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RSS'Scrubs': Scott Foley and Elizabeth Banks return, plus J.D.'s big decision
This week's "Scrubs" was maybe not as high-larious as the past two, Bahamas-based episodes were, but the return of two of the show's better recurring guests (and a cameo by a young, up-and-coming actress familiar to readers of this site) made it quite enjoyable nonetheless.
The show almost had an obligation to circle back to Kim (Elizabeth Banks) and the issue of J.D.'s fatherhood before it ended. It would have been too big a hole in the story just to leave with "He gets to see Sam when he can."
But to bring our hero's old nemesis, Sean (Scott Foley, and a raised glass to the folks at "The Unit" for letting him do the guest spot), back into the picture was inspired. Sean has always brought out the insecure brat in J.D., and the way Zach Braff plays it, it's almost always been excellent comedy. See, for instance, J.D.'s effort to compliment Sean -- "Look at you. You're a beautiful man" -- and Sean's stone-faced refusal to reciprocate. Braff's delivery of the next line, "You beautiful sonuvabitch," just killed.
For that matter, so did Sean's petulant responses to everything J.D. did, from repeatedly asserting his rival said "good" during their first awkward moment to refusing to let J.D.'s befouling of his yogurt go. It was very nice to have Foley back on the show this week. Here's a video-type example:
And, not to bury the lead, but "My Cuz" also set up what will likely be the focus of the final episodes: J.D. leaving Sacred Heart. It seemed like a bit of an abrupt decision -- "I think I'm gonna move here" -- but I think the show has done enough work over the years exploring J.D.'s desire not to turn into an absentee dad that it would have worked even without his little talk to Kim about being a good dad.
The B- and C-stories, with Turk hounding Cox into naming him the new chief of surgery and Kelso self-treating after being admitted with a stomach virus, also worked pretty well. The Turk story seemed to come a little bit out of nowhere -- "Scrubs" has never intimated that he was anything but an excellent surgeon, but isn't he a little young for the job? -- but it also showed Turk at his most annoyingly confident and charming, which of course only made Cox that much angrier, and that too is good comedy.
Involving Kelso in that story a little bit helped as well, because his own plot tonight was slightly sad, if not surprising. There has to be something other than free muffins keeping ol' Bob hanging around the hospital, so as with J.D. and his parental situation, it feels right to touch on his feeling a little lost before the show ends.
And, I would be remiss not to mention the "Scrubs" debut of my colleague Korbi Ghosh. Didja catch her as the nurse who asked Kelso why he was checking into the hospital? She got one line -- "For what?" -- and a pretty decent reaction shot as Kelso puked his guts out. I sense big things for her. (And in all seriousness, if you haven't read Korbi's very sweet and heartfelt post about her cameo, you should. It's good stuff.)
Other notes from "My Cuz":
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I enjoyed the running bit that gave the episode its title. As J.D. explains, when two guys have a common sexual partner, that makes them weiner cousins, a club that has its own handshake and an apparently rather large membership at Sacred Heart that includes Snoop Dogg Attending, Dr. Beardface and Turk(!). Any guesses as to how Turk might be "cousins" with that other guy?
- None of the "cousin" stuff, however, made me laugh as hard as when Elliot shared her excitement at being Kim's bajingo sister. I had to pause the DVR for a good 30 seconds there.
- Hands up, anyone who's surprised that J.D. takes the "play" in foreplay a little too literally. No one? Yeah, me either.
- Janitor line of the night, after Todd asks him how married life is: "You have to make compromises. ... My wife is allergic to raccoons, so I had to throw out my comforter."
- And my personal favorite line, Turk to Cox: "I know we don't always get along, but in my defense, it's because you're a huge jackass."
What did you think of "Scrubs" this week, and of the returns of Sean and Kim? How do you think J.D.'s decision to move will affect the final episodes?
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Scott Foley is a beautiful beautiful man.
Also, Turk's promotion to Chief of Surgery only eight years into his medical career seemed unrealistic. But, appropriate, I suppose, since this is the last season.
i think this was actually quite a good episode...really character driven. I think the writers have really done a great job developing these characters over the years - which isn't something you often find in a comedy series.
also, I think Korbi had an amazing scene, and her reaction shot was great!!
Can someone please help me? I am desperate! I slept through this episode by accident. I live in Canada so stupid ABC won't let me watch it and all the sites I'm finding online want me to download spyware. What can I do?
Who was the girl in the bakery who announced that the muffins were tainted? It's driving me crazy!
thank you!
i thought that nurse looked familiar!
:)
i didn't buy the turk promotion. i mean what about his superiors? and dr. kwon?
other than that---loved the episode. i was totally giddy when i saw elizabeth and scott reprise their roles!
*sigh*
i felt really sad at the end...reminded me just how many episodes are left...
I was a little hesitant when I read that Scott Foley was coming back, not because I dislike Sean, but I didn't think it was going to work. I was wrong.
Having Kim and Sean back was a delightful surprise because it was more than just stunt casting. They added a lot to this episode and the rest of the parenthood storyline.
The only thing I don't understand is how Sean hasn't pounded the crap out of J.D. by now. I mean he put his finger in the guy's yogurt!
The rest of the episode was cl***ic Scrubs, but it was a little sad knowing that the end is near, and I do hope that it's over in two weeks. The show needs to bow out gracefully.
Wow. I thought last weeks revelation that J.D. loved Elliot more then Turk was something. But the secret revealed this week was even more suprising:
Bob Kelso's got a great ***!!!
When Cox asks him to close his gown while they're walking through the hall and he replies, "It's for the ladies"; that was funny. But the appreciative looks from all the staff as he p***es them, both male and female, had me rolling. The way they did that, as understated as it was was genius.
I missed the beginning so I did not here how Sean and Kim got together. I thought she was at a hospital in Phoenix. Since he was a marine mammal trainer at Seaworld, I am naturally curious about how they got together if anyone would care to illuminate me. In the same vein, I just ***umed that Dr. Wynn had moved on.
Sac - as luck would have it, the explanation is in the video clip above.
I just watched the episode now (stupid Tivo didn't record it), and thought it was a great episode. With only three episodes left, I feel like they did a great job at setting up some issues that will need and get resolution in the coming weeks. If JD moves (which he has to since we all know this is the end of the road for him) will he and Elliott get married or split up? How will Turk handle his new responsibilities as the Chief of Surgery? Will Kelso be coming back to work as a doctor (remember, he was too old to be Chief of Medicine, but not to be a doctor).
I absolutely LOVED the "Wiener Cousins" bit and think that it's exactly the type of thing that makes this show so fun. As I'm watching it, I started sending out txts and emails to buddies of mine who I know are wiener cousins of mine to get them to watch it so that we can do that handshake.
And Sean and JD's hatred of one another...that could be a show all to itself.
Great work Korbi, you lucky SOB!
Sorry to hijack the thread, but there doesn't seem to be a Better Off Ted topic, and I don't expect the show to be around that much longer.
I really like it, except for the Ted-talks-to-the-camera stuff (I find narration overused these days, Scrubs notwithstanding). Last night's episode was particularly funny.
Mostly I want to give props to Portia de Rossi, who I always thought may have been the weak link in the greatest comedy of all time, Arrested Development. On BOT, though, she absolutely shines with all her pent-up pentu-uppedness. Good work by everyone!