Scrubs (season 5)

Scrubs (season 5)

Scrubs Season 5 DVD art
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 24
Broadcast
Original channel NBC
Original run January 3, 2006 – May 16, 2006
Home video release

DVD release

Region 1 May 22, 2007
Region 2 June 18, 2007

The fifth season of the American comedy-drama television series Scrubs premiered on NBC on January 3, 2006 and concluded on May 16, 2006 and consists of 24 episodes. For the first twelve episodes, two new episodes were broadcast back-to-back every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. ET. Then NBC returned to broadcasting one new episode every week (at 9:00 p.m. ET), followed by a rerun. For the first three weeks of this, the rerun episode was a cast favorite episode, with available audio commentary tracks on NBC's website to accompany the episodes. Guest stars in the fifth included Jason Bateman and Mandy Moore, as well the introduction of new recurring characters played by Elizabeth Banks and Travis Schuldt. This season was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.[1]

Plot

Season 5 begins with J.D. living in a hotel. He has become an attending now on the same level as Dr. Cox. Elliot has taken a new fellowship in another hospital. Turk and Carla are trying to have a baby, despite Turk still having doubts. Finally, some new interns have arrived to Sacred Heart, chief among them being Keith Dudemeister. Season 5 also focuses on the relationship between J.D. and Dr. Cox, who now find themselves equals.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Recurring roles

Guest stars

Production

Both Gabrielle Allan and Matt Tarses, two writers since the first season, left at the end of season 4. Eric Weinberg left in the middle of season 5 to work on a pilot. Tim Hobert and Tad Quill were promoted to executive producers in mid season. The staff writer of season 4 did not return for season 5. Kevin Biegel and Aseem Batra were hired as staff writers for this season.

Writing staff

  • Bill Lawrence – executive producer/head writer
  • Tim Hobert – co-executive producer (episodes 1–12) / executive producer/assistant head writer (episodes 13–24)
  • Tad Quill – co-executive producer (episodes 1–12) / executive producer/assistant head writer (episodes 13–24)
  • Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan – co-executive producers
  • Bill Callahan – co-executive producer
  • Eric Weinberg – co-executive producer (episodes 1–12)
  • Mike Schwartz – supervising producer
  • Debra Fordham – producer
  • Mark Stegemann – producer
  • Janae Bakken – producer
  • Angela Nissel – consulting producer
  • Kevin Biegel – staff writer
  • Aseem Batra – staff writer

Production staff

  • Bill Lawrence – executive producer/showrunner
  • Randall Winston – producer
  • Liz Newman – co-producer (episodes 1–12) / producer (episodes 13–24)
  • Danny Rose – associate producer (episodes 1–12) / co-producer (episodes 13–24)

Directors

Includes directors who directed 2 or more episodes, or directors who are part of the cast and crew

Episodes

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code
941"My Intern's Eyes"Bill LawrenceBill LawrenceJanuary 3, 2006501
Now an attending physician, J.D. has to deal with his own interns as Dr. Cox tests whether he's still willing to bend the rules despite more responsibility. Turk hesitates at the thought of Carla getting pregnant. Meanwhile, Elliot starts her fellowship at County Hospital and tries not to appear foolish.
952"My Rite of Passage"Bill LawrenceJanae BakkenJanuary 3, 2006502
Despite trying to do the opposite, J.D. finds himself treating his interns poorly after discovering they laugh at his jokes out of fear. The hospital staff attempt to avoid Jordan to drive her away, and Elliot's fellowship abruptly ends. The episode guest stars Alexander Chaplin as Sam Thompson.
963"My Day at the Races"Michael SpillerEric WeinbergJanuary 10, 2006503
Trying to complete a list of goals before his 30th birthday, J.D. signs up for a triathlon. Meanwhile, Turk takes on a patient who wishes to be hypnotized instead of put under anesthesia during surgery, and Elliot finds she and Jake (Josh Randall) know little about each other. J.D. and Elliot move in together.
974"My Jiggly Ball"Rick BlueTim HobertJanuary 10, 2006504
J.D. struggles to find something positive to talk about when assigned to introduce Dr. Kelso at an awards dinner, especially after Kelso chooses a wealthier patient for a drug trial after promising the opportunity to another. Carla and Turk attempt to help Elliot, stuck working in a free clinic, get her job at Sacred Heart back. Everyone except for J.D. seems to know of a game called "Jiggly Ball".
985"My New God"Victor Nelli, Jr.Aseem BatraJanuary 17, 2006506
Dr. Cox's born-again Christian sister, Paige Cox (Cheryl Hines), visits the hospital and wants him to participate in his son's baptism: Dr. Cox wants nothing to do with it, and her for that matter. Elliot tries to convince Turk why Carla finds babymaking to be romantic. The Janitor and J.D. begin a friendship, which is sabotaged by one of Janitor's more elaborate pranks. The song playing during the Janitor's 'Evil Stare' is "Koyaanisqatsi" by Philip Glass.
996"My Missed Perception"Bill LawrenceKevin BiegelJanuary 17, 2006507
J.D. has to deal with the consequences when he mistakes a patient's reaction to her approaching death as a wish to end treatment. Carla desperately tries to gather the hospital staff for a group photo, while Turk and Elliot try to discover the cause of a patient's mysterious and unexplainable pain. The episode features a cameo appearance by Gary Busey.
1007"My Way Home"Zach BraffNeil Goldman & Garrett DonovanJanuary 24, 2006505
J.D. gets called in to work on his day off, but the only thing he wants to do is get home. Meanwhile Elliot tries to convince everyone she is an expert on endocrinology following her brief fellowship, Carla has doubts over being a parent, and Turk has to wrestle over an issue that will either help his career or break his conscience.
1018"My Big Bird"Rob GreenbergDebra FordhamJanuary 24, 2006508
J.D., Elliot, Turk and Carla are all formally interrogated following the death of a patient, where it is learned that J.D. and Turk were unnecessarily visiting a patient's home, Carla was gathering the staff to purchase lottery tickets in a group effort, and Elliot was dealing with the wife of a married man she kissed. The episode guest stars Jason Bateman as Mr. Sutton and Peter Jacobson as Mr. Foster.
1029"My Half-Acre"Linda MendozaBill CallahanFebruary 7, 2006509
J.D. is set up on a blind date with a patient's niece and tries to take Elliot's advice to avoid scaring her off. Meanwhile, Turk joins the hospital air-band, but when he steps on Dr. Kelso's toes he has to learn to swallow his pride. Dr. Cox worries about being an unsatisfactory father. The episode guest stars Mandy Moore as Julie Quinn.
10310"Her Story II"Chris KochMike SchwartzFebruary 7, 2006510
Narrated from Carla's viewpoint: J.D. lets the little things bother him with Julie, but just as he gets over them, the big things make themselves plain. Meanwhile, Carla gets a fertility test when a new nurse makes her feel even older. The episode features a cameo appearance by Billy Dee Williams.
10411"My Buddy's Booty"Randall WinstonMark StegemannFebruary 28, 2006511
J.D. and Elliot, worried about their favorite patient Mrs. Wilk undergoing a risky procedure—and J.D. still having trouble getting over Julie—both agree to find a booty call, but his suggestion backfires when Elliot chooses J.D.'s nemesis/intern, Keith. Carla encourages Turk to fight for a female-friendly hospital gym, and Dr. Cox and the Janitor strike a lop-sided friendship over drinks.
10512"My Cabbage" (Part 1)John InwoodRyan A. LevinFebruary 28, 2006512
J.D. tries relentlessly to get rid of Keith while sticking up for his favorite intern "Cabbage", while the staff says goodbye to Mrs. Wilk. The Janitor keeps a magpie in the hospital which proves very adept at stealing things, much to Dr. Kelso's displeasure. The episode features a cameo appearance by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
10613"My Five Stages" (Part 2)Jay AlaimoTad QuillMarch 7, 2006513
When the hospital's favorite patient Mrs. Wilk is told she will die after getting an infection, Dr. Cox and J.D. seem to go through the five stages of grief as well. Meanwhile, Elliot realizes that her booty call Keith has become more than a booty call, and the Janitor and Ted team up to give Dr. Kelso a taste of his own medicine. The episode guest stars Dave Foley as Dr. Hedrick.
10714"My Own Personal Hell"Adam BernsteinEren CelebogluMarch 14, 2006514
Dr. Cox is named the best doctor in the area in a leading publication. Dr. Cox struggles to treat an unnervingly rude and haughty patient who is a friend of Dr. Kelso's. After struggling to conceive, Carla, who has already taken a fertility test, questions Turk's fertility. Elliot finds out J.D. doesn't like Keith.
10815"My Extra Mile"Ken WhittinghamMark StegemannMarch 21, 2006515
J.D. encourages his colleagues to go the extra mile with their patients. This causes a dilemma as J.D. is torn between sticking to his principles and losing a very attractive girlfriend who is only interested in him because of his hair. Turk and Carla are having trouble making a baby, and a doctor attributes it to the stress they are under. Turk is worried about getting a permanent position when he finds out he is the fourth most skilled surgeon.
10916"My Bright Idea"Michael SpillerJanae BakkenMarch 28, 2006517
J.D. and Turk find out that Carla is pregnant before she does and J.D. convinces Turk to tell the entire hospital staff in order to surprise Carla. Carla, however, reveals that upon hearing the news of pregnancy, her biggest joy will be to tell her friends one by one. J.D. gets the Janitor to swallow a GPS tracker.
11017"My Chopped Liver"Will MackenzieDebra FordhamApril 4, 2006516

Carla is forced to do Kelso's job, saying "no" to people's requests. J.D.'s patient who needs a liver transplant recovers but his brother who donated gets worse. Dr. Cox is forced to attend a couples' dinner with Elliot and Keith, with the result that the other interns try to befriend him as well (much to J.D.'s dismay). J.D. himself gets in the way of "Turk Time", causing resentment from his best friend.

The episode's storyline regarding a liver transplant led to a nomination at The Sentinel for Health Awards in 2006 in the primetime comedy section.[2]
11118"My New Suit"Victor Nelli, Jr.Tim HobertApril 11, 2006518
J.D. finds himself constantly lying in order not to hurt the feelings of his visiting brother Dan (Tom Cavanagh). Carla and Turk can't decide on baby names. Dr. Cox is forced to work with Ted after a conversation with Kelso goes wrong.
11219"His Story III"John InwoodAngela NisselApril 18, 2006519
Narrated by The Janitor: J.D. begins a video postcard for his mother, but gets locked in a water tower for the day by the Janitor. Finding himself with free time, the Janitor bonds with a severely quadriplegic patient who can't communicate. Elliot and Carla argue over an intern's mistake. Turk is embarrassed by his impending fatherhood when Dr. Cox accuses him of having a stereotypically white personality.
11320"My Lunch"John MichelTad QuillApril 25, 2006520

After repeatedly running into annoying recurring patient Jill Tracy (Nicole Sullivan), J.D. feels guilty when she dies of an apparent drug overdose and he didn't act on warning signs. Carla and Elliot convince Todd to admit to being gay, but contrary to what they had hoped, this does not change his personality for the better. Dr. Cox consoles J.D. by telling him he shouldn't take patients' deaths personally. After three patients, one of whom is a friend of Dr. Cox, receive transplant organs from Jill Tracy, which turn out to be infected by rabies, causing all three patients to die. This causes Dr. Cox to break down, failing to follow his own advice.

The plot is based on the May and June 2004 deaths of four Texas patients who received donor organs from a patient whose cause of death was originally determined to be a cocaine overdose, but later turned out to be rabies.[3][4]
11421"My Fallen Idol"Joanna KernsBill CallahanMay 2, 2006521
Feeling guilty over the deaths of three patients, Dr. Cox comes to work drunk and is forced to take a leave of absence. The staff organize shifts to visit Cox at home and console him in the hope of his return, but initially, J.D. refuses to take part. Meanwhile, Turk begins a new orthopedic rotation, but struggles to connect with his new, overly-sensitive attending. The episode guest stars Paul Adelstein as Dr. Stone.
11522"My Déjà Vu, My Déjà Vu"Linda MendozaMike SchwartzMay 9, 2006522
After five years working at Sacred Heart, J.D. gets the impression that the same events keep unfolding at Sacred Heart. Dr Cox, returning to work, seems to have lost his self-confidence and Elliot takes it upon herself to help him regain it. Turk annoys Carla by doing the things she cannot while pregnant.
11623"My Urologist"Richard Alexander WellsNeil Goldman & Garrett DonovanMay 16, 2006523
J.D. begins to fall for Dr. Kim Briggs (Elizabeth Banks), a urologist who has supposedly always been present, but was invisible to J.D. because she wore a wedding ring. She shares a patient with J.D., but when Dr. Cox reveals that she's refusing to do a risky surgery to keep her statistics up, he begins to have mixed feelings. Elliot considers breaking up with Keith after he refuses to stand up for himself, but Carla, amid her pregnancy hormones, tries to save the relationship. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelso decides to trust the Janitor to fetch cash from a deposit at home, which he regrets. During the opening title sequence Dr. Kim Briggs steps into the credits and switches the X-ray around, saying, "That's backwards, it's been bugging me for years."
11724"My Transition" (Part 1)Bill LawrenceAseem Batra & Kevin BiegelMay 16, 2006524
J.D. and Kim's romance escalates when they go on their first date, but Elliot won't give them much time alone, as she is becoming good friends with Kim too. Dr. Cox and Jordan celebrate as Jack moves out of diapers by giving his baby things away at Carla's baby shower, but learn that Jordan's pregnant again. Later when J.D. goes to talk to Kim, she reveals that she is pregnant.

References

  1. ↑ "Scrubs". Emmys.com. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Seventh Annual Sentinel for Health Awards (2006)" (PDF). The Norman Lear Centre. September 27, 2006. Retrieved September 27, 2006.
  3. ↑ Srinivasan, M.D., Arjun [and 37 others] (March 17, 2005). "Transmission of Rabies Virus from an Organ Donor to Four Transplant Recipients" (PDF). The New England Journal of Medicine (Massachusetts Medical Society) 352 (11): 1103–1111. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa043018. PMID 15784663. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  4. ↑ Keller, Joel (January 17, 2007). "Bill Lawrence of Scrubs: The TV Squad Interview". TV Squad. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
General references

External links