"Scrubs" (2001)TV series 2001-????

Creator:

Bill Lawrence

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

2 October 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

In the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, intern John "J.D" Dorian learns the ways of medicine, friendship and life.

Plot Keywords:

Surgeon | Interracial Relationship | Nameless Character | Fantasy Sequence | Internal Monologue

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 16 wins & 61 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 6	11:00 PM	WGNSAT
Sun. July 6	11:30 PM	Fox	My New God	#5.5

Cast

Zach Braff	...	Dr. John 'J.D.' Dorian (151 episodes, 2001-2008)
Sarah Chalke	...	Dr. Elliot Reid (151 episodes, 2001-2008)
Donald Faison	...	Dr. Christopher Turk (151 episodes, 2001-2008)
Neil Flynn	...	The Janitor (151 episodes, 2001-2008)
Ken Jenkins	...	Dr. Bob Kelso (151 episodes, 2001-2008)
John C. McGinley	...	Dr. Perry Cox (151 episodes, 2001-2008)
Judy Reyes	...	Nurse Carla Espinosa (151 episodes, 2001-2008)
Robert Maschio	...	Dr. Todd Quinlan (104 episodes, 2001-2008)
Aloma Wright	...	Nurse Laverne Roberts / ... (90 episodes, 2001-2008)
Sam Lloyd	...	Ted Buckland (83 episodes, 2001-2008)
Christa Miller	...	Jordan Sullivan (79 episodes, 2001-2008)

Runtime:

24 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Spanish | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. (some episodes) | UK:12 | Ireland:15 (one episode) | Germany:6 (some episodes) | Germany:12 (some episodes) | Ireland:PG (some episodes) | Singapore:PG (season 3) (season 4) (season 5) | Ireland:12 | UK:15 (one episode) | UK:PG (some episodes) | USA:TV-14 | Singapore:NC-16 (season 1) (season 2) (season 6) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-7 | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Doozer

Trivia:

As an experiment, the Season 5 finale "My Transition" (#5.24) was finished and aired in High Definition. "Scrubs" (2001) is the first network show to complete an on-line edit in Final Cut Pro SD, and with this episode becomes the first network show to on-line in HD in Final Cut Pro. However the show continues to be produced in Standard Definition. According to the producer, Randall Winston: "After a lot of teasing, yes, the HD was an experiment, for everyone really. We will not be doing any more HD - there is a cost that no one is interested in covering and there is debate, not among us here at the show, about how the quality stands up. I don't think that we can get the look that the show is designed around [by using] tape."

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: The x-ray with the show's title shown in the beginning is turned the wrong way: the heart should be seen on the right hand side. This was an intentional mistake put in by creator Bill Lawrence to represent the core idea of the show: young doctors in over their heads. Bill Lawrence reminds viewers that this goof was completely intentional in interviews, DVD commentaries, and virtually any other available opportunity.

Quotes:

J.D.: [thinking] Why don't I ever listen to me?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "American Dad!: Helping Handis (#1.21)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Superman

Brilliant. Why does Friends get the huge fan base and the overexposure and not this?

OK. I'm going to say something here and now.

The end of the world is this show being canceled.

It hasn't happened yet. And God hope that it doesn't happen soon. But if NBC continues it's overexposure of the "Friends" franchise as it no spins off into "Joey", continuously promoting the "third-to-almost-fourth-last-of-the-season", and not on quality shows like this. It will happen.

Using the free-camera style of sitcom to the greatest extent and directing possibilities since Malcolm in the Middle first aired, and simply the best writing ever since "Family Guy" went off the air (but the king shall return!), this is the greatest sitcom on the air, possibly in the last decade or more.

Every character has a personality that lends itself so beautifully to the show. From Dr. Cox's usually emasculating speeches that are highly anticipated every episode (sometimes, you get two, and a little part of you cries for joy on the inside), to the Janitor's way of playing the game of life between he and JD (and always somehow wins), to the main characters' individual blends of awkwardness and realistic smugness at whatever recent job-well-done they have done. But, of course, when it does, it's always fun to see that all fall down.

And each joke (out of all of them, approximately 98% is found in the witty dialogue itself) are executed perfectly by the cast and mixed in with a usually solid plot that sets itself up for jokes yet is satisfyingly emotional and realistic. I mean, really, who continues an argument for 7 years about whether or not they were on a "break"?

Each plot-important scene is treated like one and doesn't stand out as a laugh-dry one either. The usual plot advancement, one that regularly makes a character stare at another with their jaw slightly open and possibly enough time for a quick one-liner, is led into another scene effectively probably with a pan behind some object and the camera reemerges straight into a scene in progress, most of the time able to mix the character's home lives with the hospital life. More creative directorial touches that take full advantage of not using the traditional laugh-track/studio audience/3-walled room is a full hospital set where conversations can be taken around corners, can lead the camera to another character's conversation going in the opposite direction, with which the camera follows, and simply the funniest way to show viewers physical comedy (which never feels too slapstick).

The comedy itself is original and only an experience found here. Anyone who has seen the episode that briefly talks about JD's 'hair-met' can agree. JD and Elliot's love lives, whether together or with others, is always good for laughs, and together, they've even started making fun of their fairly clichéd off-again, on-again relationship (this season ending when JD proclaims love for Elliot, and when they get back together, he realizes, as his last girlfriend said, he only wants what he doesn't have, meaning, he realizes the second she hugs him again that he doesn't actually love her). Other story arcs, whether seasonal or over the series, are always dependable for the series to fall back on a little more than they traditionally do every episode (like the Janitor, or the Janitor and the other janitors, possibly along with Sloppy-Joe-guy, the cook, can have a small yet hilarious part or a large and still hilarious part). Mix in some surprisingly insightful philosophy from JD's narrative (though I like that they've started having some other character's narrating or just with their thoughts heard by the audience) near the end of every episode that ties all the sub-plots together, good music, the directing and plain laugh-out-loud comedy, and this is one show that I eagerly await syndication, DVDs, and, hopefully being one of the few sitcoms NBC will be airing this coming season, an award-winning show that will return to the Top 10 Weekly Nielsons and get more notice by the general public now that what's-it's-name is gone from people's minds. As long as they don't tune into any of the major network's local affiliates between 5-7 weekday nights.