Go 'Mental' this summer
The new series makes no apologies for 'House' similarities.
Published July 8, 2009
With the slow-paced, lazy days brought on by the incapacitating heat, comes television programming that is not up to par with the rest of the year. Most shows on, even during prime time, are repeats. Therefore, a show airing new episodes does not have to try hard to compete. A mediocre summer show has a chance with viewers simply because it offers that which has not been seen before.
"Mental," a series on Fox that aired its premier episode May 26, has, to some extent, already been seen. "Mental" is a happier version of "House" set in a psychiatric ward. Dr. Jack Gallagher, played by actor Chris Vance, like Dr. House, is an unconventional doctor who has the same clever detective skills, but instead of being sarcastic and melancholic, Gallagher is excessively upbeat. Even when others yell at him in anger, he keeps a friendly smile on his face. Although his incessant happiness does not come off as fake, it does show that he has the arrogance of House. The only time his pep slips away is when he receives phone calls from his elusive mentally ill sister, who hangs up without ever saying a word.
Just as Gallagher's cheerfulness is the exact opposite of House's gloom, so is his appearance and health. Gallagher is youthfully attractive and physically fit. At the beginning of the pilot episode, Gallagher, who is new to the hospital, strips off all of his clothes in order to gain the trust of a nude patient who thinks everyone wearing clothes is a monster out to get him. After he diffuses the patient's eruption, he enthusiastically introduces his muscular, naked self to the hospital staff.
The show wastes no time in flaunting the main character's perfect body, and women are often commenting on his good looks. Gallagher always bikes to work, which is a stark difference to House's use of a cane to help him walk. The extreme differences in the character's physical traits and outlook on life fail to cover up that "Mental" is a reproduction of "House."
The hospitals on both shows have brunette female administrators who often have to explain and make amends for the unconventional ways of their head doctors. Administrator Nora Skoff, played by Annabella Sciorra, is romantically linked to Gallagher, which is a parallel to the romantic pairing of House and his administrator.
"House" has cuts to graphic close-ups of the internal workings of the body. "Mental" shows the delusions patients are seeing within their minds. Compared to the vivid medical shots in "House," the patients' hallucinations in "Mental" are less visually pleasing and come off as low budget.
"Mental" fails to meet the excitement of "House" largely due to Gallagher's willingness to help his patients. He always fixes their problems with ease and the only obstacle is making sure family members do not try and take the patients out of the hospital before their treatments are finished. House runs into obstacles and is not constantly right, which keeps viewers engaged in the show. "Mental" is deficient of this drama, which does not make the show bad, but it does hold it back from being good.
