Bummer news for those who still watch Fox’s “House,” the medical procedural unofficially and loosely based on Sherlock Holmes, as the show has been canceled, effective at the end of the season. Yes, the show is stale; yes, “House” has been repeating itself for years, and yes it’s almost painfully predictable. But it was once a good show, and it’s still one of Fox’s better dramas, and whether you like the show anymore or not, television is better with Hugh Laurie.

According to the NYTimes:

“After much deliberation, the producers of House MD have decided that this season of the show, the 8th, should be the last.

“By April this year they will have completed 177 episodes, which is about 175 more than anyone expected back in 2004,” the statement said.

“He should never be the last one to leave the party. How much better to disappear before the music stops, while there is still some promise and mystique in the air,” the statement said.

The decision was partly motivated by a desire to preserve the main character, Dr Gregory House, as an “enigmatic creature”.

I don’t expect there will be too much sadness. Even the 10 million viewers or so that continue to hang on are probably just listlessly waiting it out, half-focused on another formulaic plot. Most expected that this would be the last season, anyway.

Laurie has said that he will not do another TV show after “House,” but I suspect there are enough meaty roles in British television to lure him out at some point.

No finale date has been set.

One month ago, I set the over-under on episodes of Kelsey Grammer’s “Hank” that would air at 5.5. Collect your winnings if you took the under, because ABC has canned it after five episodes (and one Great Pumpkin preemption).

The show is filming episode 10 and will stop production after wrapping  that episode. ABC… has no immediate plans to run the remaining five segments. [The Live Feed]

In slightly higher quality cancellation, Fox has axed Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse,” which had low ratings but a small and nerdy fan base. Unlike “Hank,” Fox will air the second season’s remaining episodes. Whedon and the nerdy fan base are sad. Whedon wrote:

I’m off to pursue internet ventures/binge drinking. Possibly that relaxation thing I’ve read so much about.

Gosh, when he puts it that way, I don’t even feel bad for him. I kind of wish I were rich and fired.