(Credit: www.dvdsoon.com)
Creator:
Bill Lawrence
Cast:
Zach Braff……….Dr. John ‘J.D.’ Dorian
Donald Faison……….Chris “Turkelton” Turk, M.D.
John C. McGinley……….Perry Cox, M.D.
Sarah Chalke……….Dr. Elliot Reid
Judy Reyes……….Carla Espinosa, R.N.
Neil Flynn……….The Janitor
Ken Jenkins……….Bob Kelso, M.D.
Robert Maschio……….Todd Quinlan (aka “The Todd”)
Almoa Wright……….Nurse Laverne Roberts
Sam Lloyd……….Ted Buckland
Christa Miller……….Jordan Sullivan
Buena Vista Home Entertainment presents a Bill Lawrence show. Total running time: 558 minutes. Rated TV 14. (Yeah, like a TV 14 rating will prevent you from watching this show.)
The show:
“The sitcom” is a tricky beast. Most of them fall into the trap of the dreaded three-camera-laugh track format. Despite what you may think, a sitcom traditionally has a maximum of five different storylines. Take Frasier, for instance. That show explores Frasier Crane and his relationship with his brother Niles; his current (or is it weekly) sexual endeavor; his working relationship with Roz; and any other situational relationship. The situations and relationships can alternate between characters. But the story arcs typically remain the same, subtle variances of course.
I must admit that I haven’t seen every single episode of Scrubs. My earliest memory of the show was the story arc from the third season – “My Screw Up” – involving Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) and his brother-in-law Ben (Brendan Fraser). I guess you could say I was a late bloomer to the show. The same thing happened to me with The X-Files. My first episode was “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” from Season 3. (What is it with me and third year shows? Weird.)
Simply put, Scrubs is one of the best comedies in recent memory. It trumps every show with a monotonous laugh track and three-camera set-up by serving as a one-camera show with inspired comedic writing, and the best ensemble cast since Wings. Now before those die-hard sitcom lovers grab their torches and pitchforks and declare this a travesty, let me explain.
This show is the brainchild of Bill Lawrence. Creator of Spin City, a show that pulled Alan Ruck (Cameron from Ferris Buller’s Day Off) from obscurity and placed him in comedy with an eclectic ensemble, Lawrence has shown he has a knack for witty repartee and gut-busting guffawing.
After Spin City ran it’s course Lawrence searched for a new project. Inspiration came from two unlikely sources, his friends Jon Doris “The Real J.D.” and Dolly Klock. Since the two are doctors, Lawrence thought it would be great to create a comedy that focused on four interns and their lives inside a hospital.
Fresh out of medical school, interns John Dorian, Elliot Reid, Chris Turk, and Todd enter Sacred Heart Hospital with equal parts enthusiasm and trepidation. ‘J.D.’ and Elliott are medical interns; “Turkelton” and “The Todd” are surgical. The newcomers try to acclimate to hospital life associating themselves with different cliques. (It’s like the first day of school all over again.) Not only do the interns have to deal with treating patients, they must also contend with the evil and self-important Chief of Medicine (Dr. Kelso) and a vociferous head resident (Dr. Cox). Thankfully, J.D., Elliot, and Turk can find support with nurse Carla. Just remember not to talk to the janitor who’s always hanging around with a mop, a broom, or some kind of blunt instrument in his hand. That’s a joke, guys. To think, Neil Flynn as the janitor went from an insignificant background character to one of the show’s most indispensable joke machines.
Can you imagine what it must have been like when Bill Lawrence was pitching Scrubs to different networks and trying to get his show on the air? Say you are NBC. “Why do we need another doctor show? ER will be like Gunsmoke; it’s here to stay.” Lawrence’s response, “Give me one season to change your mind. Yes, doctors and comedy don’t always mix. I’ll tell you what, though. This show won’t be like the short-lived Doctor, Doctor on CBS.” So he got the green light and the rest is TV history.
Since its debut in the fall of 2004, Scrubs has been in the top 50 in Nielsen ratings for three consecutive years. The best-rated season was season two. Some may say that was due in large part to its placement in the highly touted “Must See Thursday” line-up. Maybe. But you might as well laugh yourself silly, before witnessing the seriousness of ER.
Besides, this show has it all. It is smart, silly and engaging, and at times bizarre. For a show that has redefined what a sitcom should be, it puts shows like Full House, Family Matters, and any other TGIF program to shame. The hospital setting, the mood and the off-kilter humor make you wonder, “If Bill Lawrence and his writers can create this type of lively show, how about the rest of Hollywood? Get with the program people.”
There is no doubt that Scrubs would win a best comedic acting ensemble Emmy if one were made available; it has the best ensemble in many years. In the long run Scrubs will probably be known as the show that launched Zach Braff’s acting career. He plays Dr. John Dorian, the protagonist on the show. During each episode he likes to provide an inner monologue expressing his most (not-so) thought-provoking ideas. In regards to Elliot’s derriere, “…looks like two Pringles hugging.” Braff is good in the starring role, but he’s not the only star. The cast may be relative unknowns, but when you watch it for the very first time, you will periodically have one of those “Where have I seen that guy before?” moments. Donald Faison may be Turk now, but there was a time he was referred to as “that Clueless guy.” Also, the janitor was in that kid friendly baseball movie, Rookie of the Year. (He played first base for the Chicago Cubs.)
Let us not forget the blisteringly funny Sarah Chalke as the blonde-haired darling Dr. Reid; the feminine-laced insults by John C. McGinley’s Dr. Cox; the brazen Judy Reyes; Sam Lloyd, the hospital’s glum lawyer; Robert Maschio’s Todd character, definitely a guy who’s been to one Toga party to many; not to forget Christa Miller, as the ball-busting ex-wife of Dr. Cox.
Bill Lawrence has spared no expense for the show’s first season. If the characters aren’t completely stellar (which is hard to believe), guest stars pop out to tickle your funny bone. The great, and dearly missed, John Ritter pops up in one episode as J.D.’s aimless father; Brendan Fraser appears in two mellow episodes; heck, even Jimmie Walker, and Carrot Top visit the ER.
If you have been waiting for the first season on DVD, or you are looking to spend thirty dollars on something, I think you’ll be quite impressed with this DVD collection. Definitely a show you won’t regret purchasing, seen or sight unseen.
Score: 10/10
THE DVD:
VIDEO: How does it look?
The show may not have digital broadcast quality, or Tivo-like quality for that matter, but overall the transfers are good. In the earlier episodes graininess is an issue. But a little grain never hurt anybody, right? Scrubs is presented in its original fullscreen presentation (1.33:1).
Score: 8/10
AUDIO: How does it sound?
Elliot’s rapid-fire delivery and Dr. Cox’s lambasting of J.D. come in crystal clear through the Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. The show may not have 5.1, but the 2.0 track is decent enough. You’ll love listening to the pop culture references, the irreverent atmospheric rock tunes, and sound effects that are cartoonish in nature.
Score: 8/10
SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary tracks by Bill Lawrence and company, deleted scenes and outtakes, and a few more features!!!
On disc 1, Newbies is a 29-minute featurette, which introduces us to the show’s first season, its inspiration, the atypical writing process, and how the cast has developed. For a comedy with deadpan drollness, you’ll be surprised the accuracy of the medical cases and jargon. Everyone will realize just how collaborative Scrubs is. When you see the actors pat each other on the back it is not done superficially. You believe their enthusiasm and affection for one another is truly genuine.
Also on the disc are three audio commentaries. The show’s creator Bill Lawrence goes solo on the pilot episode. Later he is joined by Zach Braff on “My Old Lady,” and Neil Flynn on “My Fifteen Minutes.”
Disc 2 delivers a music video for the unofficial Scrubs song, Lazlo Bane’s “Superman.” Not enough for you? How about The Doctor is In, a five-minute interview with Zach Braff. The feature may only be five minutes but it heeds an important message – Don’t go into an audition when you are hung over. The disc also sports nine minutes of alternate scenes and improv moments. Pay attention to Neil Flynn (the best ad-libber on the set), John C. McGinley’s “Liquid Sex” moment, and Zach Braff’s “giblets.” An audio commentary with Bill Lawrence and Zach Braff is available on “My Blind Date.”
There are two featurettes on disc 3. Not Just Another Medical Show has the cast and crew explain the show’s realistic look; it helps to shoot the show in the abandoned Medical Center of North Hollywood. In Favorite Moments, the cast pick their very favorite moments from the first season.
In addition to the featurette segments, there is an Outtakes Reel that includes tongue wagging and Elliot and Carla spoofing the diner scene in When Harry Met Sally. 18 random deleted scenes are thrown in for good measure; FYI, never give Dr. Cox a stuffed teddy bear. Not to be outdone, there are another pair of audio commentaries by Bill Lawrence, Sam Lloyd, and Robert Maschio on “My Sacrificial Clam” and Bill Lawrence and John C. McGinley for “My Hero”.
Scrubs may be four years old, but this DVD collection does its best to help attract novice viewers. (If only the show were in a better timeslot.) I must admit the audio commentaries are lacking; Zach Braff and Bill Lawrence were under the weather when they recorded their two cents worth. The featurettes make for nice supplemental material, though. They aren’t the most lavish of features, but they are informative, nonetheless. Plus you gotta love the entire cast getting involved. Now that’s teamwork.
Score: 7/10
