screen, starring on the hit NBC medical series 'ER' as a disturbed surgical intern.

But it's his role on that other hit medical show -- Fox's 'House' -- that has audiences taking note. He plays Dr. Eric Foreman, a young doctor studying under Dr. Gregory House, a maverick medical mastermind who diagnoses and treats atypical ailments.

In an interview with AOL Television editor Geoff Bennett, Epps talked about his Emmy snub, what's in store for season three and how TV's Rev. Run may be the next Bill Cosby.

So 'House' won the night with its premiere last month and is one of the bright spots of the season so far.
It feels very good, you know? We put in a lot of hours, a lot of hard work and the ratings are the payoff.

Then what was your reaction to getting snubbed by the Emmys this year? Neither you nor Hugh Laurie were nominated.
You can't figure out, you know? All in all, it was great for us to be nominated as a show in only our second year, so I think we have a good momentum going.

Any chance at a spin-off for you?
No, this will be my last TV series.

So you're getting back into movies?
Absolutely. That was the master plan anyway.

You're not leaving the show early, are you?
I'll be with the show until the end, and hopefully we'll have a nice run. But while on hiatus, I plan on doing films. And I'll have to work like that until the show is over.

What movies are you working on?
One of them is a noir thriller about a guy who was wrongfully accused of a crime, served the time and is coming to seek justice. And then the other is a romantic comedy I wrote for myself about two people looking for love in all the wrong places.

On 'ER,' you played Dr. Dennis Gant, a troubled surgical intern. How much did that experience help with your current role?
I'd say it played a bit of a part, but not much at all to be honest because it's a completely different show really. Doing 'ER' helped learn the pace of TV. Things move at hype speed.

Changing gears ... What was the deal earlier this season with the kinder, gentler 'House'? Was that a reaction to last season's violent ending?
We had to buffer him [House] up from last season. We ended with a traumatic cliffhanger. We'll deal with a few personal things like that in the first few episodes, but House will still be himself.

What else is coming up?
A lot of House's normal craziness. I don't know if it's normal, but ... (Laughs)

Explain the unique relationship between Foreman and House.
I think House sees a bit of himself in Formeman, and I think Foreman sees the same. But at the end of the day, House is a genius at what he does, and Foreman is trying to be the best doctor he can be. So House is the best to learn from. House digs into Formeman, but he is sort of the guy who stands up to him.

There's a certain respect?
I don't think he respects it. I think he has to deal with it. House is so crazy, there has to be someone who he knows won't take his sh*t.

What do you make of the show's critics, who take issue with House's unethical behavior and medical decisions?
I have two things. I know a few doctors who absolutely love the show because House gets to say things they can't. And I know doctors who absolutely hate the show because House gets to say things they can't. (Laughs) So it's a toss-up. You know, I don't think people are too offended. People seem to really be responding to the show. But it's TV, it's entertainment. It has to be magnified to seem like real life.

And when you're not working, what are you watching on TV?
'Run's House' is one of my favorite shows. I keep calling it the new 'Cosby Show.' I really don't get to watch much TV -- I know it's kind of a cliché, but it's true.