# Scrubs 2/10 and OCD **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647 "2004-02-11T13:36:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/1 "2004-02-11T13:36:28Z")
Oh my God. I normally enjoy this show, but last night with Michael J Fox as a doctor, Dr. Casey, suffering from OCD was stellar. It really opened my eyes. I knew obsessive-compulsive disorder existed, but it never really hit me how horrible a disease it is. Dr. Casey has to walk into a room three times, ha ha. He has to say his name out loud as he signs it, hee hee. He has to go home to pee, funny. Then, the end, Dr. Casey, stressed out, is compulsively washing his hands. He tells JD that he’s been doing it for two hours and can’t stop. Suddenly, it wasn’t funny anymore. Dr. Casey let out a scream of frustration as once again he turned on the faucet. That’s when it hit me. OCD is not a funny quirk. It’s a horrible, debilitating illness. I can’t even imagine being in that kind of prison. So, thank you to Scrubs for opening my eyes, and kudos to Michael J Fox for doing such a wonderful job portraying an OCD sufferer. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/2 "2004-02-11T13:46:28Z")
It was truly a stellar epsiode. **Scrubs** is one of the few shows that can combine great humor and a serious side sucessfully. I am about sick of NBC scheduling gimmicks though. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/3 "2004-02-11T15:02:21Z")
**jeevwoman** and I absolutely adore this show. It’s a straight-up comedy with occasional character development, but not so much as to distract from the inspired humor. It reminds me a lot of “Dream On,” actually, another brilliant show. It’s intelligent, well-written, and critically praised. But NBC is treating it in a manner similar to how their Disney-owned rival network treats any intelligent, well-written, and critically praised show that accidentally slips into its broadcast lineup. Long weeks when it disappears from the airwaves, shifting it into doomed timeslots, none of these are signs of a show with much network support. I think landing Michael J. Fox as a guest star is a brilliant move on Bill Lawrence’s part, since, if nothing else, NBC owes Michael J. Fox big time for the years he put in on “Family Ties,” which helped found the Thursday night comedy block that has been NBC’s staple since the mid-80s, and which will probably die after this season. I mean, it’s not like they have anything else in the hopper. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/4 "2004-02-11T16:16:07Z")
A friend of mine was invited to be part of a documentary on OCD because of they way it had “matured” as he grew older. He declined because he didn’t want to be put on TV as a spectacle. With medication, he says his OCD “is still there but it’s _manageable_”. His biggest complaint is that he gets into sort of metaphysical feedback loops. eg/ Something occurs to him that’s a little obsessively askew, and he thinks: “Whoa, maybe I thought that last thought because of OCD… No wait, maybe I thought _that_ last thought because of OCD… No wait! Maybe I thought _that_ last thought…” Michael J. Fox’s entering a room three times because he wanted to end by shifting his weight and planting his left foot, juuuuust right, was kind of like my friend. He “matured” well beyond compulsive handwashing, but sometimes he’ll want to accomplish something “perfectly” and will do it over and over until he gets it juuuuuust right. His medication helps a LOT. I’ve never noticed anything unless he goes off it briefly (because he misses “the edge”). I like _Scrubs_ I hope they don’t screw around it’s scheduling to the point of death. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/5 "2004-02-11T16:25:22Z")
I’ve seen Michael J. Fox in a lot of comedic (especially sitcom) roles, where he got to play off his own likeable personality. This is the first time I’ve actually seen him doing what I consider _acting_ and. . . wow. The scene at the end was incredible. I wondered if he was chanelling the pain of dealing with Parkinson’s into the scene. His pain and frustration were palpable, and for the first time he looked like somebody who has actually _been through_ life. ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/6 "2004-02-11T16:34:29Z")
My brother had OCD really bad as a pre-teen, and that last shot of Michael J. turning the light on and off over and over again made my eyes well up, remembering my bro doing similar things when we were kids and how helpless you feel watching someone inside that prison. Great, great episode. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/7 "2004-02-11T16:42:34Z")
Yeah, all in all I’d have to say I agree with virtually everybody. It was an awesome show. The ending was a bit of a surprise to me but a great suprise, it totally made the episode. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/8 "2004-02-11T16:52:38Z")
> [@rimshotgdansk](#): > > I’ve seen Michael J. Fox in a lot of comedic (especially sitcom) roles, where he got to play off his own likeable personality. This is the first time I’ve actually seen him doing what I consider _acting_ and. . . wow… The _Family Ties_ episode that was set up like _Our Town_ is outstanding. I have it on tape somewhere. They abandoned the typical sitcom genre altogether and presented it as if it was on the stage of a theatre, occasionally it was just Fox and a few set pieces on a dark stage. They abandoned the sitcom writing too, and the sitcom editing style, preferring instead scene changes through theatrical lighting techniques and camera changes. (It had the effect of looking like it was done in one take, but I don’t think it really was.) It was moving and powerful, and all about “Alex P. Keaton” coming to terms with the death of his very best friend, realizing who he is , why he he is such the overachiever (and is somewhat tormented by it). Other cast members play their own characters at various ages too, so Fox and Justine Bateman act as young children when necessary… You really have to see it. Amazing for its era and quite teh showcase of some of the actual acting ability the castmembers had when given good material. ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/9 "2004-02-11T17:00:56Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > The _Family Ties_ episode that was set up like _Our Town_ is outstanding. I remember being blown away when that one aired. Was just a quantum leap for sitcoms. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/10 "2004-02-11T17:32:30Z")
I don’t remember that episode. It wasn’t Skippy that died, was it? I remember the one with Tom Hanks as an alcoholic uncle. That was a good episode too, especially when he hauled off and slugged Alex during a binge. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/11 "2004-02-11T17:33:39Z")
Yeah, I hope they stop messing with the schedule. A question just occured to me. Couldn’t he hire someone to turn his lights off, wash things for him, wash his hands, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/12 "2004-02-11T17:42:34Z")
I agree with all that like this show and that episode. The writers are really skilled at being absurd/serious/sad and just flat out funny. And, they’re not scared to say stuff that might offend at all. I think MJF was somewhat medicated for his acting role because I’ve seen him much worse motion wise. But also, I had a hard time understanding him sometimes. He slurred a little, and I don’t just mean on some of the crazy medical terms. I’ve always thought he’s a good actor, including some of his movie roles. I respect actors who can do comedy so well. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/13 "2004-02-11T17:46:17Z")
I absolutely love Scrubs. It’s one of my 4 “appointment television” shows. It is an outstanding show with fantastic writing, quick wit, and some depth of feeling, without getting melodramatic. And this episode blew me away. It was so well done. When Michael J. Fox said “You’re not suppossed to see this.” I nearly lost it. He’s a fine actor, and a brave man. I must admit I was skeptical going into the episode, mostly because I was afraid it was trying to rip-off Monk, another show I love dearly. While there was some times in the episode, especially his first entrance, where I was not swayed, I ended up loving the episode. All of which means Scrubs will probably be off the air in a year. Fucking Bastards. By the way, if you liked this Scrubs, give Monk a shot. It’s a little lighter tone, but still quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/14 "2004-02-11T17:48:28Z")
I really liked this episode, too. MJF is an underrated actor, IMO, and I wonder why he didn’t take on more serious roles in his career, although he is good at comedy, too. Scrubs is also an underrated show. It is original and funny and can deal with serious topics without sinking to that “very special episode” feeling like most other sitcoms. It is one of those shows that I sometimes forget to watch but every time I catch it I am impressed by it - I think it is taking a while to build a solid viewer base but hopefully it will last. It’s the only new sitcom in the past few years that I thought was any good. ---
**Author:** ![Wintermute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@Wintermute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wintermute)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/15 "2004-02-11T17:57:03Z")
One more vote to find this show a good timeslot and leave it. It is one of the few shows (and possibly they only one on t.v. at present) that will make me laugh out loud, even if I’m by myself while watching. Tuesdays would be great, because there is so little else on. I loved the hand washing scene as drama. Michael did a fabulous job of conveying the level of frustration these people feel. They know what they are doing is crazy, but can’t _not_ do it. I also thought that it was realistic that he would have an uncontrollable episode at the end of the first day on a new job - a high stress situation for anyone. And that last shot of him flipping the lights off and on was so pathetic. (Although my sister, who works at the county mental health center, and who has a mild case of OCD herself says he couldn’t have touched the lightswitch directly. She won’t touch doorhandles or lightswitches herself - they are “dirty”. Just a minor nitpick.) All in all, a very good episode. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/16 "2004-02-11T18:19:03Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I don’t remember that episode. It wasn’t Skippy that died, was it? No. The premise was that Alex’s and his longtime childhood friend (never before mentioned on the show) were in a serious car accident that left Alex unscathed and his best-friend practically-brother dead. The episode _starts_ like a standard episode with the Keaton’s at home. Then Mallory sees Alex acting strangely (talking to his best friend’s ghost) and goes running to get their parents. Then Alex breaks down with guilt howling “why am I alive?” and his parents telling him they’ll get him help. It cuts to commercial, then when it comes back’s from commercial it’s like a theatre stage, all black with Alex sitting in a chiar speaking to an unseen therapist whose voice comes from “offstage.” You see other parts of the Keaton’s house, but all isolated like a theatre stage set. EG/ There is a scene where Alex is a toddler (with Fox pretending to be young child) and he and his mom are singing “Where is thumbkin? Where is thumbkin?..” in the kitchen, but you only see the table, firdge and one wall of “the kitchen.” The episode was called _ **"A" My Name is Alex** _, and aired March 12, 1987. From a website that talks about the 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time: > [@](#): > > Alex P. Keaton, whose life revolves around himself, money, family, money, school, money (and money), realizes the value of life in the one-hour “‘A’ My Name Is Alex,” written by Alan Uger and series creator Gary David Goldberg. A friend is killed in a car accident, and Alex is overcome with grief. In “Our Town”-like flashbacks, he talks to an unseen psychiatrist and grapples with big questions about God and a person’s place in the grand scheme of things. Great sitcoms are not always all about jokes. The best make us laugh till we cry, and sometimes, when they mix in tragedy with the comedy, we cry till we laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/17 "2004-02-11T18:25:17Z")
Oh, andthe hour-long “very special episode”, won the 1987 Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/18 "2004-02-11T18:37:17Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > No. The premise was that Alex’s and his longtime childhood friend (never before mentioned on the show) were in a serious car accident that left Alex unscathed and his best-friend practically-brother dead. nitpick: Actually, Alex was not in the car because he backed out of going with his friend at the last minute. IIRC, he was supposed to help him move something but made an excuse not to. Part of the guilt he felt was in not going with his friend and being too selfish to help him, and wondering if things would have turned out different if he had gone with him. I saw this episode recently in reruns and was struck by it again. Wasn’t it a 2-part episode as well? He would be a terrific stage actor. Has he done any theatrical work? ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/19 "2004-02-11T18:40:06Z")
> [@Velma](#): > > Wasn’t it a 2-part episode as well? I’m an idiot and missed the ‘one hour episode’ description. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647/20 "2004-02-11T19:56:49Z")
> [@Velma](#): > > IIRC, he was supposed to help him move something but made an excuse not to. Part of the guilt he felt was in not going with his friend and being too selfish to help him, and wondering if things would have turned out different if he had gone with him. I saw this episode recently in reruns and was struck by it again. Wasn’t it a 2-part episode as well? Oh, that’s right! He came up with a lame excuse because he didn’t want to move heavy furniture or something. I’d forgotten. He was supposed to have been in the car but wasn’t. I think the episode was originally aired for the full sobering hour (that’s how I have it on tape) and in syndication it became a “to be continued” two-parter. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-2-10-and-ocd/228647.md?page=2)