The first episode of House M.D., aired on November 16, 2004, was titled “Pilot.”
The episode introduces Dr. Gregory House, his diagnostic team, Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, and the central tension between House’s exceptional medical reasoning and his abrasive behavior. The patient case involves a kindergarten teacher who develops severe symptoms, giving the premiere an opportunity to establish the show’s diagnostic structure.
The episode was written by series creator David Shore and directed by Peter O’Fallon. It established several ideas that became recurring features: House’s dependence on a cane, his use of Vicodin for pain, his friction with hospital administrator Lisa Cuddy, and his friendship with oncologist James Wilson.
“Pilot” is sometimes casually called the first episode or premiere, but that is its official episode title. It is distinct from later episodes such as “Three Stories,” which became especially notable for its award recognition and for revealing important information about House’s past.