So, in between watching election coverage over the last couple of days, I slipped in DVDs of the first two episodes of the new ABC incarnation of "Scrubs," which will debut at some point in early 2009.And they're terrific.
In particular, the second one -- a spiritual sequel to season one's "My Old Lady," guest-starring Glynn Turman (Mayor Royce from "The Wire," and/or Blair Underwood's dad on "In Treatment") as a terminally-ill patient -- is already one of my five favorite "Scrubs" episodes ever, just the right mix of pathos and weird comedy.
Bill Lawrence promised that he was going to dial back on the wackiness, and he has. JD is still weird, but he's also recognizably human again. And the new intern characters -- notably Aziz Ansari from "Human Giant" and Eliza Coupe -- fit in very well. I think I'd rather see the show go out on a high note, ala "Frasier" or "Cheers" (both of which rebounded in their last years after some weak later seasons), than to attempt to continue a year from now as "Scrubs: The Next Generation," but if the ratings are decent enough to allow that, at least it looks like the creative team has rediscovered what made the show great in the first place.
Not trying to be a tease; just trying to remind everybody that "Scrubs" is still here, and that the new stuff is going to be worth waiting for.
And, because I can never link to it enough, here's Turk dancing. Or, if you prefer your "Scrubs" darker, JD, Dr. Cox and The Fray.
Aw, I can't wait to see Scrubs back on track again, after a rather uneven season... I do love that Turk dance. :D
ReplyDeleteSo, do they have a set date for the new season yet?
You're evil. You can watch new Scrubs and I can't. You're evil.
ReplyDeleteThat's terrific to hear! Do you have any info on when Scrubs will begin airing?
ReplyDeleteI have been avoiding the most recent Scrubs seasons like the plague, so this is great news to hear.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think it's time for me to put on some "My Half-Acre"/"Her Story II." Turk dancing to Bell Biv Devoe? That's so funny.
Every time Kath & Kim comes on, I cringe upon the realization that the worst episodes of Scrubs were 100 times more entertaining.
ReplyDeletep.s. That clip of Turk dancing is one of my all-time faves. Not just because of Turk's awesome dance, but also because of The Todd's hilariously inspired Mike Reno imitation. Gold.
ReplyDeletethose are two of the best clips ever.
ReplyDeleteyesterday the musical episode was on Comedy Central - somehow that ep was even better than watching election results!
Glad to hear they're rediscovering what made them great to begin with. I'll actually start watching this again.
ReplyDeleteAlan,
ReplyDeleteFor being able to watch the first two new episodes of Scrubs, you're officially a bastard coated bastard filled with bastard filling. :)
I can't wait until January. I'll be picking up Season 7 next Tuesday and then be doing a Scrubs marathon before the new season starts.
Glynn Turman will always be Colonel Taylor from A Different World to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that the first two episodes of the new season are so good. I have largely been disappointed with everything after season 4, and have considered giving up on the show, but really wanted to stick around until the finale to see how it ends.
ReplyDeleteAnother great clip is of the short-lived Air Band that Turk, Janitor, Ted and Lloyd formed to perform Boston's "More Than a Feeling." Every time I hear that song, I think of that amusing performance.
I love Ted in that More than a Feeling clip.
ReplyDeleteFresh new start for Scrubs. Woo hoo!
@jcpdiesel21
ReplyDeleteSome of the best episodes are in season 5... But yeah Seasone 6 was quite dissapointing (for Scrubs). Season 7 was better, but it was cut short. And not as good as earlier seasons.
I thought 6 was terrible, and 7 was barely watchable, but I wouldn't mind another show to fill my time.
ReplyDeleteI thought Aziz Ansari was signed up to the new Amy Poehler NBC/Office/Greg Daniels sitcom?
Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this!!!! I love Scrubs and I'm so glad to hear that it is going to be worth the wait.
ReplyDeleteI thought Aziz Ansari was signed up to the new Amy Poehler NBC/Office/Greg Daniels sitcom?
ReplyDeleteHe is. But this season of "Scrubs" wrapped filming in August, and because there wasn't going to be a scheduling conflict, Daniels was cool with letting Ansari do these "Scrubs" episodes. If "Scrubs" and the Daniels show are somehow both around next fall, Ansari would be on the NBC show, and "Scrubs" would have to find some new new blood.
Some of the best episodes are in season
ReplyDeleteMy Way Home, My Lunch, (whatever the name of the ep after that)
As for "How To Save a Life" is there anyone sufficiently geeky around here to figure out when the eps of Scrubs and Grey's that included it aired? I used to know (and in fact, came home one night to watch both scenes and then found Grey's had used the song to make a season 3(?) promo music video. I was watching *that* for the second time before I realized it was not that Chasing Cars from theit *other* music video.
(and there was one for this season, which I never saw at all)
btw - if you pay attention - Scrubs, unlike Grey's, I think, uses the whole song - but they speed it up.
and darn, now i must go look for the grey's music vid, and subject my ears to abc.com's insta-video.
ReplyDeleteIs Entertainment Weekly's article on How to Make a Network Website on their site? It was a good article.
Maybe if it shut the speakers off...
In particular, the second one -- a spiritual sequel to season one's "My Old Lady," guest-starring Glynn Turman ...
ReplyDeleteSpoiler?
Spoiler?
ReplyDeleteNo. Unlike "My Old Lady," there's no attempt at misdirection about what's going to happen to the patient.
OMG!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited!!!!!
Thanks, Alan!!!
Any chance they filmed this season in HD (widescreen)?
ReplyDelete@fabarati
ReplyDeleteYou're right, there were some really great episodes in season 5: My Way Home was an excellent 100th episode and a neat homage to The Wizard of Oz, and it was interesting to see another side of Cox in My Lunch and My Fallen Idol.
But otherwise, the season is mostly forgettable. Season 5 was when the show started to get over-the-top wacky, introducing gags like Dr. Acula and Floating Head Doctor, and having things that should have been in JD's fantasies a part of reality (i.e. JD managing to fit inside Turk's backpack, or it may have been the other way around).
I'm always crushed by this scene instead:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rirPLLYBys
--bad dad
So any idea what day it will air?
ReplyDeleteI have always liked the supporting characters in the shows i watch. There are two exceptions - House and Scrubs. But Scrubs is the only show in which every single character is awesome.
ReplyDeleteScrubs season 8 airs on January 6th 2009
ReplyDelete@anonymous5:28:
ReplyDeleteIt always kills me when JD says "where do you think we are".