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When Dr. Gregory House gets snippy with someone, it's hardly a surprise. But when the snap comes from his real-life avatar, comedian and TV treasure Hugh Laurie, it feels a little bit more out of place. Recently, Laurie went on record to explain why he shot a pithy remark back at a TV critic who criticized the hospital drama, and the reason has nothing to do with either medical expertise or Dr. House's reliance on painkillers. Nope, the culprit was good old-fashioned booze. 

And like so many that have been in his shoes, Laurie feels bad about it. 

We got the story thanks to a June 9 article that appeared on Deadline, which began by explaining the moderate tiff Laurie had with cultural critic and journalist Janet Murray. On June 6, Murray made a post to Twitter (I don't care, that's what it's called) roasting the eight-season medical mystery series as having the "Same narrative every episode." Laure responded to the now widely-shared tweet, invoking some of his most-iconic character's snark.

"One could apply your trenchant analysis to other art forms," Laurie wrote, "JS Bach wrote 30 Goldberg variations on the same chord structure; Frida Kahlo painted 50 portraits of herself;  Henry Moore, what?? The point is, or was, variations on a theme;  if all you see is hospital, medical blah blah, then it wasn’t meant for you. Nonetheless, I look forward to your first novel!"

As it often does with anything resembling celebrity beef, the internet made this exchange explode, with some folks going directly after Murray's reputation. In the light of a new day, Laurie went back to the conversation to apologize and explain why he didn't obey his better angels and keep out of the thread.

"I’m sorry if people have been having a go at you because of my tweet," Laurie posted, "Not at all the plan. I was very slightly drunk and already upset about something that had nothing to do with you. If it’s any comfort, I got it in the neck too. I’m a thin-skinned twat, apparently, even though it wasn’t my skin. I was sticking up for the writers who I adored."

For her own part, Murray responded with a thought-out op-ed and then, on Twitter, clarified that there were "no hard feelings" after the exchange. Even still, it's probably the last time that Laurie gets behind both a keyboard and a bottle and, if I could offer my own advice, compares House to Kahlo and Bach.

Love that show though I do.

House is streaming on Hulu now. 

Just finished binging the adventures of the worst-best doctor on TV? Check out Popverse's guide to what to watch after House MD.