This year we bid farewell to television staples Lost, 24, and Law & Order, but next season may be the year of the departing lead actor.  Steve Carell made some waves when he said that the upcoming season seven of The Office would “probably be [his] last”.  The hit Fox medical drama House will likewise enter its seventh season this fall, which marks the final year for which star Hugh Laurie is currently signed.

Hugh Laurie remarked that, while open to continuing beyond season seven, “I have no idea how much longer the show will run.”  Hit the jump for more comments from Laurie on the impending end of the show.

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According to EW, Laurie is intent that the show not overstay its welcome:

“I only hope we’ll know when the time is right [to close up shop].  When people blunder on for five years after [they should have called it quits]... It gets taken out of your hands. Someone will say, 'That’s it.' "

The British funnyman elaborated:

“I can only say I think we’ll have a sense next year at some point [about whether to keep going]... This sounds like I’m trying to avoid [the question].  I’m not.  I have the brain of a hamster and I can’t think beyond 5 o’clock this afternoon.  I really am that stupid.”

Obviously nothing is finalized, and Fox will do everything it can to keep Laurie on board, but they can’t keep him forever.  Seven years and 150+ episodes is a lot of commitment for an actor who spent years on the more concise medium that is British television.

House is Fox’s highest-rated scripted show, so it’s not going anywhere for awhile with or without Laurie.  But a House without a House is not something I think I’m interested in watching.  I am, however, interested in seeing that which Laurie chooses to follow up his work on House, and hope it will be easily accessible here in the U.S.