© (C) 2009 ABC/photo by Bob D'Amico Kerry Bishe in SCRUBS - SEASON NINE

Television:

TV Review: SCRUBS - SEASON NINE - 'Our First Day of School/Our Drunk Friend'

It's not your father's SCRUBS, but it gets the job done with two episodes for the price of one

Grade: B
Stars: Zach Braff, John C. McGinley, Donald Faison, Kerry Bishe, Eliza Coupe, Michael Mosley
Writer(s): Bill Lawrence/Jonathan Groff
Director: Michael Spiller/Josh Bycel
Release Date: December 1, 2009
Rating: NR

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By CARLOS DELGADO, Associate Editor
Published 12/2/2009

It's SCRUBS. It’s new SCRUBS. It’s SCRUBS that mysteriously features nearly the entire old cast in a new environment, with the addition of a few new characters. So in essence, it’s old SCRUBS, but with a new twist. In other words, it’s still SCRUBS. Just different.

If that didn’t clear things up, I don’t know what will. After facing cancellation for nearly two years, SCRUBS, then in its eighth season, finally went into the night as one of televisions funniest and most poignant series with the touching series finale titled, appropriately enough, “My Finale.”

But it seems retirement followed by a return isn’t limited to professional sports. Rumors surfaced about the show being renewed in a new format, continuing on with a new class of interns. Even more shocking were reports that SCRUBS would continue on without "gasp" Zach Braff. Soon it became official: SCRUBS ain’t over yet!

Season nine is here and if you check the end of the new title sequence, it adds the unofficial subtitle [MED SCHOOL]. J.D. (Zach Braff) is still around. So are Turk (Donald Faison), Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins), and even a pregnant Elliot (Sarah Chalke). Eliza Coupe, the heartless Denise from Season Nine, gets a call back as well. But, dare I say, the most important character of all, one Dr. Percival Cox, returns to the fray. More on that in a second.

First, it should be stated that although there are familiar faces, SCRUBS is headed in a new direction. To begin, Sacred Heart Hospital is no longer the primary setting. J.D., Dr. Cox, and Turk are now instructors at a new facility that was built on that bull dozed site - teaching academy/hospital. Elliot and the Janitor (Neil Flynn) have only cameo roles (looks like it was their official write-offs from the series), with Dr. Kelso being only a notch above that. Of the original cast, only J.D., Turk and Dr. Cox get any significant screen time.

Symbols of the torch being are evident in more ways than one.  Lucy (Kerry Bishe), the young and extremely insecure new student, is taking over duties as the narrator. Denise, an intern last season, is getting a meaty role now as J.D.’s Teaching Assistant. Another new face is Drew (Michael Mosley), an older med student who decided to give medicine one more try.

The scenery and faces may be new, but deep down, it’s still SCRUBS. Sure, the title theme and music may be different, but SCRUBS isn’t fooling anyone. There’s still the joke-a-minute banter, the absurd situations and daydream sequences, followed by the emotional core of the story. The formula is the same; it’s just with a new cast. And a new setting. Set over a year later (J.D. is married to Elliot and she's pregnant too).

Okay, so in some ways SCRUBS is significantly different. It has the aforementioned [MED SCHOOL] plastered across the title screen. Even the episode titles are formatted differently (“Our First Day of School” rather than “My First Day of School”) just to get the point across. But methinks this is what the aging series needed. A new perspective, which ironically was what the original perspective was. It’s fun to grow up with a character like J.D., but once he’s reached his potential, the journey, at least in context of the show, is over. What was once a captivating character slowly becomes a parody of himself, until he is an unrecognizable slew of gimmicks and catch phrases.

Only a character like Dr. Cox can survive intact after eight years, which is why his return is so pivotal. Dr. Cox was already in that mentor role. Sure there is growth for him, but what he was known and loved for was being an absolute heartless ass. I’m happy to report that the tradition continues with a new set of students.

Dr. Cox’s appeal no doubt is tied directly to the brilliance of John C. McGinley. His comedic timing was, is, and hopefully will continue to be flawless. If there is any linchpin to the past, rest assured he is it. Rumor has it that J.D. will only appear for a limited number of shows, meaning that the SCRUBS of old and the SCRUBS of new are linked by one common denominator.

Treat SCRUBS as a continuation, and you’ll be disappointed by the entirely new setup. Treat SCRUBS as a new series, and you’ll feel disconnected from some of the inside jokes that permeate the show. SCRUBS is, well SCRUBS. Usually very funny, a little silly, with a solid moral message at the end. The new series is off to as good start as one can hope for. It’s up to the new cast to carry the torch, while bringing in a few sparks of their own.

Reader Comments

CONNOR Obrien from Whogivesafuck? (Arkansas) sez....
i love the show so much im gonna buy it and jerk the one eyed monster to zach braff
12/4/2009 7:35:16 AM

julie from KY sez....
It's different, but I thought it was pretty comical. The singing CRACKED me up! JD and Turk are too funny!
12/3/2009 7:48:07 PM

Jesse from Denver sez....
This new show sucks!!! It doesn't even have Carla in it!
12/2/2009 7:51:50 PM

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