(S07E10) So next week, according to NBC, is the "Scrubs finale," which means that only 11 episodes will have aired for what was going to be the show's last season. Epguides.com lists a 12th episode, but I'm guessing it either never got made or it'll be saved for the eighth season on ABC.
Anyway, tonight was definitely an episode full of transitions. Kelso's on the golf course. Cox is the interim chief of medicine ("Chief Dr. Cox," as he orders everyone to call him). Carla wants another baby, especially now that Turk's a Uniball. Ted's got some confidence for once, and is challenging the authority of the Janitor. And J.D. and Elliot are starting to look more and more like a couple, especially when they're cooing over little Sam Dorian.
(S07E09) Last week, one of our commenters, perhaps inspired by Shakespeare, left the following comment on my generally positive review of "My Manhood" (spelling and capitalization have not been touched):
what are you doing reviewing a show you obvioulsy disdain? you suck.
While I generally don't respond to witty comments like these, it gives me a good opportunity to remind folks that, yes, I do like Scrubs. In fact, it's one of my all-time favorite shows; I laugh my butt off at the reruns, even if I've seen them a hundred times. When I don't like an episode, it's usually because I'm disappointed. I know the show can do so much better, and with limited episodes left, it disheartens me when I come across a dud. It disheartens me even more when there's a string of a few duds in a row.
This episode, though, was not a dud. In fact, it was pretty funny, and it felt like one of the show's original writers penned it. I'll talk more about that later, but I first want to ask one important question...
(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.
(S07E07) God, what a snoozer this episode was. And you can't really blame it on the writers being rusty after the strike; this is the first of the last five episodes made before the strike, which NBC held until it could pair it with new episodes of the rest of the Thursday lineup. In fact, as we found out, this is the first of the five final NBC episodes, as the show wasn't picked up by the Peacock. We'll likely see an eighth season on ABC, but nothing has been set yet.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the boringness of this episode. There were two decent laughs in this one: "brinner" and... you know what? I can't think of the other. There was some story advancement in this episode, but overall it was so unmemorable that I'm just going to pretend that next week's episode is the first Scrubs since the strike. Yeah, that'll work.
Now that the Arrested Development movie is pretty much a done deal, fans are dreaming of what the big screen event should include. FilmSchoolRejects listed eight things the Arested Development movie must include, such as the stair car, Lucille 2, and the banana stand. Being the AD fan that I am (I've seen every episode at least 5 times if not more), I've decided to come up with my own list. A girl can dream, no?
David Denman impressed me with the depth of emotion with which he played Roy, former coworker and boyfriend to Pam Beesly on The Office. The scene in which he erupted in jealous rage was portrayed so perfectly, it was one of the most uncomfortable moments on a series that excels at discomfort. Denman nailed it. And while it makes sense that his character arc has come to an end on The Office, it is nice to see Denman's arc continue.
TV Guide says that if this pesky strike ever ends, Scrubs' Zach Braff will executive-produce Saint of Circumstance for FOX, written by his brother Adam. The pilot will feature Denman as a man who quits his office job to work as a night-shift paramedic in the midst of a mid-life crisis. That could be a spin-off. Roy had to quit his office job (granted he worked downstairs in the warehouse) so this could be the next chapter in his life. Maybe he could get a call to Michael and Jan's house for a freak implant spork-related accident.
NBC's press tour day continued with a panel on Sunday Night Football.
When it concluded, panelists including Tiki Barber, John Madden and Al Michaels tossed out signed footballs to 10 or so lucky members of the press. Score! I caught the ball thrown to me by 2006 Super Bowl champion Jerome Bettis, formerly of The Pittsburgh Steelers, now an NBC sports analyst.
In my dreams. It actually sailed over my head to a journalist behind me. "Fumble," he said as he scooped it up.
Gotta hand it to Zach Braff; he's probably one of the most wired celebrities out there. He was one of the first celebs (besides our very own Wil Wheaton, of course) to maintain a blog, and he seems to be well aware of whatever internet buzz is flying around about him or Scrubs.
So it's no surprise to see him respond to the reports from Gawker, Radar Online, and other sites about how he's been tomcatting around New York this summer, seemingly talking up a different woman every night. On the latest entry in his blog (which is also on his MySpace page), he wonders why the tabloid coverage of him is saying that he's being a jerk:
Poor, sweet Jenna Fischer! She broke her back in four places when she took a tumble down some marble stairs a couple of weeks ago and it looks like she'll spend the rest of the summer recovering from her injuries. She recently gave an interview about her accident, and says she felt her feet fly out from underneath her and landed hard on the stairs. She says the pain "was consuming and immediate. I never felt anything like it." She's still in pain, but manages to keep a sunny outlook in the interview (isn't that why we adore her?).
Jenna has slowly been on the mend since the May 14th accident. She has been in a lot of pain and has not been able to travel back home to Los Angeles (she's in NYC). She's been taking slow walks in Central Park to try and heal her back. Jenna says she has received warm wishes from cast members of The Office, and even got some cupcakes from Zach Braff, who happened to be at the party where she fell.
Luckily, Jenna had just wrapped shooting a movie with John C. Reilly where they play a skewed version of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash so it's just her summer vacation, and not her work schedule, that is being interrupted. Jenna has to rest and recover for the next 12 weeks, and then it's right back to the set of The Office. You can send her your well wishes at her MySpace page.
With a new Scrubs contract in hand and a movie to promote, you know that Zach Braff will be on the interview circuit very soon. But part of that circuit will be hosting the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 19, with musical guest Maroon 5.
Braff is going to be promoting his movie The Ex, which co-stars Jason Bateman, Amanda Peet, and SNL cast member Amy Poehler (she's been in a lot of movies lately, hasn't she?). It's the first time Braff has hosted SNL, and I think he'll do well. As all Scrubs fans know, he's good at goofy physical comedy, and I don't think he'll be fazed by the live setting, the cue cards, and everything else that trip up other hosts. By then, he should also know the fate of Scrubs, so we may see a very happy Zach on stage next week.
NBC has been running some strange promos lately for the upcoming season finale of Scrubs. The promos refer to this month's episodes as "the final episodes" and "just four episodes left". Variety is quoting NBC "insiders" who are saying the promos are intentionally vague because the future of the comedy series is still up in the air. Basically, if NBC doesn't find anything it considers "better", then it'll give Scrubs another season. Ouch. That hurts.
If it's the end for Scrubs, that's news to Zach Braff and the gang. Zach recently posted on his website that he hopes Scrubs gets at least one more year because A) this month's finale is a cliffhanger of sorts and B) he signed on to another year (for a lot of money, which is one reason why NBC isn't sure it wants another season).
(S06E13) If I had to sum up this week's episode of Scrubs in one word it would be 'jokey'. I know there was a common thread running through the show which was, in one word, 'trust', but it just didn't seem that it held a lot of substance. In the end it was just the glue attaching a constant barrage of jokes.
Now, before you point you finger at the flat screen and scream 'Of course they're jokes. It's a freaking comedy!' there have been plenty of episodes where the thread actually produced a nice story that wove around the show. A story where some of the humor would come from the situations rather than just from the jokes. Feh, what do I know? Maybe I'm looking too much into the episode. It just seemed to be more of a sitcom this week rather than a comedy. Am I off here, folks?
Anyway, despite all of what I said above, this was a pretty funny episode.
A couple of months ago, Zach Braff was being awfully coy about the prospects of returning for a seventh season of Scrubs. He'd alternately say that he'd love to return if given the opportunity, but then turn around and say that that show could go on without him. Neither statement was definitive, though, and to even the untrained ear, it sounded like Braff was trying to leverage himself in contract negotiations.
All of that has been settled, as Braff signed a contract with Touchstone, Scrubs' production company, for a seventh season. If NBC picks up the show (Bill Lawrence is pretty confident that it will be picked up), Zach will be making $350,000 per episode, according to The Hollywood Reporter, putting him in the upper tier of current sitcom stars.
(S07E10) So next week, according to NBC, is the "Scrubs finale," which means that only 11 episodes will have aired for what was going to be the show's last season. Epguides.com lists a 12th episode, but I'm guessing it either never got made or it'll be saved for the eighth season on ABC.
(S07E09) Last week, one of our commenters, perhaps inspired by Shakespeare, left the following comment on 
(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 
Now that the 
Just last night, a fan named Kevin sent me this query...
David Denman impressed me with the depth of emotion with which he played Roy, former coworker and boyfriend to Pam Beesly on 
Gotta hand it to Zach Braff; he's probably one of the most wired celebrities out there. He was one of the first celebs (besides our very own 
Poor, sweet Jenna Fischer! She broke her back in four places when she took a tumble down some marble stairs a couple 
With a new Scrubs contract in hand and a movie to promote, you know that Zach Braff will be on the interview circuit very soon. But part of that circuit will be 
The Upfronts: FOX
Carter Bays of How I Met Your Mother: The TV Squad Interview
The Upfronts: CBS
