Scrubs: Season 9

The closest thing to a near death experiences a television series can an experience is to come back for an additional season after cancelation. Sometimes it comes in the form of a new network taking the series over or perhaps an attempt to completely alter the focus of the show. What is exceptionally rare is for a series to be afforded both of these situations but there is at least one show that managed; ‘Scrubs’. This series may seem to be silly or at least as light as any sit-com but there is a reason the producers have gone through some extraordinary measures to keep the show around. This series had heart. It had the unusual ability to reach the audience not only by making them laugh but by connecting with them on an emotional level. The last time I recall this degree of audience appeal in a half hour sit-com was another medically oriented show’ ‘M*A*S*H*’. like many people the first time I watched an episode of ‘Scrubs’ I enjoyed it but have to admit that it took a while for me to be able to appreciate the full range of the series. Many of the characters initially came across as cartoonish but as I continued to watch additional episodes I realized that there was far more depth to the characters; they grow and develop as each season progressed. What is most amazing about this series is it kept its quality throughout its nine year run. Most thought that after season seven when the series was cancelled by NBC it looked as though the show was done but it was resuscitated to play out the final seasons on ABC. This last season also enhanced the experience broadcasting in high definition. The second thing that was unusual about this show is that the producers completely revamped the show in the final season. It worked because the changes could lead to a satisfying conclusion or give a potential direction if another reprieve was forthcoming. Well, that didn’t happen so the nine seasons under consideration here will remain the capstone to this show.

The series was created by a man who is familiar in making a hit out of the sit-com format; Bill Lawrence. Besides ‘Scrubs’ he also was key to the development of ‘Spin City’ and most recently ‘Cougar Town’. He has a real knack for taking the situation comedy and using it as a foundation for character driven humor; the aspect of this show that kept the fans coming back for more. For all these years we followed the personal and professional lives of a group of people working at Sacred Heart, a teaching Hospital. For most of the time on the air the narrator of each episode was J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff). Every episode loosely took on the format of an entry in his diary as he goes through his day. One thing that is rarely done in any TV show, especially sit-coms is to allow the characters to grow and permit changes in the founding situation. In real life doctors and nurses change job as they move along progressing in their careers. The series began with J.D. beginning his residency at the hospital. Now for the ninth and final season the young doctors and nurses have finished growing up and are moving on. The focus changes from a hospital to medical school where J.D. is teaching. This was a well considered plot devise since it held out the potential for a spin off if possible. As is, the stage was set for a satisfying conclusion. After all these years of being emotionally invested in the antics of this eccentric group it is somehow reassuring to know that life turned out pretty well for them all.

In this season the romance that has waxed and waned all these years is resolved. J.D. finally marries long time friend and lover, Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke). They join their best friends Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison) and his wife nurse Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes) in starting families. It has always been well established that Turk was a brilliantly talented surgeon and now he takes his place as the chief of Surgery in the hospital. Reyes did not return for any episodes in season nine unlike most of her cast mates who appeared in several episodes early in the season to help transition to the new cast. The focal point of the cast moved from doctors to a group of medical students. The series has been progressing on this path for years allowing the main cast to graduate from interns to residents to senior residents echoing the typical professional pathway for doctors. The writers also built upon J.D.’s natural gift as a teacher as shown by his relationship with his interns series. This progression made his going into teaching a natural and believable career move, especially since it would afford hours more conducive to starting a family. With the scene moved to the medical school at Winston University. One transitional character introduced in season eight and continuing to season nine is Dr. Denise Mahoney (Eliza Coupe) an intern at Sacred Heart and teaching assistant at the university. She has trouble with personal interactions which impacts her bedside manner. It also contributes to her predilection for purely sexual relations with relative strangers. Her saving grace is her technical proficiency. Taking up the narrative chores with J.D.’s departure is student Lucy Bennett (Kerry Bishé). While Denise is quirky like Elliot Lucy follows in J.D.’s footstep as socially awkward keeping top only a few friends. Also like J.D. she is instantly dislike by Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley) who is also now a professor. Rounding out the new batch of students is Drew Suffin (Michael Mosley, who is giving medical school a second try after some personal problems and Cole Aaronson (Dave Franco), a rich kid whose family practically donated the hospital. They have kept the fantasy sequences to pepper the episodes, a trademark of the series from the start.

In keeping with the wacky, surreal tradition of the series the DVD for this season has one of the funniest menus I’ve seen in a while. Before the menu appears you get a brief introduction to the lamentable Winston University with the look and feel of any college promotional spot. Another notable change is the names of the episodes have gone from ‘My…’ to ‘Our…’ as Lucy slides into the role of narrator. This is not the best season of the show but it did allow it to end as it began, giving the audience a fun time.

Posted 09/28/2010