The London native behind one of TV's hottest dramas is feeling just a bit of pressure as the second season ends. This is no time to relax, David Shore, the creative force on the hit medical drama House, said from Hollywood.

"All this attention means we're doing something right. But there's also some added pressure to maintain that level and even top it. I'm not complaining though, because that's a pretty good problem to have."

Shore refuses to reveal much about this season's closing episode, which airs tomorrow on Fox and Global.

"I can say that it'll be true to the crazy spirit of our show and that one of Dr. House's many enemies will make a comeback."

A preview suggests that House, the title character, is shot.

Tomorrow's finale will be a crowning moment for House, which, last year drew five Emmy nominations and a win for Shore in the script- writing category.

The show's popularity has soared this season, with weekly viewing audience numbers passing the lofty 24-million mark.

"Of course I love this series, but you never expect this great a response," adds the 46-year-old Shore, the series' creator, writer and executive producer.

"It's obvious that our show has struck a chord with people."

Having a hit series means more "clout" and creative freedom for Shore, who points to a recent House episode that included a fairly modest "nude" scene involving hospital administrator Lisa Cuddy, played by Lisa Edelstein. "One of the Fox execs told me that because we had such great ratings, we could show more of Cuddy's tush," says Shore with a chuckle.

He says much of the credit for his show's success belongs to its star, Hugh Laurie, who plays the irascible, eccentric Dr. Gregory House.

"Hugh's incredible handling of that role is the big key. House is not about the medical stories as much as it is about that character who's so clever, philosophical and ethical," explains Shore, who drew two previous Emmy nominations as a producer on Law & Order.

"Audiences just love to watch this weird guy who's like a 15-year-old kid trapped in the body of a grown man."

In his Emmy Award acceptance speech in September, Shore praised Laurie "for making me look like a better writer than I am." He also thanked his parents, Londoners Marvin and Cecile Shore, "for making me happy and well adjusted enough to enjoy this." In 1991, Shore abandoned his career as a lawyer, packed up his car and headed for Los Angeles, where he planned to become a TV writer.

During a television career that now spans 15 years, Shore has written scripts for several series, including Due South, NYPD Blue, EZ Streets and The Practice.

He also wrote and produced Traders, a hit series he developed for Canadian TV.

Before launching House, he spent three seasons as executive producer of Family Law, which, like Due South, was created by his friend and fellow Forest City native Paul Haggis. Haggis later left TV to make the Oscar-winning movies Million Dollar Baby and Crash.

IF YOU WATCH
What: Season finale of House
When: 9 p.m. tomorrow
Where: Fox and Global

DAVID SHORE
Who: A former Londoner and a lawyer, Shore earned an Emmy for writing an episode of the Fox hit, House, a series he also created and executive-produces.

Other TV credits: A writer for Due South, NYPD Blue, EZ Streets and The Practice, Shore drew two Emmy nominations as a producer on Law & Order. He was executive producer of Family Law and Hack before creating House.

Born: July 3, 1959 at Victoria Hospital, London, the son of Londoners Marvin and Cecile Shore; his brothers, twins Philip and Robert Shore, 44, are rabbis conducting outreach programs in Israel.

Education: Attended Masonville public school; A. B. Lucas secondary school; University of Western Ontario and University of Toronto law school

Personal: Shore is married and lives with his wife, Judy, a former TV producer, and their three children (Jesse, Sydney and Rory) in Encino Hills, Calif.