(S07E08) When I was watching the cold open to this episode, one thought came to my mind, "Oy, I don't know how I'm going to put up with another season." Usually on Scrubs, the cold open is a good indication of how the episode is going to go, comedy-wise.This cold open was not only not particularly funny, but it seemed oddly paced, as well. The only funny part about it was the gag about Ted being The Janitorial's investigative reporter because no one ever knows he's there.But then something happened: the episode got funny. Not peak-level Scrubs funny, not even peak-level season seven funny. But it at least gave me hope that Bill Lawrence and his gang have enough in the tank to give us another twenty or so episodes (between what's left this season and what they'll likely shoot for ABC next year) and not make me want to stick a fork in my eye or, worse yet, turn the show off altogether.
The Janitor hasn't had much to do lately, aside from wielding his knife-wrench last week (nice catch from the commenters on that one), so the newsletter plot was good to see. I've always enjoyed seeing him screw with Cox, because he truly is the only person, with the possible exception of Jordan, who isn't afraid of ol' Per. Admittedly, I do miss seeing him torture J.D., but I guess that joke had played itself out. Anyway, the current brain trust of Murphy, Ted, and The Todd has been a funny one, especially when The Todd gives an "entire Coffee Bucks high-five."
Is it me or have J.D. and Turk been oddly antagonistic towards each other lately? First it was last week's "suck it, bitch!" gag and now we have them beating on each other and Turk chasing his Vanilla Bear down the halls of Sacred Heart. It just seems weird. Yes, I get it that the "remote wrestling" and other aggressive acts by Turk were a compensation for his testicle being removed (by the way, I was wondering if I had missed the episode where he went to visit his brother, then everything was explained). And I get that J.D. wanted to show his son Sam that he wasn't a wuss. But seeing the two of them beat on each other was a little unsettling. Though hearing how J.D.'s inner monologue sounds while he's being sat on might have made the plot worthwhile.
By the way, even though they were beating on each other, the "Guy Love" duo did take the time to admit what we all knew... Turk: "I think we're a little bit married." J.D.: "I know, and it's great."
It's interesting how the continuation of the Kelso forced-retirement plot had more to do with Elliot than it did with Bobbo himself. And, did they ever show what happened with the male patient who was mortified that he had breast cancer? Usually, Scrubs follows through on those stories, but they dropped the ball here. Anyway, even though almost none of Elliot's stories end with the phrase "and then he hung himself," it was funny that Kelso thought that was the case. Of course, both of her stories ended that way this week, but at least one of them lived. We also found out that Dr. Reid once dreamt of having sex with a half-dolphin version of Kelso, even though we don't know which half was dolphin-ized. Hmm. I don't think I want to know.
Other fun stuff:
- I do really feel bad for Kelso at this point. No one's scared of him, he's got an eating problem, and he's puttering around the hospital waiting for someone to kick him out. It was getting sad. Luckily, Elliot and Carla -- and, I'd guess Cox, eventually -- will help him keep his job.
- The overly aggressive patient J.D. faced at the beginning of the episode was played by Mindy Sterling (Frau from Austin Powers). I once guested on a segment of Attack of the Show with her, debating the merits and demerits of Saturday Night Live. I'd like to say I kicked her ass, but she got her points in pretty well. She's definitely a funny actress; I wish we saw her more often.
- Mindy's husband was played by Michael McDonald of Mad TV, who played extraordinarily frank patient Mike Davis in three episodes (and voiced Dr. Toilet last year). However, I think his role here is different. And way too brief.
- I love the shocked look on J.D.'s face when he found out that C-Bear had a ball removed. That part of the story -- remember, Turk tells J.D. everything -- wasn't really examined, was it?
- When J.D. went to give Cox a hug, Cox asked "You saw the interview, too?" J.D.'s classic response: "What interview?" J.D. always thinks Coxie needs a hug; he didn't need some fake article in The Janitorial to tell him that.
- How can you "sit 'n' surf" (or was it "squat 'n' surf?") without burning your lap? Those laptops are kinda warm.
- Don't ever, ever call the Janitor stupid. Even if he didn't go to Harvard (or Yale), he's smarter than most of the doctors there. Heck, J.D. still thinks one testicle creates boys while the other creates girls.
- Another extended fantasy sequence this week, but this one was at least reasonably funny: The "Turk tree" that grew from the extracted ball would have been a lame gag if not for Donald Faison's squeaky mumbling as the plant.
- Murphy wanted to get Hello Kitty toe tags to put on the dead kids. That's just wrong.
- The Todd's upskirt camera was an obvious sight gag (he could just use his cell phone), but it still generated a nice chuckle from me.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-18-2008 @ 1:16AM
Rich said...
This was the first episode in a while (and the hiatus is somewhat to blame) that I found myself laughing throughout. Great episode. Everyone had some nice screentime.
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4-18-2008 @ 1:27AM
Diego M said...
This was a good episode. a lot better than last weeks, that's for sure.
the whole fighting for the remote reminded me of horseplayin with my brother when i was little. I would usually get J.D.ed.
everyone had good involvement and the plots seemed cohescent until i realized they didn't solve the cancer guy's problem.
"hello kitty tags for the dead kids"
i chuckled and then i realized i was goin to hell.
20 more eps!!!
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4-18-2008 @ 1:46AM
John said...
Hmm, let me check.
Yep, you're STILL writing the worst reviews of Scrubs episodes currently available anywhere.
Who cares about Breast Cancer guy? They were going to start him on chemotherapy. That's your wrap up right there. Would you rather they have wasted valuable time by showing him undergoing treatment while his brothers stood there cracking jokes about his cancer boobies? I mean, how funny and worthwhile is that, right? Didn't think so.
This episode was great. Sure, not like Season 2 great, but that's not really a realistic expectation. Be fair, people (that includes you, Joel).
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4-18-2008 @ 3:55AM
Michael said...
Douche.
4-18-2008 @ 1:49AM
John said...
Hey, Diego, newsflash:
Nobody has solved cancer yet.
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4-18-2008 @ 2:04AM
Noreen P said...
Did you guys catch when the Janitor said he's been called a lot of things: stupid being one, and Josh... and that they're only half-truths? HA! Does that mean we finally have a name for the janitor?!?
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4-18-2008 @ 2:13AM
John said...
No. His name is not Josh. End of story.
4-18-2008 @ 3:55AM
Michael said...
I caught that too! They'll have to give out his name sooner or later.
4-18-2008 @ 6:12PM
Richie said...
How do you know that wasn't his name? It sounds pretty straightforward to me.
4-18-2008 @ 2:26AM
DM said...
"I've been called a great many horrible names in my life, backstabber, zebra-poacher... Josh... And I've accepted these because to each there is a degree of truth to them, but I am not, nor will i ever be, stupid."
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4-18-2008 @ 5:31AM
Paul said...
"Usually, Scrubs follows through on those stories, but they dropped the ball here."
As is sometimes the case with "Scrubs", this guy could appear in the next episode to finish off that part of the storyline, and be used as a metaphor for that "lesson of the week".
I haven't been disliking Season 7 like you have, but I will say this episode was particularly strong. Probably one of the stronger non-uber episodes (ie. My Way Home, My Musical) since the one where Nicole Sullivan's character dies of rabies and the 3 transplant patients also kick the bucket. It really felt like it could've fit in amongst anything from Season 1 through 4. And I definitely enjoyed the 2 fantasy sequences this week (though the second one mostly because it addressed what happens when JD fantasizes while running! :P).
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4-18-2008 @ 7:40AM
Joel Keller said...
Paul, if that's the case then I'll be happy to be wrong about that.
4-18-2008 @ 7:45AM
keithnl said...
..."Oy, I don't know how I'm going to put up with another season."...
I had the same thought during the first episode of the season. Of course my response was to checkout, I don't care if it is the last season, Im sick to death of Scrubs.
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4-18-2008 @ 6:33PM
oneillmahoney said...
then why the hell are you reading and commenting on a scrubs post? shut the hell up, and leave the people that actually enjoy the show be.
4-18-2008 @ 8:39AM
Jimmy said...
Paging Dr. Kevorkian ...
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4-18-2008 @ 10:21AM
annacsmith08 said...
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It was actually funny and had those classic Scrubs moments - JD wanting to give Cox a hug, and not having to read the article - Elliot's stories, which are always great - the janitor getting revenge - and the fantasy sequences were actually funny this week! and not too long! Turk's mumbling was hysterical!
There is some animosity going on between our favorite couple (J.D. and C bear, of course) - even in JD's fantasies - which is a little unsettling... maybe they'll come back to why Turk didn't tell him right away about his precedure... but maybe it was the whole masculinity thing... speaking of - the guy with breast cancer - same thing... it was just showing how all these different men deal with their masculinity. i don't really care if they bring him back for closure or not b.c. it wasn't about him.
and i think the janitor's name is Joshua ... "all of these names are a somewhat true." interesting... solid episode in my opinion.
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4-18-2008 @ 11:37AM
Kemp said...
Michael McDonald also directed this episode...
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4-18-2008 @ 12:20PM
Brian said...
What was with JD calling Cox a borderline alcoholic? That sure doesn't seem like something he would say to his great godly mentor figure.
I suppose it was a parallel with the whole "being trapped and lashing out" storyline... but that was one hell of a lashout for a relatively average Coxian insult.
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4-18-2008 @ 1:40PM
Dan said...
I loved this episode, and it clearly marked an important development in JD/Turk's relationship. I think they have been drifting apart since season 1, and recently with the birth of JD's baby, moreso. I loved the throwing in of "Josh" as a possible name for Janitor, but I think it might have been a false hope for us. Kelso becoming vulnerable is a bit off character, but not as much as one would think because as men age, they tend to soften, my 60 year-old father being a great example of a captain of industry becoming a softie when he's starting to feel old. 5 years ago my father wouldn't have been caught dead playing with a cat or crying about a baby, now he rolls around the carpet with his cat and cries every time his new granddaughter does anything new. Kelso seeing himself as an old man approaching retirement has him in a vulnerable state like he's never felt. Scrubs is amazing how it can tie stupid slapstick humor to incredibly heartful scenes from second to second.
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4-18-2008 @ 3:38PM
viewdrix said...
I also wondered why Michael McDonald's role was so brief. maybe they just gave his recurring character the "angry husband" role because he was already there directing the episode.
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