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Premierewatch: 'Scrubs' moves to ABC
As I mentioned in a post yesterday, the move from NBC to ABC -- and, more likely, the knowledge that this is the show's final season -- seems to have given Scrubs a jolt of energy to start the season. These first two episodes mixed comedy and drama better than the show has done in a long time, resulting in a very satisfying hour of TV.
I prefer these spoilers; they make me feel fancy.
Both episodes hit on the theme that between medical bureaucracies, staring death in the face day after day and These Kids Today (in the form of a new crop of interns), it's tough to keep your sanity (which, on some level, has always been what Scrubs has been about). Given how well they fit together, I'm inclined not to come at them separately but rather look at elements that ran through both of them. And, since I'm writing the recap, I can. So here goes.
The new chief: Courteney Cox is Dr. Taylor Maddox, who inspires some lustful fantasizing from J.D. (note to you single guys out there: Probably not best to lead with a question about how a woman gave birth) and seems just swell, as long as you're not a spider.
Except she's, well, not. Like her predecessor Bob Kelso -- who's still enjoying his free muffins for life and tormenting Ted -- she's a bottom line-obsessed, damn-the-patients administrator. And she fired the Janitor! This cannot stand. (And, given that Cox's guest stint is only for a few episodes, chances are it won't.) Still, after the ambitious misfire that was Dirt, it's good to see Cox back in her comedic element.
The new interns: Scrubs has cycled new interns through Sacred Heart in the past, but other than Keith Dudemeister -- who got a couple good lines in tonight's first episode -- they've served more as occasional joke facilitators than actual characters. I'm kind of hoping that changes this time around, because the new crop is promising.
Aziz Ansari, as the easygoing, meme-inspiring Ed, fits perfectly into the show's sensibility. He's a little bit Todd-esque in that he seems to instinctively know how to enter a scene, deliver one or two killer lines and then get out. Eliza Coupe, as Denise (or Jo, as J.D. calls him), the intern with the awful bedside manner, and Betsy Beutler, as know-it-all Katie (aka Mini-Elliot), had some decent moments too. I totally won't mind if they become regular parts of the show this year. (You can see more of them in webisodes on ABC.com.)
The regulars: The hour was pretty J.D.- and Turk-focused, with the others taking something of a back seat. In general, though, everyone seemed to dial their characters back a little -- and not just because of a lack of eighth-year enthusiasm, as implied in the closing bumper on the first episode (damn that Dr. Shalhoub!). Rather, it seems like both the cast and the writers have realized that the self-consciously wacky gags of the past couple seasons took away from the show. Yeah, J.D. is still fantasizing, but the cutaways tonight all felt in line with what we know about him.
Carla, Elliot, the Janitor and Kelso didn't get a whole lot to do, but J.D.'s heart-to-heart with Cox in the first episode was a nice, subtle moment that still managed to be quite funny in spots (J.D.'s coffee-sharing, Cox's story about his former impossible intern -- "No, it was a she." J.D.: "So it wasn't me?" Cox: "No, it was you").
And, OK, here's something specific about the second episode: Glynn Turman pretty well blew me away as George, the dying patient with whom J.D. and Turk spend the evening. By turns irascible, funny and poignant, Turman -- who won a guest-acting Emmy for In Treatment last year -- helped make the episode one of the finest Scrubs in a long time. This maybe isn't the kind of big, showy guest spot that attracts awards attention, but let me just throw Turman's name out there again for the '09 Emmys. I've watched the episode three times, and I've teared up all three times at his final scene.
Other thoughts on the show's maiden ABC voyage:
- JD and Turk's Steak Night song has almost the exact same cadence as a nonsense song my wife and I sometimes sing to each other. So, in addition to being awesome, it's also been stuck in my head since I first watched the screener a couple weeks ago.
- A collection of good lines: Maddox: "Would it have been funny if he [J.D., whom the Janitor had just tripped] had broken his neck?" Janitor: "I feel like you want me to say no."
- Jordan: "Hurry up -- cougars only drink free till 9." Maddox: "What about MILFs?" Jordan: "Oh yeah -- I forgot I had kids."
- J.D. to George: "Although I'm a man, I don't like beer. I prefer appletinis; they make me feel fancy. [to Turk] You hurt and embarrassed me in front of George. You happy?" Turk: "Lil bit."
- J.D. again: "Now when [the convenience store clerk] thinks of us, he'll think we're splittin' a beer, sexin' up the ladies and shootin' off flares. Like men do!"
- I loved how the bit with the red balloon -- Ed, getting back at a fellow Lost fan by posing as a woman online, tells his mark to meet him at the hospital and carry a red balloon -- carried through the episode. I saw Ted and Colonel Doctor holding them in addition to the random guy in the lobby; anyone else catch another one?
- Excellent closing songs in both episodes: Ben Lee's "Catch My Disease" in the first and Death Cab for Cutie's devastating "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" in the second.
I'm not going to Steak Night, but I am turning things over to you. What did you think of Scrubs' first episodes on ABC?
Tonight's episodes were not on par with seasons 1 or 2, but they were better than most of the episodes from the last two or three seasons.
Maybe it was because I knew I was watching these episodes on ABC, but something felt different. Like you could sense the cast's revitalization through the screen.
Overall, two solid episodes and I'm excited for the rest of the season. Thank you ABC!
MC | Jan 6, 2009 10:12:39 PM | #Fantastic! Ive always found scrubs to be a rare show in which watching one episode is never enough. Its infectious. But above all, its smart comedy, and heartfelt drama. I was very pleased with these first two episodes, and the ABC production values seem higher too - i don't think i have ever seen Sarah Chalke look as beautiful before. The atmosphere for the whole of George's episode was perfect. Glad to have scrubs back on the air :)
Tyson | Jan 6, 2009 10:13:33 PM | #Glynn Turman for President
Corey | Jan 6, 2009 11:07:57 PM | #was watching some of the promos on abc.com earlier in the week (due to the interns webisode) and was disappointed when the slo-mo at the beginning of ep. 2 was switched from "Hot Blooded" to whatever was used.
2 solid, albeit not spectacular, episodes. Good way to start and looking forward to the race to the finish.
Also like that they are doing things like showing the alternate take and the other improv over the closing credits rather than just a still with the credits running over them like in past seasons.
Lastly, the cadence used in the 'steak night' song is very familiar to anyone who's seen Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" from 1982 ('I got an ice cream ...').
Rishi | Jan 7, 2009 12:35:21 AM | # Hi..., I'm trying to keep non-medical personnel from coming back here.... I'm the chief of medicine.
I'm the chief of slag smacking, so I would keep moving if I were you.
Thats very clever.
Being clever is not how I got the job. Smacking slags is.
I loved Jo's little monologue with George about the chubby guy. Her delivery of that was great!
Blue Sean | Jan 7, 2009 5:17:10 AM | #I don't think I've ever seen a single episode from the first three season, but I've seen the last three seasons. These opening episodes were up there with some of the better ones from those last three.
pakopako | Jan 7, 2009 6:36:48 AM | #Scrubs, new shows or syndicated, is a big favorite in my family. I'm glad to see it hitting its stride again after a couple of weak seasons. I still miss The Todd.
Kim | Jan 7, 2009 6:58:08 AM | #I'll admit it, I had tears rolling down my face at the end of the second episode. ABC made a wise move.
nora | Jan 7, 2009 8:31:36 AM | #Not sure why, but I couldn't get on board with some of the new interns. Maybe it's because there are talks that they will be taking over Scrubs if the show continues without Zach Braff. Or maybe it's because they got more screen time than series regulars. Either way, none of these interns live up to Loni and his one day mustache.
Mike | Jan 7, 2009 9:15:45 AM | #Where was "the Todd"?
Anyway, this show has heart. Can't say that about too many nowadays. Love it.
Lisa | Jan 7, 2009 10:00:25 AM | #I think the Todd is going to be benched a bit, as ABC won't allow his antics (S&P) and without his antics, the Todd is a bit less awesome.
Tony | Jan 7, 2009 12:10:54 PM | #I haven't watched Scrubs in years, but I'm back board after these two very well done episodes.
The first had me laughing my arse off while the second hit just the right emotional chords without going overboard. Good stuff!
Only observation/question:
Did Zach Braff look a little pale in these episodes? I thought Scrubs began filming again during last summer, no? Is he shooting a movie while doing Scrubs that required him to grow the beard and avoid a little sunlight? Or was he that pale last season? Just curious.
Doug | Jan 7, 2009 1:20:26 PM | #I think intern "Jo" was awesome. Especially when she was talking about about chubby dudes. They try harder...
chenbot | Jan 7, 2009 1:38:05 PM | #Dang it, I missed the first episode, but thought the second was great. I think the new interns seem to have a lot of potential and I look forward to them being developed more.
And wow, Rishi, you reached in the Wayback Machine for that reference, but you're right... it was bugging me that I couldn't remember why it was so familiar. My best friend at the time and I used to listen to Delirious on LP in his bedroom and recite the whole thing!
I miss the Todd too...
Glynn Turman was excellent in an excellent episode.
Terrence | Jan 7, 2009 1:42:55 PM | #What happened to The Todd?
Steph | Jan 7, 2009 3:44:02 PM | #the second episode was great, i LMAO with JD being disected (sp?) next to Rowdy
Monica | Jan 7, 2009 10:14:22 PM | #I remember Glynn Turman from "A Different World." He didn't have quite as much good material to work with there. I watched the episode again yesterday--interesting strategy, ABC--and realized that he played the whole part from the neck up. No props, very little physical movement. Amazing what he could convey with his eyes alone.
Shira | Jan 8, 2009 5:15:08 AM | #Thanks to the recapper for giving the names of the songs. One of the things I've always liked about Scrubs is how well it integrates music into the story to convey emotion. i really liked the Death Cab for Cutie song.
I was a bit confused about Dr. Cox and Jordan? Are they still living together or have they split up?
Less makeup for Elliot was good. The last season she looked liked someone had gone crazy at the cosmetic counter!
Kudos for Dr. Maddox firing the janitor! Yes, I know it's only temporary. I think more important than revealing janitor's real name is revealing why he was never fired before...that's the mystery.
And aside from Denise/Jo (she's great), the Overly Touchy Intern made me laugh more than anything from the last few seasons. Now, if only they could break Hooch out of jail and bring him back...
| Jan 8, 2009 1:09:17 PM | #I watched Scrubs back in Season 1 and 2, and thought it was a pretty good show. Season 3 I lost interest and turned it off. Now I am back in Season 8 after ABC promoted the heck out of it, and I actually liked it and got a few laughs out of it. I particlarly liked the allusions used in the first episode closing credits, "Don't mind the Nielsons, they don't agree (like us)." I will watch the final season, I just wish it got better ratings - it took fourth place opening night and that is not a good start (beating just the CW). Glad they are guaranteed 20 episodes because if it was a new show with those ratings, it would be pulled of the air already.
sam i am | Jan 8, 2009 4:57:25 PM | #Bring the todd back!!
ron | Jan 14, 2009 12:28:46 PM | #
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