House First Look: Jeffrey Wright Puts Dr. House on Trial!

Jeffrey Wright and Hugh Laurie | Photo Credits: Adam Taylor/Fox
Jeffrey Wright and Hugh Laurie | Photo Credits: Adam Taylor/Fox

Just how important is Jeffrey Wright's upcoming guest role on House?

"Jeffrey's character really decides the fate of the series — he puts House's process on trial," executive producer Greg Yaitanes tells TVGuide.com of Monday's episode, "Nobody's Fault."

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Wright plays Dr. Walter Cofield, a renowned neurologist and the former mentor of Omar Epps' Foreman. When one of Princeton Plainsboro's patients is involved in a violent incident, Cofield questions House (Hugh Laurie) and his team about their particular style of practicing medicine. At the very least, his ruling could cost House his license and possibly send him back to the slammer.

"These are questions we've never really asked of the series before, one of which is: What is the responsibility of everybody in an environment of recklessness?" Yaitanes says. "I think every character is forever changed by the events that take place in that episode."

In the first-look video below, which features clips from the upcoming episode, Yaitanes takes us behind the scenes for the making of this pivotal hour. In particular, he notes the importance of casting Wright, who won an Emmy for his role on Angels in America.

Jeffrey Wright checks in to House

"I needed somebody across the table from Hugh Laurie that was formidable," Yaitanes says. Laurie, meanwhile, was less impressed. "I'm very jealous, by the way, because I wanted to play Cofield," he jokes.

"Nobody's Fault" airs Monday at 8/7c on Fox. Get your first look at the episode below.