I love television. Many people wouldn’t admit this, but it’s true, so I won’t deny it. I most likely acquired this adoration and affection of the boob tube from my mother, who TiVos just about everything under the sun, from “Everyday Italian” on the Food Network to the disgusting but addicting “Dr. 90210” on the E! Channel. My mother’s fixation with television molded me at an early age. Even as I was living on a limited budget with no cable TV, I still managed to find some crap to become captivated by, such as the horribly ridiculous soap opera “Passions,” the paternity-test obsessed “Maury” and the deliciously dramatic “America’s Next Top Model.” But I’m remarkably grateful to my mother’s obsession if only for one reason: She introduced me to the most fabulous show on television today — “Scrubs.”
Every Tuesday at 9 p.m. is like a vacation. “Scrubs” functions as an escape from life and from the rest of the crap that’s on TV. It’s witty, hilarious, poignant and incredibly different from any other show. “Scrubs” is clearly not a sitcom — only parts of one episode were filmed in front of a live audience and that episode, “My Life in Four Cameras,” was used to demonstrate how different the show would be if it were indeed a sitcom, complete with laugh tracks, the lighting of a one-dimensional sitcom set and a happy ending in less than 30 minutes.
And that’s just one reason why this show is amazing. It represents real life in a way that “Friends” never could. Problems can’t be solved a half an hour because relationships take work, jobs are difficult and frustrating and life is way too complicated. Brilliant actors, astounding writers and fantastic music make “Scrubs” an innovative, uproarious and emotional series.
The show revolves around John Dorian, aka J.D., a fun-loving, crazy, comical medical resident , who
enjoys delving into random fantasies and the occasional song and dance. J.D. is given life by the exceptionally multi-talented Zach Braff (who also wrote, directed and starred in
“Garden State”). Braff is a comic mastermind who nails each of J.D.’s hilarious antics, yet also manages
to give him a tremendous amount
of depth so the audience truly
connects with him emotionally
and mentally.
Sarah Chalke plays Elliot Reid,
a co-worker of J.D.’s, who is
incredibly ambitious but secretly doubts her abilities to be a great physician. Chalke is perfect in the role and easy to identify with, except for her random, insane memories from childhood and her demand that
no one — absolutely no one —
talks to her while she’s on the toilet.
J.D.’s best friend, Chris Turk, simply known as “Turk,” is hysterically portrayed by Donald Faison (“Clueless”). This surgeon’s quick wit matches J.D.’s perfectly, yet he also manages to reveal his softer side with his wife Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), who is a nurse at the hospital. Their relationship is difficult and tumultuous, but they seem so wonderful for each other that the audience can’t help but pull for them.
Other characters include the harsh and hilarious Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), who enjoys nothing more than giving J.D. and the rest of the “newbies” shit; Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), the chief of medicine who avoids everyone as much as physically possible; and the janitor (Neil Flynn), who devotes his time to tormenting J.D. This ensemble cast is simply superb and the show wouldn’t be the same without all of them.
“Scrubs” manages to take a
serious setting, a hospital (which, like Eugene’s own medical center,
is named Sacred Heart), and add to it a mix of friends, colleagues and patients that results in nothing
short of a smart and clever show. Even if you hate television, it would be difficult not to fall in love with
this show, which airs on NBC
Tuesday at 9 p.m. The first season of “Scrubs” debuts on DVD May 17, which coincides with the fourth
season’s finale. And for those already addicted to “Scrubs,” be sure to keep watching; very soon, “one of our main group takes off,” executive producer and co-creator Bill Lawrence said.
“And we don’t know, it could be forever,” Braff added.

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