The Real Hospital In House: Fact Or Fiction?

was house filmed in a real hospital

House is an American TV medical drama that aired on Fox from 2004 to 2012. The show follows Dr. Gregory House, an antisocial medical genius specialising in diagnostic medicine. Despite the show being set in Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, New Jersey, it was not filmed in a real hospital. The show was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California, at 20th Century Fox Studios, with some additional filming at Universal Studios. The pilot was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and outdoor scenes were usually filmed on campus at UCLA or USC.

Characteristics Values
Was the show filmed in a real hospital? No
Was the hospital real? No, Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is fictitious
Where was the show filmed? Vancouver, Los Angeles (Century City, 20th Century Fox Studios), Princeton, Koreatown, Santa Clarita, Universal Studios

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The show was filmed in Los Angeles, California

The popular medical drama TV series House was filmed in Los Angeles, California, at 20th Century Fox Studios. The show was set in the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in Princeton, New Jersey, but interestingly, no scenes were filmed in real hospitals or in New Jersey. The show's pilot was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, but almost the rest of the series was filmed in Los Angeles, specifically at Century City.

The show's production team used soundstages to create the hospital and other interior sets. Occasionally, the show would use locations in Princeton for exterior and school-set scenes. For instance, the show once featured an episode where House goes on a road trip with a patient to Atlantic City, and some footage was shot in New Jersey for this episode. The outdoor scenes in the series were usually filmed on university campuses, such as the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (USC).

The show's production also used other locations in Los Angeles County and nearby areas, such as Koreatown, Santa Clarita, and Universal Studios. The University's Frist Campus Center in Princeton was also used for filming. The show's first season was filmed on two soundstages, while the second season added a third soundstage.

The Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is a fictitious hospital, and there is no hospital by that name in New Jersey. The name was derived from the show's flyover, which starts in Plainsboro and travels towards Princeton University. Despite the show's New Jersey setting, the production team chose to film in Los Angeles, creating the illusion of the East Coast state with soundstages and selective location shooting.

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Some exterior shots were filmed in Princeton, New Jersey

The popular TV series House was set in Princeton, New Jersey, specifically at the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. However, despite the New Jersey setting, the show was not actually filmed in Princeton or New Jersey. The show was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California, at 20th Century Fox Studios, with some additional filming at Universal Studios. The pilot episode was filmed in Vancouver, Canada.

While the hospital in the show is fictional, the name Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital was inspired by the show's setting in Princeton, New Jersey. The show's creators combined the names of two neighbouring New Jersey towns, Princeton and Plainsboro, to create the name of the hospital. Despite the name, there is no actual Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey.

Although the majority of filming took place in California, the show did occasionally use locations in Princeton and New Jersey for exterior shots and school-set scenes. The opening credits, for example, feature some footage of New Jersey locations. The show also incorporated references to local New Jersey culture, such as the phrase "going down the Shore."

The specific locations in Princeton, New Jersey, that were used for exterior shots include the Frist Campus Center at Princeton University and the surrounding area. A flyover scene in the show includes the Princeton University Campus, starting in Plainsboro and flying across Carnegie Lake towards the university. These exterior shots and location-specific references helped to create the illusion that the show was filmed in New Jersey, even though the majority of filming took place in California.

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The Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is fictional

The Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, where the titular character of Dr Gregory House works, is a fictional creation for the show. While the show is set in New Jersey, it was predominantly filmed in Los Angeles, California, at 20th Century Fox Studios. The pilot was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and some outdoor scenes were filmed on campus at UCLA or USC.

The show's creators chose to film in California, opting for soundstages over real hospitals. The show occasionally used Princeton for exterior and school-set scenes, and other parts of New Jersey, such as Koreatown, were used to stand in for New Jersey locales. The name Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is a combination of Princeton and Plainsboro, which are two towns in New Jersey. The show also features a flyover of the Princeton University Campus and the surrounding area, including Carnegie Lake, which is very narrow and looks like a segment of a river.

The show's writers drew inspiration from real-life occurrences, with executive story editor David Foster stating that the stories told on the show are "usually based on the kernel of a true story that we find from medical literature, or a friend of the family who’s a physician tells us a story they learned at work".

While the hospital is fictional, there was an announcement in the local newspaper, the West Windsor Plainsboro News, that a Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital was in the works, as the current Princeton Hospital wanted to improve its facilities.

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The show used soundstages to create the illusion of a hospital

The show "House" was not filmed in a real hospital. The show is set in Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, which is a fictional hospital in New Jersey. The show was filmed in Los Angeles, California, at 20th Century Fox Studios. Specifically, the show was filmed on soundstages 11, 14, and 15 at 20th Century Fox Studios. The pilot for the show was filmed in Vancouver, Canada.

The show's creators used soundstages to create the illusion of a hospital. Every single hospital scene on the show is a soundstage, and these include a few other interior sets. Occasionally, the show would use Princeton and other locations in Los Angeles County to stand in for exteriors and some school-set scenes. For example, outdoor scenes were usually filmed on campus at UCLA or USC. The show also used areas like Koreatown to stand in for New Jersey locales.

The use of soundstages allowed the show's creators to have more control over the filming environment and to create a more cohesive look for the hospital scenes. It also provided the flexibility to design and build sets that specifically met the needs of the show's storylines and characters. By using soundstages, the show was able to create the illusion of a cohesive and functioning hospital, despite not filming in a real medical facility.

The soundstages were likely chosen for practical reasons, as it can be challenging to film in a fully functioning hospital due to privacy and logistical concerns. Soundstages offer a controlled environment with ample space to build sets, control lighting, and accommodate the cast and crew. Additionally, by filming on soundstages, the production team had the freedom to design and decorate the hospital sets to their liking, ensuring that the setting accurately reflected the tone and style of the show.

Overall, the use of soundstages played a crucial role in creating the world of "House," allowing the show to establish its unique aesthetic and atmosphere while also providing the flexibility and control needed for a complex television production.

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The show's pilot was filmed in Vancouver, Canada

The popular medical drama series House was set in Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. However, the show's pilot was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and not in a real hospital. The show's pilot was filmed on a soundstage, with almost all of the hospital scenes for the show being filmed in the same way. The show is based on medical literature or stories from physicians, and the pilot introduced viewers to the character of Dr. Gregory House, a doctor with an unusual bedside manner who was able to solve complex medical mysteries.

The show's creators chose to film in Vancouver for a variety of reasons. The city has a well-established film and television industry, with many experienced crew members and production facilities. Vancouver also offers a range of diverse locations, from urban cityscapes to natural landscapes, which can be useful for filming different types of scenes. Additionally, Vancouver has a favourable exchange rate for American production companies, which can make filming there more cost-effective.

The show's pilot was well-received by audiences and critics, and the decision to film in Vancouver may have contributed to the success of the show. The city's diverse locations and experienced film industry may have helped to create a high-quality pilot episode that effectively introduced the show's characters and premise. The move to film the rest of the series in Los Angeles also allowed for a range of new locations and contributed to the show's success.

The show's pilot was an important step in the development of the series, and the decision to film in Vancouver, Canada, was a key part of this process. The city's production resources and locations helped to create a successful and well-received pilot episode that introduced viewers to the unique world of Dr. Gregory House and the Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.

Frequently asked questions

No, the show was filmed in Los Angeles, California, at 20th Century Fox Studios. The Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is completely fictitious.

The show was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California, at 20th Century Fox Studios. The pilot was filmed in Vancouver, Canada. Some exterior shots were filmed in Princeton, New Jersey.

House is a medical drama that aired on Fox from 2004 to 2012. It follows Dr. Gregory House, an antisocial medical genius specializing in diagnostic medicine.

Dr. Gregory House was portrayed by English actor Hugh Laurie, who won two Golden Globes for his performance.

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