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{{short description|Fictional detective on the TV series House}}
{{Infobox character|
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
| color = #d6d6ff
{{Infobox character
| name = Michael Tritter
| name = Michael Tritter
| image = ]
| series = ]
| caption = Promotional shoot of Morse as Tritter.<br>credit: Chris Pizzello
| first_minor = ]
| born =
| first_date = October 31, 2006
| specialty =
| last_minor = Words and Deeds
| occupation = ]
| last_date = January 9, 2007
| first = "]"
| creator = ]
| last = "]"
| portrayer = ]
| age =
| occupation = ]
| episode = 7
| family =
| portrayer = ]
| imdb_id = 0015933
}} }}
'''Detective Michael Tritter''' is a recurring character in the ] '']'', portrayed by ]. He is the main ] of the third season, which ran between 2006 and 2007. Tritter is a ], who tries to get Dr. ] (]) to apologize to him, after leaving Tritter in an examination room with a thermometer in his rectum. House refuses to apologize, which leads to Tritter researching House's background and discovering the doctor's ] addiction. Tritter turns people close to House against him and forces House to go to ]. When the case ultimately comes to court the judge sentences House with one night in jail and finishing his rehabilitation, telling Tritter that she thinks House is not the drug addict he tried to make him.


'''Michael Tritter''' is a recurring fictional character in the ] series ], portrayed by ]. He is the main ] of the third season, which ran between 2006 and 2007. Tritter is a ], who tries to get Dr. ] (]) to apologize for leaving him in an examination room with a ]. After House refuses to apologize, Tritter researches House's background and discovers his ] ]. Tritter turns people close to House against him and forces House to go to ]. When the case ultimately comes to court, the judge sentences House to one night in jail, for ], and to finish his rehabilitation, telling Tritter that she believes House is not the drug addict he tried to make him out to be.
The character was created as somebody who could go "toe-to-toe" with House. At first, Morse did not know if he wanted to portray the character, because he had never seen the show. When he saw the show he still was not very impressed. But when he told some friends of his, he was convinced because, as Morse puts it, "they just went nuts". Initial responses to the character were mostly positive, however, when Tritter's story arc continued critics responded that the character's arc was becoming "boring". Nevertheless, Morse was praised for his portrayal, and gained an ] nomination, in the category "]" for his appearance in the episode "]". In a 2006 '']'' interview Morse has stated that, although discussions had been made, bringing the character back on the show is "practically impossible".

The character was created as somebody who could go "toe-to-toe" with House.<ref name="2008-06-24 A.V. Club" /> Morse, who had never seen the show before, was unsure if he could portray the character,<!--unsure if he wanted to? unsure if he'd be chosen?--> and was not impressed after familiarizing himself with the show. The excited reaction of his friends to the opportunity convinced him to take the role. Initial critical responses to the character were mostly positive, but critics later felt that the six-episode Tritter ] became boring.<ref name="2007-06-13 IGN" /> Morse, though, was praised for his portrayal and received a nomination for the ] for his appearance in the episode "]". Morse stated in a 2006 '']'' interview that, although he had discussed it with writers of the show, bringing the character back on the show would be "practically impossible".<ref name="2006-10-31 TV Guide" />


==Storyline== ==Storyline==
Tritter first appears in "]", he comes in to the walk-in clinic fearing he has a ] as he showed severe irritation in the area of his groin. House is assigned to see him, and sees him chewing ]. House, in a typically charmless manner, quickly diagnoses him with dry skin, a common side effect of the gum. However, Tritter is not convinced and insists that House take a sample for testing. House declines on the grounds that he's met this month's quota for indulging "stubborn idiots", their conversation continues, until House attempts to peremptorily leave the room. Tritter kicks House's cane, causing him to trip. House then feigns acquiescence and takes the sample, but insists he has to take his temperature—rectally. After inserting the thermometer, House leaves the room with no intention of returning.<ref name="FFL" /> Tritter first appears in the episode "]". His character is a police detective who suffers from a severe irritation in the area of his groin, which he believes to be caused by a ], and who becomes a patient of the walk-in clinic. Although House diagnoses Tritter with dry skin, a common side effect of the ] that Tritter is chewing, Tritter demands that a sample be tested. House declines on the grounds that he has "already met this month's quota" for indulging "stubborn idiots". After Tritter causes House to trip, the doctor feigns acquiescence, but insists he has to take Tritter's temperature rectally due to the nicotine gum. After inserting the thermometer, House leaves the room, with no intention of returning. Tritter later complains about his treatment to House's boss, ] (]), saying that he would rather "beat the crap out of" House than sue him; however, House refuses to apologize. Later that night, Tritter pulls House over for a traffic violation and arrests him after finding ] pills in his pocket.<ref name="2006-10-31 Fools for Love" />


In the next episode, "]", Tritter searches House's apartment and finds a large quantity of Vicodin pills and two apparently forged prescriptions that bear the name of House's friend ] (]).<ref name="2006-11-07 Que Sera Sera" /><ref name="Television Without Pity: Que Sera Sera" /> During "]" and "Whac-A-Mole", Tritter pressures Wilson and members of House's diagnostic team to testify against him, but they all refuse.<ref name="2006-11-14 Son of Coma Guy" /><ref name="Television Without Pity: Son of Coma Guy" /><ref name="WAM">{{cite episode |title=Whac-A-Mole |series=House, M.D. |series-link=House (TV series) |network=] |airdate=21 November 2006 |season=3 |number=8 |credits=]; Davis, Pam}} </ref> In "]", Cuddy finds Tritter spending his day off looking through the hospital's log for evidence against House. She accuses him of not having a life and "personalizing every slight". Tritter responds that "nobody is innocent", as everyone allows House to treat patients despite knowing of his Vicodin addiction and that it takes a police detective to uncover what the doctors are deliberately hiding. At the end of the episode, Wilson visits Tritter and indicates his willingness to testify.<ref name="FJ">{{cite episode|title=Finding Judas|episode-link=Finding Judas|series=House, M.D.|series-link=House (TV series)|credits=]; Hass, Sara|network=]|airdate=28 November 2006|season=3|number=9}} </ref>
Tritter complains about his treatment to ] (]), House's boss, who forces House to talk to Tritter. Tritter says he would rather "beat the crap out of" House than sue him, however, House still refuses to apologize. When House is pulled over for a traffic violation, Tritter reveals he is a police detective. Tritter does a patdown search, due to seeing House taking some pills earlier, and finds some unprescripted ] pills in House's pocket, for which Tritter arrests House.<ref name="FFL">{{cite episode |title=Fools for Love |episodelink=Fools for Love |series=House, M.D. |serieslink=House (TV series) |credits=]; ] |network=] |airdate=2006-10-31 |season=3 |number=5}}</ref>


In "]", Tritter and Wilson work out a deal to allow House to continue practicing medicine if he pleads guilty and spends two months in rehab. Meanwhile, House uses a dead patient's name to obtain ] pills as a Vicodin replacement drug, but nearly overdoses on the drug as he is unaccustomed to its effects. When House visits Tritter early the next morning to agree to the deal, Tritter says the deal is off, after going through the pharmacy's log and reading that House signed for a dead man's drugs.<ref name="MLC">{{cite episode |title=Merry Little Christmas |series=House, M.D. |series-link=House (TV series) |network=] |airdate=12 December 2006 |season=3 |number=10 |credits=]; ]}} </ref>
After House is bailed out by his friend ] (]), in "]", Tritter gets a search warrant for House's apartment and finds six hundred-plus Vicodins. Tritter tells House that the amount of Vicodin could prove an intent to traffic, and decides to look into House's prescriptions. Upon finding a possible fake prescription, Tritter goes to Wilson, who writes House's Vicodin prescription, and shows him two prescriptions he found, written in different handwriting. Wilson lies, saying he sometimes writes his name differently. Tritter asks Wilson to think deeply about his answer, and threatens him with police action if he finds out he's lying. Wilson replies that he's absolutely sure.<ref name="QSS">{{cite episode |title=Que Sera Sera|episodelink=Que Sera Sera (House) |series=House, M.D. |serieslink=House (TV series) |credits=]; Moran, Thomas L. |network=] |airdate=2006-11-07 |season=3 |number=6}}</ref> At the end of the episode "]", Wilson finds out that Tritter has frozen his bank account because he did not believe him. Tritter tries to convince the members of House's diagnostic team to testify against House, but they all refuse.<ref name="comaguy">{{cite episode |title=Son of Coma Guy|episodelink=Son of Coma Guy|series=House, M.D. |serieslink=House (TV series) |credits=]; ] |network=] |airdate=2006-11-14 |season=3 |number=7}}</ref> As revealed in "]", Tritter also has Wilson's car towed and has his prescription-writing powers removed, forcing him to shut down his practice.<ref name="WAM">{{cite episode |title=Whac-A-Mole|episodelink=Whac-A-Mole (House)|series=House, M.D. |serieslink=House (TV series) |credits=]; Davis, Pam |network=] |airdate=2006-11-21 |season=3 |number=8}}</ref>


In the final days leading up to House's court case, House realizes the severity of the situation and finally apologizes to Tritter (episode "Words and Deeds"). When Tritter refuses to accept the apology, House goes into rehab, putting on a show for Tritter and the judge, but Tritter cites his experiences with addicts as evidence House has not changed. The judge tells Tritter that she does not believe House to be the drug dealer that Tritter tried to show him to be and orders Tritter to move on after House is exonerated due to Cuddy committing ]. Just before the bailiff escorts House out of the courtroom, Tritter tells him: "Good luck. I hope I'm wrong about you."<ref name="WAD">{{cite episode |title=Words and Deeds |series=House, M.D. |series-link=House (TV series) |network=] |airdate=1 January 2007 |season=3 |number=11 |credits=]; ]}} </ref>
When Cuddy finds Tritter spending his week off looking through the hospital files, in "]", she accuses Tritter of not having a life, and therefore spending his week off "personalizing every slight". She yells at him for shutting down an innocent man's practice. Tritter replies, saying "Nobody here is innocent", since everybody knows about House's Vicodin addiction, and yet they still allow him to treat patients. Cuddy says that if this is true, then it should be handled by doctors, not police detectives. To which Tritter replies that the doctors are not dealing with it, they are, in fact, covering it up. At the end of "]", Tritter is visited by Wilson, who requests ]—which indicates he is willing to testify.<ref name="FJ">{{cite episode |title=Finding Judas|episodelink=Finding Judas|series=House, M.D. |serieslink=House (TV series) |credits=]; Hass, Sara |network=] |airdate=2006-11-28 |season=3 |number=9}}</ref>


==Personality==
In "]", Tritter and Wilson work out a deal for House so that he can keep practicing medicine if he pleads guilty and spends two months in rehab. House refuses, Tritter tells House that he has three days to take the deal. Wilson talks to Cuddy, who prescribes House's Vicodin because Wilson cannot, and convinces her to stop giving House his Vicodin in order for House to settle. However, when noticing what is happening to House during his detox process, Wilson tells Tritter that he does not want to testify anymore. Tritter says that if Wilson does this, he will use his previous statements and charge Wilson with interfering with a police investigation. Meanwhile House tells the pharmacist that Wilson sent him to pick up medicine for a Mr. Zebalusky (who died a few hours earlier), the pharmacist gives him the oxycodone pills. Early the next morning, House visits Tritter agrees to take the deal, Tritter says the deal is off, because he found the pharmacy's log and found out that House signed for a dead man's drugs.<ref name="MLC">{{cite episode |title=Merry Little Christmas|episodelink=Merry Little Christmas |series=House, M.D. |serieslink=House (TV series) |credits=]; ] |network=] |airdate=2006-12-12 |season=3 |number=10}}</ref>
{{quote box |width=25em |quote=Tritter himself is essentially House without the sense of humor, but that doesn't make him any less right in his assessment of House as bully. |align=right |source=]<ref name="2006-11-01 Sepinwall">{{cite web |last1=Sepinwall |first1=Alan |author1-link=Alan Sepinwall |url=http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2006/11/this-is-why-they-dont-have-many.html |title=This is why they don't have many friends |work=What's Alan Watching |access-date=2023-01-29 |date=2006-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005061940/http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2006/11/this-is-why-they-dont-have-many.html |archive-date=2022-10-05}}</ref> |salign=right}}


The main antagonist of the third season,<ref name="Television Without Pity: Que Sera Sera" /> Tritter is a "stubborn", "vengeful", and extremely determined police detective.<ref name="EWranking" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/11/november_sweeps.html|title=Sweeps ahoy! Highlights of November's TV schedule|author=Ryan, Maureen|newspaper=]|date=2 November 2006|access-date=12 December 2008|archive-date=September 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930111244/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/11/november_sweeps.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to David Morse, the offensive thermometer incident in "Fools for Love" made it easy for Tritter to stand up to House;<ref name="2006-10-31 TV Guide" /> as House's equal, Tritter "gets who House is on all levels and can really shake his foundation".<ref name="Newsday">{{cite news |author=Bobbin |first=Jay |date=30 October 2006 |title=A new enemy for Dr. House |url=http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/a-new-enemy-for-dr-house-1.624746 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319141736/http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/a-new-enemy-for-dr-house-1.624746 |archive-date=2014-03-19 |access-date=22 November 2008 |newspaper=]}}</ref> Tritter's experiences with drug addicts color his view of House,<ref name="AP" /> and he becomes so obsessed<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/house-md-season-three/|title=House, M.D. - Season Three|magazine=]|author=Williams, Kate|date=24 August 2007|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> with House that, according to executive producer ], the story arc turns into "a battle of egos" between them.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/House-Exclusive-David/800004486|title=House Exclusive: David Morse Joins Cast!|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|author-link=Michael Ausiello|date=7 August 2006|magazine=]|access-date=4 October 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080307085813/http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/House-Exclusive-David/800004486 |archive-date = 7 March 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The character shows a ] streak when he forms a plan to coerce each member of House's team to testify separately in "Finding Judas".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/748/748058p1.html|title=House: "Finding Judas" Review|website=IGN|author=Krause, Staci|date=29 November 2006|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> Robert Bianco of '']'' described Tritter as an initially "legitimately, if belligerently, aggrieved adversary" character who later morphs into "some kind of insane supercop, tearing his way through the hospital and the Constitution at will".<ref name="USAT">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/criticscorner/2006-12-11-critics-corner_x.htm|title=What to Watch Tuesday|author=Bianco, Robert|date=12 November 2006|newspaper=]|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref>
In the final days leading up to House's court case, House, realizing this might be his last chance, apologizes to Tritter. Tritter, however, finds the apology too late and wants to get revenge. House goes into rehab, putting on a show for Tritter and the judge. Tritter is glad that House went to rehab, but still refuses to drop the charges, saying that he has learned not to trust addicts due to his past experiences. During court proceedings Cuddy commits ] by saying she swapped the oxycodone pills with placebos, before House signed for them. The judge excuses Cuddy and tells House that he has better friends than he thinks he has; the judge then tells Tritter that she thinks House is not the drug addict he tried to make him and orders Tritter to move on. She makes House spend the night in jail and after that he can return to rehab. Just before the bailiff escorts House out Tritter tells him, "Good luck. I hope I'm wrong about you".<ref name="WAD">{{cite episode |title=Words and Deeds|episodelink=Words and Deeds |series=House, M.D. |serieslink=House (TV series) |credits=]; ] |network=] |airdate=2007-01-01 |season=3 |number=10}}</ref>


==Creation and casting==
==Personality==
]
{{Quote box|width=25em|quote="Tritter himself is essentially House without the sense of humor, but that doesn't make him any less right in his assessment of House as bully".|align=right|source=Alan Sepinwall, '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2006/11/this-is-why-they-dont-have-many.html|title=This is why they don't have many friends|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-12-12|date=2006-11-01|author=Sepinwall, Alan}}</ref>}}
The Tritter character was created as someone to go "toe-to-toe" with House.<ref name="2008-06-24 A.V. Club" /> The producers envisioned a character with an inner strength, intelligence, and single-mindedness to match that of House.<ref name="AP">{{cite news|title=David Morse a 'House' Cop With a Problem |url=http://www.austin360.com/tv/content/tv/stories/2006/11/9davidmorse.html |first=Bridget |last=Byrne |agency=Associated Press |location=], ] |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=15 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913230704/http://www.austin360.com/tv/content/tv/stories/2006/11/9davidmorse.html |archive-date=13 September 2008 }}</ref> In 2006, ''House'' creator ] contacted actor ], with whom he had previously worked on '']'', for a guest-starring episode arc on the show.<ref name="2008-06-24 A.V. Club" /><ref name="2006-10-31 TV Guide" /> According to Ellen Gray of the '']'', Morse's earlier portrayals of "scary" cops (in '']'' and ''Hack'') helped him clinch the role.<ref>{{cite news|title=David Morse makes a "House" call|first=Ellen|last=Gray|date=26 October 2006|newspaper=]}}</ref>


Morse was unfamiliar with the show. After watching several ''House'' episodes, he was surprised that the show had a strong audience with " a total jerk" as the lead character.<ref name="2008-06-24 A.V. Club" /> It was not until Morse told a few long-time friends about the job offer that their enthusiastic reaction convinced him to take the role.<ref name="2008-06-24 A.V. Club" /><ref name="Newsday" /><ref name="AP" /> ], executive producer of ''House'', was impressed by Morse's performance.<ref name="AP" /> In a 2006 '']'' interview, Morse said that, although he discussed the possibility with ''House'' writers, it would be "practically impossible" to get the character to return in any later seasons.<ref name="2006-10-31 TV Guide" />
Being the main ] of the third season,<ref name="TWP2" /> Tritter is a "stubborn" and "vengeful" police detective.<ref name="EWranking" /> Tritter becomes morbidly "obsessed" with House,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/house-md-season-three/|title=House, M.D. - Season Three|publisher='']''|author=Williams, Kate|date=2007-08-24|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref> and wants to get him clean, due to past experiences with ].<ref name="AP" /> The character's portrayer, David Morse, explained that Tritter is the kind of person who "gets who House is on all levels and can really shake his foundation".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny-ettel4953259oct30,0,2642232.story?track=rss|title=A new enemy for Dr. House|author=Bobbin, Jay|publisher='']''|date=2006-10-30|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref> Morse stated that, what House did to Tritter in "]", leaving a thermometer up his rectum for several hours, was so offensive to him that it is not hard for him to stand up to House.<ref name="TVG2" /> Also saying, that as a resulted of this, Tritter's "alarm went off".<ref name="AP" /> Executive producer ], described the story arc as "a battle of ego's" between Tritter and House.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/House-Exclusive-David/800004486|title=House Exclusive: David Morse Joins Cast!|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|authorlink=Michael Ausiello|date=2006-08-07|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref>


==Reception==
Robert Bianco, of '']'' described Tritter's personality as "legitimately, if belligerently, aggrieved adversary", but saying that after the first four episodes of the Tritter Arc, the character "morphed" into "some kind of insane supercop, tearing his way through the hospital and the Constitution at will".<ref name="USAT">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/criticscorner/2006-12-11-critics-corner_x.htm|title=What to Watch Tuesday|author=Bianco, Robert|date=2006-11-12|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref> ]'s Staci Krause stated that the character has a more "manipulative" personality, as in "]" he formed a plan to "break" each member of House's team separately.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/748/748058p1.html|title=House: "Finding Judas" Review|publisher=]|author=Krause, Staci|date=2006-11-29|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref> Maureen Ryan of the '']'' stated that Tritter is a "dogged cop".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/11/november_sweeps.html|title=Sweeps ahoy! Highlights of November's TV schedule|author=Ryan, Maureen|publisher='']''|date=2006-11-02|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref>
Initial responses to the character were mostly positive. Maureen Ryan of the '']'' declared Tritter the best male villain of the fall of 2006.<ref name="CTvillian">{{cite news|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/10/fall_tvs_best_n.html#more|title=Fall TV's best new characters|author=Ryan, Maureen|date=19 October 2006|newspaper=]|access-date=8 November 2008|archive-date=November 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110091453/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/10/fall_tvs_best_n.html#more|url-status=dead}}</ref> ], who portrays ] on ''House'', named David Morse as one of her favorite ''House'' guest stars, saying that he did a great job portraying the character.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/house/exclusive-interview-house-star-11812.aspx|title=Exclusive Interview: 'House' Star Lisa Edelstein|author=Kubicek, John|date=2 October 2007|publisher=]|access-date=15 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020051744/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/house/exclusive-interview-house-star-11812.aspx|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Barbara Barnett from '']'' and Charles McGrath of '']'' compared Tritter to ] of '']'',<ref name="BC">{{cite news|first=Barbara |last=Barnett |date=10 April 2008 |url=http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/04/10/1158232.php |title=House, MD: Revisiting the "Tritter Arc" |publisher=] |access-date=22 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516093135/http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/04/10/1158232.php |archive-date=16 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/theater/07morse.html?pagewanted=print|title=Discovering Irishness, Recovering Niceness|author=McGrath, Charles|date=7 January 2008|newspaper=]|access-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> and Alynda Wheat from '']'' stated that Tritter annoyed House more than any other character, surpassing other antagonists such as ] (]), ] (]), and ] (]).<ref name="EWranking">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/09/12/who-annoyed-dr-house-most/|title=Who Annoyed Dr. House Most?|author=Wheat, Alynda|date=12 September 2008|magazine=]|access-date=4 October 2008}}</ref> '']''{{'}}s Stuart Levine considered Tritter a "worthy foe" for House.<ref>{{cite news|title=Big events shocked the pants off auds: shows push buttons to keep viewers glued|work=]|author=Levine, Stuart|date=13 August 2007}}</ref>


{{quote box |quote=However, after about the fourth episode and the many troubles he was causing the people in House's life, we were bored. This story seemed to drag on forever and, in the meantime, there weren't that many great medical cases to fill in the gap. |source=Staci Krause, '']''<ref name="2007-06-13 IGN" /> |width=25em |align=right |salign=right}}
==Character development==
However, the continued character arc increasingly bored critics. Staci Krause of ] found the first few episodes of Season&nbsp;3, in which House recovers from being shot, more interesting.<ref name="2007-06-13 IGN" /> In a review of "Que Sera Sera", ''Entertainment Weekly''{{'s}} Michelle Kung noted that while David Morse is a fine actor, "his cop is so ridiculously one-note and revenge-bent that his scenes are often just excruciating to sit through."<ref name="2006-11-08 EW">{{cite magazine |last1=Kung |first1=Michelle |date=2006-11-08 |title='House': Things get heavy |url=https://ew.com/article/2006/11/08/house-things-get-heavy/ |url-status=dead |magazine=] |language=en |issn=1049-0434 |oclc=21114137 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627203247/https://ew.com/article/2006/11/08/house-things-get-heavy/ |archive-date=2019-06-27 |access-date=2023-01-29 |quote=On 'House,' oppressive cop Tritter draws Wilson into his case against the doc, and the team struggles to diagnose 600 pounds of patient}}</ref> In a review for "Fools for Love", Sara Morrison of ] doubted that Tritter's revenge on House was worth his time and aggravation,<ref name="TWP1">{{cite web|url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/house/fools_for_love.php?page=11 |author=Morrison, Sara |title=Awkward |date=31 October 2006 |publisher=] |access-date=4 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306022652/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/house/fools_for_love.php?page=11 |archive-date=6 March 2012 }}</ref> and later called the Tritter arc an "insane quest for ass-thermometer justice".<ref name="Television Without Pity: Que Sera Sera" /> '']''{{'s}} Alan Sepinwall stated that "pitting House against a comedy-impaired cop was both dull and not a fair fight".<ref name="SLshotinarm">{{cite news|url=http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2007/11/sepinwall_on_tv_house_gets_a_c.html|title=Sepinwall on TV: 'House' gets a creative shot in the arm|author=Sepinwall, Alan|newspaper=]|date=27 November 2007|access-date=18 November 2008}}</ref>
{{Quote box|quote="We wanted someone with the strength and presence to really stand up to House ... David's presence is felt when he's not even speaking, on the moments when he's silent, his face is so expressive, and he can do so much with just his stature".|align=right|width=30em|source= Jacobs on Morse's portrayal.<ref name="AP" />}}


The show's fans had shown dislike for other antagonists with multi-episode guest-starring arcs, and critics suspected that Tritter's character would receive similar disdain.<ref name="Z2I">{{cite news|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2006/10/the_tease_house.html |title=The Tease: 'House' Returns with David Morse |author=Fienberg, David |date=30 October 2006 |publisher=] |access-date=4 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914195449/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2006/10/the_tease_house.html |archive-date=14 September 2008 }}</ref> The conclusion of the storyline, and Tritter's departure from the show, were described by '']'' critic Robert Bianco as a Christmas gift for fans of the show.<ref name="USAT" /> Morse jokingly stated after his departure that various fans had told him of their hate for Tritter after what the character had done to Dr. House.<ref name="2008-06-24 A.V. Club" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/12/we_ask_david_morse_of_the_seaf.html|title=We Ask David Morse of 'The Seafarer' Who's Tougher: The Devil or House?|author=Latifi, Sadia|date=12 June 2007|magazine=]|access-date=28 November 2008}}</ref>
In 2006, ''House'' creator ], contacted actor ], with whom he had previously worked on '']'', for a guest starring episode arc on the show.<ref name="TVG2" /><ref name="AV" /> At first, Morse did not know how to reply, since he did not know the show. Morse stated that, after watching a few episodes, he thought "This House guy is a total jerk. Why do people watch this show?"<ref name="AV" /> During his vacation, Morse told a few friends he had known for a very long time, about the job offer, his friends reacted very enthusiastically,<ref name="AP" /> and convinced Morse to call Shore and agreed to appear.<ref name="AV">{{cite news|url=http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/random_roles_david_morse?utm_source=imdb_rss_1|title=Random Roles: David Morse|date=2008-06-24|publisher=]|first=Noel|last=Murray|accessdate=2008-09-22}}</ref> Morse stated that he had very minor responsibilities on the show other than "giving House a hard time".<ref name="AV" />


Morse, however, gained mainly positive responses to his portrayal of Tritter. Alan Sepinwall called Morse a "superb actor",<ref name="SLshotinarm" /> and Maureen Ryan stated that Morse's "understated performance" made Tritter all the more scary.<ref name="CTvillian" /> ]'s Daniel Fienberg regarded Morse as "one of our very best character actors".<ref name="Z2I" /> Cynthia Littleton of ''Variety'', who already considered Morse's work in '']'' Emmy-worthy,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2007/07/emmys-oddities-.html|title=Emmys: Oddities and observations|author=Littleton, Cynthia|magazine=]|date=19 July 2008|access-date=22 November 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012192841/http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2007/07/emmys-oddities-.html|archive-date=12 October 2008}}</ref> was glad that Morse's submission of the episode "Finding Judas" for a 2007 ] consideration was accepted in the category of "]".<ref name="EmmySubmis.">{{cite news|url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2007/07/weve-got-the-ti.html|title=We've got the titles of episodes submitted by Emmy's guest actors!|author='O Neill, Tom|date=30 July 2007|newspaper=]|access-date=22 November 2008|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807202348/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2007/07/weve-got-the-ti.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="07emmynoms">{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/2007pt/59thnominations.php|title=The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees are... |access-date=4 October 2008 |publisher=] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515194730/http://emmys.org/awards/2007pt/59thnominations.php |archive-date=15 May 2008 }}</ref> The award eventually went to ] for '']''.<ref name="07emmywinners">{{cite web|title=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 59th Primetime Emmy Awards|publisher=]|date=16 September 2007|url=http://www.emmys.org/downloads/2007/pte59emmywinners.pdf|access-date=4 October 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080627153411/http://www.emmys.org/downloads/2007/pte59emmywinners.pdf |archive-date = 27 June 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
], executive producer of ''House'' was immediately impressed by Morse's performance.<ref name="AP" /> According to Morse, the producers were not looking for a "bad guy", as he later explained "What they were after was someone as focused and as smart as House, so it's a real force he comes up against".<ref name="AP">{{cite news|title=David Morse a 'House' Cop With a Problem|url=http://www.austin360.com/tv/content/tv/stories/2006/11/9davidmorse.html|first=Bridget|last=Byrne|work=]|location=], ]|date=2006-11-08|accessdate=2008-08-15}}</ref> According to Ellen Gray, of the '']'', Morse's earlier portrayals of "scary" cops (in '']'' and ''Hack'') also helped in the casting process.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/PhiladelphiaDailyNews/2006/10/26/1925842?extID=10037&oliID=229|title=David Morse makes a "House" call|first=Ellen|last=Gray|date=2006-10-26|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref> In a 2006 '']'' interview, Morse said that although they had talked about it, it is "practically impossible" to get the character to return in any later seasons.<ref name="TVG2">{{cite news|url=|title=David Morse Prescribes Big Trouble for Dr. House|first=Angel|last=Cohn|date=2006-10-31|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref>


==Reception== ==References==
{{reflist |refs=
{{Quote box
| quote = "...However, after about the fourth episode and the many troubles he was causing the people in House's life, we were bored. This story seemed to drag on forever and, in the meantime, there weren't that many great medical cases to fill in the gap".
| source = Staci Krause, ].<ref name="IGN" />
| width = 25em
| align = right
}}
Initial responses to the character were mostly positive, Barbara Barnett from ], compared Tritter to ] of '']'',<ref name="BC">{{cite news|first=Barbara|last=Barnett|date=2008-04-10|url=http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/04/10/1158232.php|title=House, MD: Revisiting the "Tritter Arc"|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-09-22}}</ref> which was agreed with by Charles McGrath of '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/theater/07morse.html?pagewanted=print|title=Discovering Irishness, Recovering Niceness|author=McGrath, Charles|date=2008-01-07|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref> Maureen Ryan of the '']'' declared Tritter the "Best male villain of the fall of 2006".<ref name="CTvillian">{{cite news|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/10/fall_tvs_best_n.html#more|title=Fall TV's best new characters|author=Ryan, Maureen|date=2006-10-19|publisher=The Watcher, '']''|accessdate=2008-11-08}}</ref> ], who portrays ] on ''House'', said that ] was one of her favorite ''House'' guest-stars, saying that he did "a really great job".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/house/exclusive-interview-house-star-11812.aspx|title=Exclusive Interview: 'House' Star Lisa Edelstein|author=Kubicek, John|date=2007-10-02|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-11-15}}</ref> Alynda Wheat from '']'' stated that Tritter annoyed Dr. House the most, ranking above other ''House'' characters ] (]), ] (]) and ] (]).<ref name="EWranking">{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20225048,00.html|title=Who Annoyed Dr. House Most?|author=Wheat, Alynda|date=2008-09-12|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref>


<!-- dated sources sorted chronologically -->
However, when the character's arc continued, critics became bored, Staci Krause of ] said that she found the first few episodes of Season 3, with House recovering from being shot more interesting.<ref name="IGN">{{cite news|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/796/796279p1.html|first=Staci|last=Krause|date=2007-06-13|publisher=]|work=Some great medical cases, one disappointing story arc and a shocker of a finale.|title=House: Season 3 Review|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref> In a review of "]" Michelle Kung, from ''Entertainment Weekly'' commented "I agree, David Morse is a fine actor, but his cop is so ridiculously one-note and revenge-bent that his scenes are often just excruciating to sit through".<ref name="EW1">{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1556339,00.html|title=Heavy Hands|work=On "House", oppressive cop Tritter draws Wilson into his case against the doc, and the team struggles to diagnose 600 pounds of patient|author=Kung, Michelle|date=2006-11-08|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref> In a review of "]", Sara Morrison, of ], doubted that Tritter getting revenge on House was worth all his time and aggravation,<ref name="TWP1">{{cite web|url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/house/fools_for_love.php?page=11|author=Morrison, Sara|title=Awkward|date=2006-10-31|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref> calling the "Tritter Arc" an "insane quest for ass thermometer justice",<ref name="TWP2">{{cite web|url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/house/que_ser_ser.php|author=Morrison, Sara|title=Vogler II: Electric Vog-a-loo|date=2006-11-07|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref> and giving Tritter the nickname "Detective Shitter".<ref name="TWP2" /> Alan Sepinwall, from '']'' stated that "pitting House against a comedy-impaired cop was both dull and not a fair fight".<ref name="SLshotinarm">{{cite news|url=http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2007/11/sepinwall_on_tv_house_gets_a_c.html|title=Sepinwall on TV: 'House' gets a creative shot in the arm|author=Sepinwall, Alan|publisher='']''|date=2007-11-27|accessdate=2008-11-18}}</ref> Daniel Fienberg of ], feared that what happened to ] (]) in the first season (the audience being glad of the character's departure), would happen to Tritter.<ref name="Z2I" /> "Because", as Fienberg explained, "Dr. House is a force of nature, while anybody sent to oppose him is just a nuisance, particularly any actor signed to a six or eight episode guest-starring arc".<ref name="Z2I">{{cite news|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2006/10/the_tease_house.html|title=The Tease: 'House' Returns with David Morse|author=Fienberg, David|date=2006-10-30|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref> '']'' critic Robert Bianco, agreed with this, by calling Tritter's departure "a Christmas gift for fans".<ref name="USAT" /> ] of '']'', reported that most fans were, indeed, pleased with the character's departure.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b12712_qa_house_producer_katie_jacobs_dishes.html|title=Q&A: House Producer Katie Jacobs Dishes on What Lies Ahead|publisher='']''|author=Dos Santos, Kristin|authorlink=Kristin Dos Santos|date=2007-03-06|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref> After appearing on the show, Morse jokingly stated that he gained various bad comments from fans who said that they hated his character for what he had done to Dr. House.<ref name="AV" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/12/we_ask_david_morse_of_the_seaf.html|title=We Ask David Morse of ‘The Seafarer’ Who's Tougher: The Devil or House?|author=Latifi, Sadia|date=2007-06-12|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-11-28}}</ref>


<ref name="2006-10-31 Fools for Love">{{cite episode |title=Fools for Love |episode-link=House (season 3)#ep51 |series=House |series-link=House (TV series) |first1=Peter |last1=Blake |author1-link=Peter Blake (writer) |last2=Platt |first2=David |author2-link=David Platt (director) |network=] |date=2006-10-31 |season=3 |number=5 |language=en}}</ref>
Morse, however, gained mainly positive responses to his portrayal of Tritter, ''The Star-Ledger''{{'}}s Alan Sepinwall called Morse a "superb actor".<ref name="SLshotinarm" /> Maureen Ryan of the ''Chicago Tribune'', stated that Morse's "understated performance" made Triter all the more scarier.<ref name="CTvillian" /> ]'s Daniel Fienberg said that Morse is "one of our very best character actors".<ref name="Z2I" /> Morse submitted the episode "]", for consideration on his behalf in the category of "]" for the 2007 ].<ref name="EmmySubmis.">{{cite news|url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2007/07/weve-got-the-ti.html|title=We've got the titles of episodes submitted by Emmy's guest actors!|author='O Neill, Tom|date=2007-07-30|publisher='']''|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref> Morse went on to be nominated,<ref name="07emmynoms">{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/2007pt/59thnominations.php |title=The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees are... |accessdate=2008-10-04 |publisher='']''}}</ref> but eventually lost to ] for '']''.<ref name="07emmywinners">{{cite press release |title=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 59th Primetime Emmy Awards |publisher='']'' |date=2007-09-16 |url=http://www.emmys.org/downloads/2007/pte59emmywinners.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-10-04}}</ref> In a comment to Morse's Emmy award nomination, Cynthia Littleton of '']'', said that she was glad Morse got nominated because she already thought Morse deserved an Emmy for his work on '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2007/07/emmys-oddities-.html|title=Emmys: Oddities and observations|author=Littleton, Cynthia|publisher='']''|date=2008-07-19|accessdate=2008-11-22}}</ref>


<ref name="2006-10-31 TV Guide">{{cite magazine |title=David Morse Prescribes Big Trouble for Dr. House |first=Angel |last=Cohn |date=2006-10-31 |magazine=] |issn=0039-8543}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}


<ref name="2006-11-07 Que Sera Sera">{{cite episode |title=Que Sera Sera |episode-link=House (season 3)#ep52 |series=House |series-link=House (TV series) |first1=Shore |last1=David |author1-link=David Shore |last2=Moran |first2=Thomas |network=] |date=2006-11-07 |season=3 |number=6 |language=en}}</ref>
==External links==
* {{imdb character|0015933|Michael Tritter}}
* {{wikia|house|House|Michael Tritter}}


<ref name="2006-11-14 Son of Coma Guy">{{cite episode |title=Son of Coma Guy |episode-link=House (season 3)#ep53 |series=House |series-link=House (TV series) |first1=Shore |last1=David |author1-link=David Shore |last2=Egan |first2=Doris |author2-link=Doris Egan |network=] |date=2006-11-14 |season=3 |number=7 |language=en}}</ref>
{{HOUSE}}

<ref name="2007-06-13 IGN">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/13/house-season-3-review |title=House: Season 3 Review |last=Krause |first=Staci |date=2007-06-13 |website=] |language=en |access-date=2023-01-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117071013/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/13/house-season-3-review |archive-date=2021-01-17 |quote=Some great medical cases, one disappointing story arc and a shocker of a finale.}}</ref>

<ref name="2008-06-24 A.V. Club">{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Noel |date=2008-06-24 |title=David Morse |url=https://www.avclub.com/david-morse-1798214255 |url-status=live |work=] |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108040301/https://www.avclub.com/david-morse-1798214255 |archive-date=2022-11-08 |access-date=2023-01-29}}</ref>

<!-- undated sources sorted alphabetically -->

<ref name="Television Without Pity: Que Sera Sera">{{cite web |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/house/que_ser_ser.php |title=Vogler II: Electric Vog-A-Loo |last=M |first=Sara |publisher=] |language=en |access-date=2023-01-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222042210/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/house/que_ser_ser.php |archive-date=2012-02-22}}</ref>

<ref name="Television Without Pity: Son of Coma Guy">{{cite web |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/house/son_of_coma_guy.php |title=Suspended Disbelief |last=M |first=Sara |publisher=] |language=en |access-date=2023-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429222759/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/house/son_of_coma_guy.php |archive-date=2008-04-29}}</ref>

}}

{{House (TV series)}}
{{featured article}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Tritter, Michael}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Tritter, Michael}}
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Latest revision as of 13:45, 28 October 2024

Fictional detective on the TV series House

Fictional character
Michael Tritter
House character
First appearance
Last appearance
  • "Words and Deeds"
  • January 9, 2007
Created byPeter Blake
Portrayed byDavid Morse
In-universe information
OccupationPolice detective

Michael Tritter is a recurring fictional character in the medical drama series House, portrayed by David Morse. He is the main antagonist of the third season, which ran between 2006 and 2007. Tritter is a police detective, who tries to get Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) to apologize for leaving him in an examination room with a thermometer in his rectum. After House refuses to apologize, Tritter researches House's background and discovers his Vicodin addiction. Tritter turns people close to House against him and forces House to go to rehab. When the case ultimately comes to court, the judge sentences House to one night in jail, for contempt of court, and to finish his rehabilitation, telling Tritter that she believes House is not the drug addict he tried to make him out to be.

The character was created as somebody who could go "toe-to-toe" with House. Morse, who had never seen the show before, was unsure if he could portray the character, and was not impressed after familiarizing himself with the show. The excited reaction of his friends to the opportunity convinced him to take the role. Initial critical responses to the character were mostly positive, but critics later felt that the six-episode Tritter story arc became boring. Morse, though, was praised for his portrayal and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his appearance in the episode "Finding Judas". Morse stated in a 2006 TV Guide interview that, although he had discussed it with writers of the show, bringing the character back on the show would be "practically impossible".

Storyline

Tritter first appears in the episode "Fools for Love". His character is a police detective who suffers from a severe irritation in the area of his groin, which he believes to be caused by a sexually transmitted disease, and who becomes a patient of the walk-in clinic. Although House diagnoses Tritter with dry skin, a common side effect of the nicotine gum that Tritter is chewing, Tritter demands that a sample be tested. House declines on the grounds that he has "already met this month's quota" for indulging "stubborn idiots". After Tritter causes House to trip, the doctor feigns acquiescence, but insists he has to take Tritter's temperature rectally due to the nicotine gum. After inserting the thermometer, House leaves the room, with no intention of returning. Tritter later complains about his treatment to House's boss, Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), saying that he would rather "beat the crap out of" House than sue him; however, House refuses to apologize. Later that night, Tritter pulls House over for a traffic violation and arrests him after finding Vicodin pills in his pocket.

In the next episode, "Que Sera Sera", Tritter searches House's apartment and finds a large quantity of Vicodin pills and two apparently forged prescriptions that bear the name of House's friend James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard). During "Son of Coma Guy" and "Whac-A-Mole", Tritter pressures Wilson and members of House's diagnostic team to testify against him, but they all refuse. In "Finding Judas", Cuddy finds Tritter spending his day off looking through the hospital's log for evidence against House. She accuses him of not having a life and "personalizing every slight". Tritter responds that "nobody is innocent", as everyone allows House to treat patients despite knowing of his Vicodin addiction and that it takes a police detective to uncover what the doctors are deliberately hiding. At the end of the episode, Wilson visits Tritter and indicates his willingness to testify.

In "Merry Little Christmas", Tritter and Wilson work out a deal to allow House to continue practicing medicine if he pleads guilty and spends two months in rehab. Meanwhile, House uses a dead patient's name to obtain Oxycodone pills as a Vicodin replacement drug, but nearly overdoses on the drug as he is unaccustomed to its effects. When House visits Tritter early the next morning to agree to the deal, Tritter says the deal is off, after going through the pharmacy's log and reading that House signed for a dead man's drugs.

In the final days leading up to House's court case, House realizes the severity of the situation and finally apologizes to Tritter (episode "Words and Deeds"). When Tritter refuses to accept the apology, House goes into rehab, putting on a show for Tritter and the judge, but Tritter cites his experiences with addicts as evidence House has not changed. The judge tells Tritter that she does not believe House to be the drug dealer that Tritter tried to show him to be and orders Tritter to move on after House is exonerated due to Cuddy committing perjury. Just before the bailiff escorts House out of the courtroom, Tritter tells him: "Good luck. I hope I'm wrong about you."

Personality

Tritter himself is essentially House without the sense of humor, but that doesn't make him any less right in his assessment of House as bully.

Alan Sepinwall

The main antagonist of the third season, Tritter is a "stubborn", "vengeful", and extremely determined police detective. According to David Morse, the offensive thermometer incident in "Fools for Love" made it easy for Tritter to stand up to House; as House's equal, Tritter "gets who House is on all levels and can really shake his foundation". Tritter's experiences with drug addicts color his view of House, and he becomes so obsessed with House that, according to executive producer Katie Jacobs, the story arc turns into "a battle of egos" between them. The character shows a manipulative streak when he forms a plan to coerce each member of House's team to testify separately in "Finding Judas". Robert Bianco of USA Today described Tritter as an initially "legitimately, if belligerently, aggrieved adversary" character who later morphs into "some kind of insane supercop, tearing his way through the hospital and the Constitution at will".

Creation and casting

David Morse, who portrayed Tritter, in 2005

The Tritter character was created as someone to go "toe-to-toe" with House. The producers envisioned a character with an inner strength, intelligence, and single-mindedness to match that of House. In 2006, House creator David Shore contacted actor David Morse, with whom he had previously worked on Hack, for a guest-starring episode arc on the show. According to Ellen Gray of the Philadelphia Daily News, Morse's earlier portrayals of "scary" cops (in 16 Blocks and Hack) helped him clinch the role.

Morse was unfamiliar with the show. After watching several House episodes, he was surprised that the show had a strong audience with " a total jerk" as the lead character. It was not until Morse told a few long-time friends about the job offer that their enthusiastic reaction convinced him to take the role. Katie Jacobs, executive producer of House, was impressed by Morse's performance. In a 2006 TV Guide interview, Morse said that, although he discussed the possibility with House writers, it would be "practically impossible" to get the character to return in any later seasons.

Reception

Initial responses to the character were mostly positive. Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune declared Tritter the best male villain of the fall of 2006. Lisa Edelstein, who portrays Lisa Cuddy on House, named David Morse as one of her favorite House guest stars, saying that he did a great job portraying the character. Barbara Barnett from Blog Critics Magazine and Charles McGrath of The New York Times compared Tritter to Inspector Javert of Les Misérables, and Alynda Wheat from Entertainment Weekly stated that Tritter annoyed House more than any other character, surpassing other antagonists such as Amber Volakis (Anne Dudek), Stacy Warner (Sela Ward), and Lucas Douglas (Michael Weston). Variety's Stuart Levine considered Tritter a "worthy foe" for House.

However, after about the fourth episode and the many troubles he was causing the people in House's life, we were bored. This story seemed to drag on forever and, in the meantime, there weren't that many great medical cases to fill in the gap.

Staci Krause, IGN

However, the continued character arc increasingly bored critics. Staci Krause of IGN found the first few episodes of Season 3, in which House recovers from being shot, more interesting. In a review of "Que Sera Sera", Entertainment Weekly's Michelle Kung noted that while David Morse is a fine actor, "his cop is so ridiculously one-note and revenge-bent that his scenes are often just excruciating to sit through." In a review for "Fools for Love", Sara Morrison of Television Without Pity doubted that Tritter's revenge on House was worth his time and aggravation, and later called the Tritter arc an "insane quest for ass-thermometer justice". The Star-Ledger's Alan Sepinwall stated that "pitting House against a comedy-impaired cop was both dull and not a fair fight".

The show's fans had shown dislike for other antagonists with multi-episode guest-starring arcs, and critics suspected that Tritter's character would receive similar disdain. The conclusion of the storyline, and Tritter's departure from the show, were described by USA Today critic Robert Bianco as a Christmas gift for fans of the show. Morse jokingly stated after his departure that various fans had told him of their hate for Tritter after what the character had done to Dr. House.

Morse, however, gained mainly positive responses to his portrayal of Tritter. Alan Sepinwall called Morse a "superb actor", and Maureen Ryan stated that Morse's "understated performance" made Tritter all the more scary. Zap2it's Daniel Fienberg regarded Morse as "one of our very best character actors". Cynthia Littleton of Variety, who already considered Morse's work in St. Elsewhere Emmy-worthy, was glad that Morse's submission of the episode "Finding Judas" for a 2007 Emmy Awards consideration was accepted in the category of "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series". The award eventually went to John Goodman for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

References

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