I was just rewatching the Pilot (unaired version).  The patient Rebecca Adler has a conversation about House with Wilson.  “Does he care about you?”  Wilson is noncommittal.  “I think so.”  “Everybody Lies,” quoth Wilson.  Adler says:  It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.  Wilson reflects a moment and reconsiders: “He cares.”  I think this is elemental House.  He says all sorts of outrageous things. He talks a good misanthropic game, but his actions speak more eloquently about House the man and House the Doctor.  That’s what the conversation was about—what it told us in the pilot and gave us a reason to watch.

JMHO

Barbara