# Scrubs season 8 premiere thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 7, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182 "2009-01-07T02:37:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/41 "2009-01-08T06:06:46Z")
Apparently I’m the only one who thinks most of the characters looked like they had all come off a 3 week drinking binge. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/42 "2009-01-08T07:10:48Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Glynn Turman, from _The Wire_ and _Cooley High_, one of my daughter’s favorite movies from 40 years ago. > > I was sure I saw Frankie Faison’s (another _Wire_ star) name in the credits but I didn’t see him. Was he on? Turk is played by Donald Faison, who’s apparently unrelated to The Wire’s Frankie Faison. ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/43 "2009-01-08T12:42:49Z")
I’m actually enjoying the outtakes during the credits more than the show in some respects. The 2nd episode’s talking about having Turk and Carla stuffed, but Carla has to stay in the closet was Hysterical! ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/44 "2009-01-08T13:59:06Z")
> [@KRM](#): > > During some episode a while back, they showed a brief clip of the janitor talking to someone an he said: (paraphrasing) > Janitor: And that’s how I got my name. > Random person: Well, you certainly don’t look Asian. Well, sure, but he always lies. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/45 "2009-01-08T14:09:49Z")
Has Carla put on weight this year? ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/46 "2009-01-08T14:46:31Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I like how they’re foreshadowing the series finale…both JD and Cox are admitting they’re getting tired, and I liked the end of the first show, where they riffed on how it’s their eighth year but they can still do it, despite the Nielsens, who are just upset they didn’t get a private room, etc. And they didn’t win the medical award; it went to Dr. Shalhoub (took me a second to get that one). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/47 "2009-01-08T16:29:08Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Well, it’s Courtney Cox Arquette, if that helps any. > > ABC repeated the shows again instead of showing _Pushing Daisies_, the rat bastards. You didn’t say “rat bastards” with enough venom. Try adding a goddamn, a vomitous, or possum-fucking. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/48 "2009-01-08T17:41:27Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > …I never liked how Dr. Cox is supposed to be some badass, but at the end of every episode it’s like; “oh, he’s not such a dick after all”. Every episode would feel like a “very special episode” of an otherwise situation comedy show… I actually liked that they addressed this in the first episode - it’s not that he’s truly a badass, but it’s a role he takes on. It doesn’t really explain why he’s always been such a dick to J.D. and the other underlings, but I just assume that he keeps the persona “on” as much as possible so he doesn’t slip in dealing with the Chief of Medicine. I always assumed he just didn’t like Kelso personally. It hadn’t occurred to me that he might be that way toward all administrators. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/49 "2009-01-08T18:19:57Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > I’m intrigued about what they’ll be doing with the Janitor. > > The second episode was great, and the man that wasn’t scared of death was actually terrified. I was really impressed by the actor. Good episode. I hope they keep him off. Seriously, “the Janitor” went way too far on too many occassions, going from “practical joker” to “evil felon”. But yes, that was a great epi. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/50 "2009-01-08T18:48:08Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I actually liked that they addressed this in the first episode - it’s not that he’s truly a badass, but it’s a role he takes on. It doesn’t really explain why he’s always been such a dick to J.D. and the other underlings, but I just assume that he keeps the persona “on” as much as possible so he doesn’t slip in dealing with the Chief of Medicine. > > I always assumed he just didn’t like Kelso personally. It hadn’t occurred to me that he might be that way toward all administrators. Actually, Cox’s character is pretty well explained…probably one of the best drawn characters on television. He was a dick to JD and Elliot for the same reason that JD decided he didn’t want to have anything to do with the latest batch of interns–he was tired of it all and they got on his nerves. Of course, in the beginning of the series, from JD’s pov, there was no reason to be annoyed by him and his fellow interns, but Cox obviously felt differently. And they’ve explored his tendency to resist authority (which often goes hand in hand with sabotaging himself) many times. In fact, Jordan offered that as one of the reasons she left him. Because she couldn’t stand to see him destroying himself/his career. So I think the way he treated JD and Kelso came from different impulses, but basically manifested itself the same way–as the hardcore rat-bastard persona. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/51 "2009-01-08T18:58:15Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You didn’t say “rat bastards” with enough venom. Try adding a goddamn, a vomitous, or possum-fucking. This isn’t the Pit, and I’m a lady. **Primly crosses legs at the ankle and sips her tea** ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/52 "2009-01-08T22:19:45Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I actually liked that they addressed this in the first episode - it’s not that he’s truly a badass, but it’s a role he takes on. It doesn’t really explain why he’s always been such a dick to J.D. and the other underlings, but I just assume that he keeps the persona “on” as much as possible so he doesn’t slip in dealing with the Chief of Medicine. > > I always assumed he just didn’t like Kelso personally. It hadn’t occurred to me that he might be that way toward all administrators. I think I remember what you’re talking about in the fist episode. Where Dr. Cox had JD thinking that \*\*\*he \*\*\*was the bad guy, when in fact he ended up fighting for what was right against the head guy… is that Kelso?? Please be patient, I’ve forgotten a lot about the show. I just, (think I), remember an episode, (later in the series after it had been well established that Cox is a good guy at the end of the day, often providing a verbal ‘pat-on-the-back’), where he told JD something like; “Look, you know I’m not one to get all soft and fuzzy but…” and I thought to myself; “yes you are… you get soft and fuzzy all the time, just after you get all your jabs in.” Like I said, however, I don’t watch it that much. I may be mistaken on what exactly went on in that episode, so take my criticism with a grain of salt. I don’t remember much of what I saw in it’s first season either. If anyone has an answer to my previous question; _“I know most of the “silly parts” of the show has, (or had) a lot to do with how J.D. perceived things, in order to cope, at least that’s how I remembered it back when I would watch it. But the “silly” seems to have branched out more. For those who know the show, is that accurate?”_ I would be interested in hearing if I’m remembering things accurately. The show has that “Whoosh” technique that you saw on “Ally McBeal” and “Malcolm in the Middle”, where things are normal, and then there’s a “Whoosh” sound, and things are a bit more wacky, and a bit surreal. This, I thought was primarily JD’s over-active imagination taking over. It seems that now, no one acts normal. Like that intern who amazingly starts little fads in which somehow everyone in the hospital knows within a matter of seconds. I get the joke, but it’s not like M_A_S\*H where the comedy and the drama blend a little better. IMO The episode I saw last night wasn’t bad, mind you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/53 "2009-01-08T22:23:28Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > This isn’t the Pit, and I’m a lady. **Primly crosses legs at the ankle and sips her tea** Shall I say it for you, dear heart? ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/54 "2009-01-08T23:45:32Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > If anyone has an answer to my previous question; > _“I know most of the “silly parts” of the show has, (or had) a lot to do with how J.D. perceived things, in order to cope, at least that’s how I remembered it back when I would watch it. But the “silly” seems to have branched out more. For those who know the show, is that accurate?”_ > > I would be interested in hearing if I’m remembering things accurately. The show has that “Whoosh” technique that you saw on “Ally McBeal” and “Malcolm in the Middle”, where things are normal, and then there’s a “Whoosh” sound, and things are a bit more wacky, and a bit surreal. This, I thought was primarily JD’s over-active imagination taking over. It seems that now, no one acts normal. Like that intern who amazingly starts little fads in which somehow everyone in the hospital knows within a matter of seconds. I get the joke, but it’s not like M_A_S\*H where the comedy and the drama blend a little better. IMO > > The episode I saw last night wasn’t bad, mind you. 🙂 Yeah, 2 or 3 times every episode JD has a daydream that riffs off a line of dialogue. They can be silly or outright strange. My favorite one was when it was revealed that Turk had to have a testicle amputated, and JD imagines planting it into the ground and coming back 6 months later to find a fully-grown Plant Turk, wearing nothing but a fig leaf. But the dreams are just one example of the surreal undercurrent that the show has always had, from the janitor’s vendetta against JD to Elliot’s neuroses to Cox’s self-sabotage. Example: one of the best story arcs from previous seasons was the death of Brendan Fraser’s character. This is one of the elements of the show that I enjoy the most, and I don’t think that this has changed too much in these two episodes. And I agree that M_A_S_H did the comedy + drama mix better than Scrubs. IMHO, that’s because M_A_S_H had at its core a serious theme about the insanity of war, while the best _Scrubs_ can muster along those lines is that being a young, good-looking doctor does occasionally have its bad moments. That being said, I hope the show picks up in the next few episodes, these two were sort of meh. I think the show will miss Kelso, the retired Chief of Medicine. He was a foil to most of the characters. With him gone, who can Cox rage against? Who can JD, Turk, and Elliot fear? Who can crush Ted’s spirit on a regular basis with a casual, offhand comment ? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/55 "2009-01-09T00:13:14Z")
> [@Airblairxxx](#): > > That being said, I hope the show picks up in the next few episodes, these two were sort of meh. I think the show will miss Kelso, the retired Chief of Medicine. He was a foil to most of the characters. With him gone, who can Cox rage against? Who can JD, Turk, and Elliot fear? Who can crush Ted’s spirit on a regular basis with a casual, offhand comment ? It’s not that hard to crush Ted’s spirit, really. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/56 "2009-01-09T02:20:56Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Shall I say it for you, dear heart? If you must, but please, do it away from my tender ears. **bats eyes innocently** I’ve heard someone say _Scrubs_ is the most realistic when it comes to hospital shows. Tell me, are administrators truly like that, doing wallet biopsies and such? I can’t see a hospital administrator getting down and dirty treating patients, even if they do have great insurance they can milk. And how does that work, anyway? Do they bill the insurance company for a test that’s more than how much the test actually is? Isn’t that fraud? I have heard from two different doctors that they hate dealing with insurance companies, and I even heard one say they do something called “creative billing,” which I believe is to get treatment for a patient for something the insurance doesn’t normally cover. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/57 "2009-01-09T04:09:45Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’ve heard someone say _Scrubs_ is the most realistic when it comes to hospital shows. Tell me, are administrators truly like that, doing wallet biopsies and such? I can’t see a hospital administrator getting down and dirty treating patients, even if they do have great insurance they can milk. And how does that work, anyway? Do they bill the insurance company for a test that’s more than how much the test actually is? Isn’t that fraud? > > I have heard from two different doctors that they hate dealing with insurance companies, and I even heard one say they do something called “creative billing,” which I believe is to get treatment for a patient for something the insurance doesn’t normally cover. What Courtenay Cox advocated in this case was testing a guy for dozens of things that he probably doesn’t have, since they can bill the company for the test and make money on it. The guy isn’t hurt and the hospital makes money. > [@Magiver](#): > > Apparently I’m the only one who thinks most of the characters looked like they had all come off a 3 week drinking binge. J.D.'s beard is terrible and needs to leave immediately. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/58 "2009-01-09T05:03:18Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > J.D.'s beard is terrible and needs to leave immediately. How can we make J.D. look more like a tool? Oh I got it, give him a beard ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/59 "2009-01-09T05:21:10Z")
Scrubs is BACK. Well, it’s physically back anyway and it’s almost back creatively. I’m glad that ABC is giving this show a chance to end on a good note. The last few seasons have been horrible and I have only been watching out of inertia. This isn’t as good as the first few seasons, but this is loads better than the last few on NBC. Woohoo! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182/60 "2009-01-09T09:09:48Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > How can we make J.D. look more like a tool? > > Oh I got it, give him a beard ☹ It wasn’t just him. Dr. Cox looked haggered as well as a number of characters. Maybe it’s because I’m watching earlier reruns but they all looked they were rode hard and put away wet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrubs-season-8-premiere-thread/480182.md?page=4)