For many fans of the show House, MD, it’s easy to see the similarities between Dr. Gregory House and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. David Shore and Paul Attanasio, the show’s creators, even admitted to deliberately basing their lead character on the detective.

To see how the creators worked their passion for Sherlock Holmes into the show, here are 7 similarities:

1. They both have similar names.

Holmes’s name is similar to the word "home" while the name House is simply another name for a home. Even the names of his faithful companions are similar: John Watson and James Wilson.

2. Both have only one loyal friend.

The relationship between Holmes/Watson and House/Wilson is similar in that both Holmes and House are dominant personalities while Watson and Wilson are followers. In many cases, while Holmes and House may be abusive towards their loyal friends, Watson and Wilson remain loyal. However, both Holmes and House need their loyal friends because they often serve as the only real connection to the outside world.

3. Both reject cases that do not interest them.

Both main characters only take cases that interest them. Both need to be intellectually stimulated to take on and fulfill a case (either to catch a deadly criminal or to diagnose a deadly disease). They will only take cases that do not interest them if they are forced to take action.

4. Both treat those around them with indifference.

House and Holmes are famous for how badly they treat those around them (House is particularly famous for his bedside manner). Although they may show interest in people during a case, they often lose interest once the case has been resolved. The indifferent behavior causes those around the two main characters to see them as anti-social and arrogant.

5. Both have drug addictions.

The two main characters have been described as having drug addictions. While House was addicted to painkillers, Holmes used cocaine recreationally. However, both men used drugs to escape boredom (and House also used drugs for leg pain).

6. Both have a keen sense of observation.

Both main characters can learn numerous facts about a person simply by watching them. For example, House can diagnose a disease simply by looking at an individual’s subtle gestures, such as a particular tic.

7. They both have the same apartment number.

Another interesting and obvious fact is that House lives in apartment 221B (as seen in the episode titled "Hunt"), which is also the same apartment number as Sherlock Holmes.

Although House, MD aired its final season in May 2012, it remains a fan favorite as a medical drama series. With its homage to Sherlock Holmes, the series provides even more entertainment as fans new and old alike rewatch it to find the Easter eggs.