ReZoom

There are bigger stars working on primetime than Hugh Laurie, but not many, and not for long.

Best known in the UK for his role in the historical BBC sitcom "Blackadder" and his long-running comedy collaboration with Stephen Fry ("A Bit of Fry and Laurie" and "Jeeves and Wooster"), it's as Dr. Gregory House that the 47-year-old Laurie successfully crossed the Atlantic. Born in Oxford, educated at Cambridge, Laurie has also crossed multiple demographics, appealing to several generations of medical-show fans from those who grew up watching "Marcus Welby" to those who hit puberty when "ER" debuted hunky stud George Clooney.

A Harris Poll in January asked U.S. adults who his/her favorite TV star was, and Laurie came fourth due to his role as House since 2004. It's been a good year for the man who would be House, winning the Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild awards for best male performance in a dramatic television series, both for the second year in a row. Despite one nomination in 2005, Laurie hasn't found his way to the Emmy podium yet.

Crossing Over

Much was made at the beginning of the season about the slew of actors in their 40s, 50s and 60s trying on primetime roles. From Sally Field in "Brothers & Sisters" (ABC) to James Woods in "Shark" (CBS), it was obvious the networks were trying to take advantage of the almost 80 million members of the first TV generation.

Martin Sheen's meteoric popularity during his run as President Jed Bartlett in NBC's "West Wing" ignited a flash of former film stars to take up TV roles. With Hollywood offering limited opportunities to boomers – women in particular – television is fertile ground. This season features the likes of William Shatner, James Spader and Candace Bergen on ABC's "Boston Legal," Brad Garrett in "'Til Death" (Fox) and "West Wing" alum Bradley Whitford in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."

But so far, few have found as much buzz and acclaim in their new TV incarnation as Laurie.

The unshakable Dr. House

The Second Coming of Clooney

That the 47-year-old is so popular with young fans as well as those around his own age is quite remarkable, considering his only major Hollywood exposure (how most celebs are grown) is in the children's movie, "Stuart Little." He's the voice of Stuart's father, Frederick.

Playing the bad-tempered, arrogant and insufferable House, who is also unnervingly brilliant and ingenious, Laurie could be the second coming of George Clooney – a quick-witted TV doc with sex appeal and believability. But whereas Clooney played a flawed doc of his own making, House's flaws are born from a burdensome brilliance and personal tragedy – a misdiagnoses resulted in part of his leg being amputated leaving House crippled, in chronic pain and with a penchant for pain killers. (In a guest appearance on "The Tonight Show" the year he was nominated for an Emmy, Laurie admitted to taking Vicodin in order to get into character for the role.)

But for all the primetime headway boomers are making, there's still a distinct difference in the male-female parity. Laura Innes will leave NBC's "ER" this season, further cutting the number leading actresses over 45. The bias is palpable, despite the success of "Desperate Housewives" (ABC) and its ReZoomer stars Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman.

Want more? Click here to check out our TV Trends section.