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100 Ultimate Scrubs Facts Every JD And Turk Fan Should Read


Scrubs is a popular medical themed sitcom created by Bill Lawrence. Known for its fast-paced slapstick humour and surreal vignettes that often take the form of daydreams experienced by the main character, John "J.D." Dorian (played by Zach Braff). The core cast also included Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn, Ken Jenkins, John C. McGinley, and Judy Reyes. Our Scrubs facts include why the opening chest XRay is upside down, how the Worthless Peons came to be and what the connection is between The Todd and dog faeces.

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Scrubs is a popular medical themed sitcom created by Bill Lawrence from October 2, 2001, to March 17, 2010, on NBC and later ABC. The series revolves around the lives of the staff members at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital.

Known for its fast-paced slapstick humour and surreal vignettes that often take the form of daydreams experienced by the main character, John "J.D." Dorian (played by Zach Braff), The core cast also included Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn, Ken Jenkins, John C. McGinley, and Judy Reyes. Notable film actors such as Brendan Fraser, Heather Graham, Michael J. Fox, and Colin Farrell also made multiple guest appearances on the show.

Produced by the television production division of Walt Disney Television, Scrubs received critical acclaim and was honoured with a Peabody Award in 2006. After the seventh season, NBC decided not to renew the show, but ABC picked up the eighth season, which aired from January 6, 2009. The ninth season debuted on December 1, 2009 but had negative reviews, and on May 14, 2010, ABC officially announced the cancellation of the series.

Our Scrubs facts include why the opening chest XRay is upside down, how the Worthless Peons came to be and what the connection is between The Todd and dog faeces.


1. Many Scenes In Scrubs Were Improvised

According to Bill Lawrence, the show's creator, "Instead of having a monotone narration, we decided to present everything through J.D.'s eyes. This approach allowed us to explore a visual medium that was new to us as comedy writers."

The actors were encouraged to improvise their lines on set, with Neil Flynn and Zach Braff being the primary improvisers.


2. Nearly Every Episode Begins With The Word “My”

Throughout the first eight seasons, nearly every episode title begins with the word "My." Lawrence explains that this is because each episode represents Dr. John Dorian's entries in his diary (as revealed in the DVD commentary for the first-season episode "My Hero"). 

However, a few episodes shift the perspective to another character and feature titles such as "His Story" or "Her Story." In these episodes, apart from brief moments of narration from J.D. at the beginning and end, internal narration primarily comes from characters other than J.D. The transition of narration duties often occurs during a moment of physical contact between two characters. 

In season nine, the episode titles shift to begin with "Our..." as the focus switches from J.D.'s perspective to a new group of medical students. The webisodes that accompanied season eight, titled Scrubs: Interns, also adopted the "Our..." naming convention.


3. The Show Was Partly Inspired By Dr. Jonathan Doris

The concept for the show drew loose inspiration from Dr. Jonathan Doris' experiences as an internal medicine resident at Brown Medical School. These experiences served as inspiration for Bill Lawrence, a college friend of Dr. Doris and the creator of Scrubs.


4. Unusually Scrubs Was Produced By ABC But Aired On NBC

Although Scrubs was produced by ABC's production division, it was aired by rival broadcaster NBC. According to showrunner Lawrence, this arrangement was unusual, especially for the time in 2007. 

He described the show as a "dinosaur" being owned by one network while airing on another. He also mentioned that the show was making a significant amount of money for Touchstone since it was in syndication. Lawrence confirmed that ABC would have broadcast the seventh season if NBC had refused to do so.

Season 7 marked the final season broadcast on NBC before the series switched to ABC starting with season 8. In the season 8 premiere titled "My Jerks," J.D. acknowledges the network switch by pointing to the ABC bug logo.


5. Scrubs Creator Bill Lawrence Left After Season 8

Bill Lawrence, the show's creator, served as an executive producer and the showrunner. He wrote 14 episodes and directed 17. Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan co-wrote 13 episodes during their eight-year tenure on the show, starting as co-producers and ending as executive producers. They left the show after the eighth season.


6. Lloyd The Delivery Guy Wrote 13 Episodes In Season 8

Mike Schwartz, who also portrayed Lloyd the Delivery Guy, wrote 13 episodes during the first eight seasons. He began as a story editor and became a co-executive producer in season six. 


7. Michael Spiller Directed The Most Episodes Of Scrubs

Michael Spiller holds the record for directing the most episodes, having directed 20 throughout the entire series run. 


8. Zach Braff Won A Peabody For One Of His Directed Episodes

Zach Braff, one of the show's stars, directed seven episodes, including the milestone 100th episode titled "My Way Home," which won a Peabody Award in April 2007. 


9. The Scrubs Medical Supervisors Inspired The Character’s Names

The Scrubs writers collaborated closely with several medical advisors, including doctors Jonathan Doris, Jon Turk, and Dolly Klock. These doctors' names served as inspiration for the names of characters on the show, such as John Dorian, Chris Turk, and Molly Clock ( Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Heather Graham). 


10. Dr. Jonathan Doris Made A Cameo In The Season 8 Finale

In the season eight finale, titled "My Finale," the real-life J.D. Jonathan Doris made a cameo appearance as a doctor bidding farewell to J.D.

Bill Lawrence, the show's creator mentioned that every medical story depicted on the show was contributed by real physicians, and their names were incorporated into the episodes. 

Although real patients' names were never used, Lawrence and the writing team ensured that the names of the doctors who provided the medical stories were included in the episodes.


11. Scrubs Was Filmed In A Real Decommissioned Hospital

Scrubs’ Sacred Heart is portrayed as an inner-city teaching hospital situated in Greater Sacramento, California. The first eight seasons of Scrubs were filmed on location at the North Hollywood Medical Center, a decommissioned hospital located at 12629 Riverside Drive in North Hollywood.


12. The Scrubs Team Remodelled The Hospital Location

During the production of Scrubs, the team had complete control over the hospital set. They made modifications to the existing hospital rooms to make them more suitable for filming. This involved demolishing walls to create larger and more open spaces like the main ward and communal areas such as admissions, which were not originally part of the hospital layout. 

Production designer Cabot McMullen also incorporated more glass walls and windows into the hospital sets, and movable nurses' stations were added to allow for flexible camera movements. While many areas of the building underwent renovation, the team made a deliberate effort to preserve the dilapidated state of the hospital to create a gritty and atmospheric aesthetic for the show.


13. Other Sets Were Incorporated Into The Scrubs Hospital

Additional recurring locations were incorporated into the hospital set, including J.D. and Turk's apartment, a frequented bar, and Dr. Cox's apartment, which was built in an old operating room. 


14. Temporary Locations Were Constructed In The Hospital Also

Alongside these permanent locations, the production team would also construct temporary sets within the hospital as needed. 


15. All Of The Scrubs Production Team Was Housed In The Hospital

Almost all members of the show's production, casting, and writing teams were housed within the hospital building. Post-production tasks, such as editing and ADR (automated dialogue replacement), were also carried out within the facility.


16. The Scrubs Cast Had Old Hospital Rooms For Dressing Rooms

Instead of the typical artist trailers for breaks, the Scrubs cast members were provided with old hospital rooms that they could decorate according to their preferences, along with a small allowance. 


17. Some Cast Members Would Sleep In Their Dressing Rooms After Nights Out

On occasions when Scrubs’ filming ran late or when the cast and crew socialised after work, some, including John C. McGinley, would choose to sleep in their dressing rooms at the hospital rather than going home. 


18. Scrubs Was Filmed In The Pretend San DiFrangeles

The location is often referred to as "San DiFrangeles" by the show's cast and crew, a blend of San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, representing a significant portion of California. 

In season four, episode nine, titled "My Malpractice Decision," Turk's new phone number includes the Sacramento area code 916. 


19. Season 9 Relocated Scrubs To Culver City

For the ninth season, the show relocated to Culver Studios. The building used for the exteriors of the new Sacred Heart Hospital is situated at the intersection of Ince Boulevard and Lindblade Street in Culver City, California.


20. The WGA Strike Put Scrubs Season 7 On Hold

On November 5, 2007, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike, resulting in the production of Scrubs' seventh season being put on hold. At the time of the strike's commencement, only 11 out of the planned 18 episodes for the season had been completed. 

Showrunner Bill Lawrence, in solidarity with the WGA, refused to cross picket lines, prompting ABC Studios to have non-WGA members finish episode 12, which the studio had unsuccessfully pressured Lawrence to rewrite as a series finale before the strike.


21. Scrubs Was To Be Replaced With Celebrity Apprentice During The Strikes

During the strike, NBC announced that The Office and Scrubs would be replaced by Celebrity Apprentice. Subsequently, NBC decided to place Scrubs on hiatus and fill the 8–9 pm timeslot with specials and repeats. 


22. WGA Picketers Disrupted The Filming Of Season 7 Episode 11

Eventually, episode 11, titled "My Princess," was filmed, although Lawrence was absent. Filming of the episode was disrupted by picketers, leading to false accusations that Lawrence had informed the picketers about the schedule. However, Lawrence promptly arrived on set to maintain order and resolve the situation. After the strike concluded, Lawrence confirmed that the final episodes of Scrubs would be produced, although he was uncertain about the distribution and broadcast details at that time.


23. Bill Lawrence Was Surprised That An Eighth Season Was Granted

Amid uncertainty caused by the writers' strike, there were discussions between ABC and ABC Studios about bringing Scrubs to ABC for an eighth season consisting of 18 episodes. This news came as a surprise to show creator Lawrence and actor Braff, who had previously stated that the seventh season would be the last. NBC responded by threatening legal action against ABC Studios. 

McGinley confirmed that he was instructed to return to work on March 24, 2008, for another season, and later stated that the move from NBC to ABC was a done deal, with Scrubs scheduled to air on ABC as a midseason replacement for the 2008-09 TV season.


24. Scrubs Season 8 Was The First To Be Broadcast In High Definition

Season eight of Scrubs, according to Bill Lawrence, returned to the tone of the earlier seasons, with a stronger emphasis on realistic storylines and the introduction of new characters. Courteney Cox joined the cast for a three-episode arc, portraying Dr. Maddox, the new chief of medicine. The eighth season also featured webisodes and became the first season of Scrubs to be broadcast in high definition.


25. Sarah Chalke Thought J.D. And Elliot Were Like Ross And Rachel

Sarah Chalke, who played Elliot, expressed her hope that J.D. and Elliot would reconcile, drawing a comparison to the relationship between Ross and Rachel on Friends. In the early episodes of the season, J.D. and Elliot did rekindle their relationship and continued dating until the end of the season. Several actors who had guest-starred as patients at Sacred Heart throughout the show's run returned for the finale.


26. There Was Uncertainty Over A Ninth Season

The double-length season eight finale, titled "My Finale," aired on May 6, 2009, initially assumed to be the series finale. However, it became evident that the show would return for a ninth season.

On April 16, 2009, Bill Lawrence expressed on the ABC.com message boards that the possibility of a ninth season of Scrubs was still uncertain, with the chances being "50/50." However, on April 28, it was announced that ABC was in discussions to renew the show for another year.


27. Bill Lawrence Said Season 9 Was Important For Crew Employment

Bill Lawrence revealed that Scrubs, as it had been known, was over. He proposed that the show could either continue with a new cast in a different medical setting on ABC or undergo a complete rebranding in Season 9. In response to concerns that these changes might diminish Scrubs' legacy, Lawrence defended the decision, emphasising the importance of providing employment for the show's crew during a difficult economic period. He stated, "'Legacy shmegacy.' I'm really proud of the show, I'll continue to be proud of the show, but I love all of those people..."


28. Only John C. McGinley And Donald Faison Stayed As Cast Members

Out of the original seven actors who appeared in the pilot episode, only Faison and McGinley retained their roles as regular cast members. Zach Braff returned on a part-time basis and was absent for most of the season, although he still received top billing for six episodes. Sarah Chalke made guest appearances in four episodes, Ken Jenkins appeared in nine episodes as a guest star, Neil Flynn had a brief cameo in the season premiere, and Judy Reyes was the only former star who did not return. 

In an interview, John C. McGinley mentioned that some cast members did not return due to salary demands. While he didn't specify which actors, he confirmed that two of the original cast members made demands and, as a result, were not brought back.


29. The New Season 9 Cast Included Four New Faces

The new main cast for the final season included Eliza Coupe reprising her recurring role as Denise "Jo" Mahoney from season eight, Dave Franco as Cole, a confident yet dim-witted medical student whose family had donated money to build the school, Kerry Bishé as Lucy, who shared the lead role with Braff at the beginning of the season and eventually became the show's narrator, and Michael Mosley as Drew, a 30-year-old med student making a final attempt at school.

Production for the ninth and final season took place at Culver Studios.


30. Zach Braff Humorously Broke The News Scrubs Was Over On Facebook

On March 22, 2010, Zach Braff announced on the show's official Facebook page that the ninth season would be the last, stating, "Many of you have asked, so here it is: it appears that 'New Scrubs,' 'Scrubs 2.0,' 'Scrubs with New Kids,' 'Scrubbier,' 'Scrubs without JD' is no more. It was worth a try, but alas... it didn't work."


31. The Scrubs Cast Appeared In “It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas” Movie

Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes, John C. McGinley, and Neil Flynn made cameo appearances reprising their roles as J.D., Elliot Reid, Carla Espinosa, Perry Cox, and the Janitor in the 2002 Muppets film It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. 

In the film, they join forces with the Muppets in an attempt to revive Miss Piggy. Eventually, the Scrubs cast breaks the fourth wall, with the actors portraying themselves, and Bill Lawrence appears as himself, the director of the current episode.


32. The Character Ted Was Resurrected In The Series Cougar Town

Sam Lloyd also reprised his role as Ted Buckland in the season two finale of Bill Lawrence's series Cougar Town. In the episode, written and directed by Lawrence, Ted is in Hawaii and mentions that his girlfriend, Stephanie Gooch, has left him for Dr. Hooch. Lloyd returned as Ted again in a season three episode, which also featured cameo appearances by Ken Jenkins, Robert Maschio, Zach Braff, Christa Miller, Sarah Chalke, and the Worthless Peons.


33. Scrubs Is Filmed Using A Single Camera Setup

Scrubs was filmed using a single-camera setup, which is less common for sitcoms. However, in the season four episode "My Life in Four Cameras," there is a brief switch to a multiple-camera style to depict J.D.'s fantasies of life being like a traditional sitcom.


34. Scrubs Was Shot With A Super16 Film Camera

The series was shot by cinematographer John Inwood using his own Aaton XTR prod Super16 film camera. Although some broadcasters, like the BBC, consider Super 16 a "non-HD" format, Inwood believed that the footage from his camera was not only suitable for high-definition broadcast but also looked great. The opening sequence of the first season, originally broadcast in 4:3 aspect ratio, was reused in an HD version for season eight without further alterations.


35. Scrubs Was A Mix Of 4:3 And 16:9 Definition

With the exception of the season five finale, "My Transition," which was broadcast in high definition, the first seven seasons of the show were aired in standard definition with a 4:3 aspect ratio. 

After the show moved from NBC to ABC, new episodes were broadcast in high definition and widescreen format. John Inwood suggested that older episodes could also be released in widescreen format. He had always filmed the show with widescreen delivery in mind, anticipating that the entire series could be aired in widescreen when the market evolved.

All nine seasons have been released on DVD in the 4:3 format. However, the eighth season was also released on Blu-ray Disc in the original widescreen format.


36. The Scrubs Writers Chose The Music For The Series Before Finishing The Script

Music plays a significant role in Scrubs, featuring a wide range of rock, pop, and indie artists. Almost every episode concludes with a musical montage that captures the episode's themes and plotlines. Interestingly, the music for these montages is often selected before the episodes are fully written.


37. The Scrubs Cast Were Asked For Their Song Suggestions

The Scrubs cast and crew were encouraged to contribute song suggestions, with many ideas coming from series creator Bill Lawrence, writer Neil Goldman, and actors Zach Braff and Christa Miller. Braff, whose college friends Cary Brothers and Joshua Radin appear on the Scrubs soundtrack, and Miller, who selected Colin Hay and Tammany Hall NYC, were particularly involved in choosing the music.

Lawrence even mentioned that many writers and actors bypassed him and went directly to Miller because of her knack for selecting fitting songs.


38. Some Of The Scrubs Songs Were Replaced On Streaming Platforms

The songs featured in the original broadcast of Scrubs remain unaltered in the DVD release. However, due to licensing issues, a few songs were replaced in versions released on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu.


39. The Musical Episode Was Nominated For 5 Emmys

In the show's sixth season, Scrubs showcased a musical episode titled "My Musical," which guest-starred Tony-nominated actress Stephanie D'Abruzzo from Avenue Q. The episode received five Emmy Award nominations and won one.


40. “I’m No Superman” Was Chosen By Zach Braff As The Theme Song

The series' theme song, "Superman," performed by Lazlo Bane, can be found on the album All the Time in the World and the first Scrubs soundtrack. Lawrence credits Braff for discovering and suggesting "Superman" as the theme song, with the lyric "I'm no Superman" symbolising the fallibility of the lead characters.

The Scrubs main title is performed at a faster tempo than the original recording. The slower version briefly appeared at the beginning of the second season, during an extended version of the title sequence, as well as in the opening of "My Urologist." 


41. Scrubs Has Three Official Soundtracks

Three official soundtracks have been released for Scrubs. The first, Music From Scrubs, was released on CD on September 24, 2002. The second, Scrubs Original Soundtrack Vol. 2, was exclusively available on iTunes starting May 9, 2006. The third soundtrack, "My Musical" Soundtrack, features the music composed and performed in the musical episode "My Musical" and was released on Amazon.com and iTunes on August 7, 2007.


42. Musician Colin Hay Appeared In Cameo Roles 

Colin Hay, the former lead singer of Men at Work, had his music featured in at least seven episodes of Scrubs. He made appearances in the episode "My Overkill," where he performed the song "Overkill" as a street musician, and in "My Hard Labor," where he performed "Down Under." 

Hay also sang "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," the theme from Cheers, in the episode "My Life in Four Cameras." Additionally, the episode "My Philosophy" featured Hay's song "Waiting For My Real Life To Begin," sung by several cast members. Hay also made an appearance in "My Finale."


43. Keren DeBerg’s Music Features In 15 Episodes

Keren DeBerg's music was featured in 15 episodes, and she appeared as an extra in the song "All Right" in the episode "My Musical."


44. Clay Aiken Makes An Appearance In Scrubs

Clay Aiken appeared in the episode "My Life in Four Cameras" and performed Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely?"


45. The Worthless Peons Are A Real Band

The Worthless Peons, also known as Ted's Band, The Blanks, or "Foghat" in the "My Way Home" Director's Cut, are an a cappella group composed of Sacred Heart hospital employees from different departments. They are a cover band and often perform songs from specific genres like cartoon theme songs or commercial jingles.

The Worthless Peons are portrayed by The Blanks, a real-life a cappella band consisting of Sam Lloyd (Ted), George Miserlis, Paul F. Perry, and Philip McNiven. 


46. The Scrubs Cast Star On A The Blanks’ Album

The Blanks' album, Riding the Wave, features guest appearances from Bill Lawrence and members of the Scrubs cast. The band was introduced to the show when Sam Lloyd brought them to the Scrubs cast Christmas party. Lloyd informed Lawrence about his band, and the idea of incorporating them into the show emerged.


47. The Worthless Peons Sing The Theme For Scrubs: Interns

The Worthless Peons also sing the theme song for the web series Scrubs: Interns, which follows the new interns of season eight as they learn about the hospital, similar to J.D.'s experience in season one. Interns is available on the ABC website.


48. The Scrubs Chest XRay Is Hung Upside Down

The chest X-ray displayed at the end of the title sequence was intentionally hung backwards for most of the first five seasons. This choice was meant to symbolise the inexperience of the new interns, according to Bill Lawrence. 

However, Zach Braff mentioned during his audio commentary on "My Last Chance" that the error was unintentional. The backwards X-ray became somewhat notorious and was even parodied in the episode "My Cabbage."


49. The Scrubs Team Tried To Fix The X-Ray Opener!

An attempt was made to correct the error in the extended title sequence at the beginning of season two, which included Neil Flynn. However, the extended sequence, along with the corrected X-ray, was scrapped due to fan and network requests! 

In "My Urologist," Dr. Kim Briggs enters the credits and fixes the X-ray, stating, "That's backward; it's been bugging me for years." When the series switched to ABC in season eight, the chest X-ray was once again displayed backwards.


50. Scrubs Was Nominated For 17 Emmys

Scrubs received a total of 17 Emmy nominations across various categories such as casting, cinematography, directing, editing, and writing. However, it only managed to secure two wins.[89] The fourth season of the show received its first nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series, and Zach Braff was also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series that year.

The following year, the series received another nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. At the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, the episode "My Musical" received five nominations in four categories: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Will Mackenzie), Outstanding Music Direction (Jan Stevens), and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics ("Everything Comes Down to Poo" and "Guy Love"). It also shared the award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation with Entourage, earning a total of five nominations.


51. Zach Braff Was Nominated For A Golden Globe For 3 Years Running

Zach Braff received three consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical in 2005, 2006, and 2007.


52. The Truth About Nursing Rated Scrubs 1.5/4 Stars

The Truth About Nursing, an organization that assesses the realism of medical series, gave Scrubs a "Nursing rating" of 1.5 out of 4 stars. However, it received an "Artistic rating" of 3 out of 4 stars, commending the show for its portrayal of characters who strive to cope with the genuine stresses of life and death at the hospital, despite the inclusion of surreal and unpleasant elements. Nonetheless, the reviewer expressed disappointment in the show's depiction of nursing.


53. Zach Braff And Donald Faison Do A Scrubs Rewatch Podcast

In a collaboration with iHeartRadio, Zach Braff and Donald Faison launched their Scrubs-inspired podcast, “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” on March 31, 2020. In this podcast, Braff and Faison revisit each episode of the show, offering insightful behind-the-scenes anecdotes and discussions.


54. Cox Calls Braff Girls Names Due To John Cusack

In real life, John C. McGinley, who plays Dr. Cox in Scrubs, humorously follows a tradition of calling his good friend and neighbour, John Cusack, by girls' names, which became a trademark of his character on the show.


55. Some Writers Claim That The Janitor Never Spoke A Scripted Line

Bill Lawrence and some of the writers playfully claim that Neil Flynn (The Janitor) never actually spoke a scripted line. While this is an exaggeration, it highlights the spontaneous nature of Flynn's performance.

While every episode had a script, the actors had the freedom to improvise their lines if they came up with something funnier.


56. Dr Cox’s Gestures Were Modelled On Robert Redford

Dr. Cox's signature nose rub before crossing his arms pays homage to Robert Redford's gesture in the film The Sting (1973), where it signifies "It's O.K." or "Go ahead." John C. McGinley added it as a tribute to the film.


57. Did Sarah Chalke Reuse Elliot’s Coat In How I Met Your Mother?

Rumour has it that Sarah Chalke repurposed her lab coat from Scrubs for her role as Dr. Stella Zinman in How I Met Your Mother, using pens to cover up her name from the previous show.


58. Dr. Cox Wears A Wristband In Support Of A Down Syndrome Charity

Dr. Cox's yellow and blue wristband is worn in support of the National Down Syndrome Society's "Buddy Walk." John C. McGinley is also a board member and international spokesman for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and a spokesman for the National Down Syndrome Society. His son Max has Downs Syndrome.


59. Many Of The Best Named Characters Were Originally Extras

Several characters, such as Colonel Doctor, Snoop Dogg Intern, and Dr. Beardface, started as extras and were referred to by these names until they were given speaking roles in later episodes.


60. Bill Lawrence Wanted To Create A Live Action Version Of The Simpsons 

Creator Bill Lawrence aimed for Scrubs to have a similar vibe to a live-action version of The Simpsons, with its style of humour, numerous high-profile guest stars, and a sizable cast of recurring characters. 

In an episode, J.D. jokingly comments that Grey's Anatomy is so realistic that it's as if someone was watching their lives and putting it on television, borrowing a joke from an early '90s episode of The Simpsons that said the same about Dinosaurs.


61. Did You Notice John C. McGinley’s Platoon Call Back?

John C. McGinley occasionally used the phrase "What do ya say there Bob?", which is the same line he repeatedly delivered in Platoon (1986).


62. Here’s Why J.D. Curses Tony Shalhoub

In one Scrubs episode, J.D. daydreams about winning an award at a ceremony hosted by Dr. Cox. Upon snapping out of his daydream, he smirks and quietly exclaims, "Take that, Tony Shalhoub!" This comedic reference acknowledges that Zach Braff lost his only Primetime Emmy nomination for the show to Shalhoub, who won multiple Emmys for his role in Monk (2002).


63. John Ritter Made Zach Braff Laugh A Lot On Set

John Ritter's final line as J.D.'s father, asking him to pull his finger and jokingly saying, "I pooed a little," was improvised. Zach Braff had to fight back laughter by biting his cheeks to maintain his composure.


64. The Stand Ins For The Bungee Jump Actually Got Married!

The couple who bungee jump for Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke's characters in the second season actually met on the set and got married shortly afterward. Although they are no longer together.


65. “Eagle!” Was Improvised By Zach Braff

The line "Eagle," famously shouted by Zach Braff's character, J.D., was improvised and first appeared in the first season. Over a decade later, Braff expressed surprise on Twitter that people still yell it at him.


66. Carla Espinosa Speaks Italian In The Spanish Show

In the Spanish dubbed version of the show, Carla Espinosa (played by Judy Reyes) converses with her mother in Italian, while in the original English version, they speak Spanish.


67. A Longer Title Sequence Was Used In Season Two

At the start of the second season of Scrubs, a longer intro was introduced, featuring all the characters on the show and not just the doctors. However, it was quickly abandoned when NBC decided to extend the episode lengths in an attempt to attract more viewers.


68. J.D. Makes Contact With Other Characters When They Narrate Passing The Baton

In episodes where J.D. is not the narrator, he typically needs to make physical contact with the person who will take over the narration to pass on the responsibility. When narration is returned to J.D. at the end of an episode, the former narrator must make contact with J.D. to give it back to him.


69. Scrubs Staff Could Bring Their Dogs To Work!

The third floor of the hospital, where Scrubs was filmed, underwent renovations to serve as offices for the crew and producers, as well as dressing rooms for the cast. The staff and cast were allowed to bring their dogs to work, and the dogs resided on the third floor. 


70. Rob Maschio Used To Leave Dog Faeces At Faison’s Door

Donald Faison (Turk) wasn't fond of the dogs and often found “surprises” left by them in front of his door. However, it was revealed that Robert Maschio (The Todd), a fellow cast member, collected the dog faeces and placed them in front of Faison's dressing room door. Maschio shared this anecdote for the first time in a video featured on the DVD release of the show's third season. During Faison's interview, he was still unaware that Maschio, not the dogs, was responsible for the "presents."


71. The Scrubs Hospital Was Demolished In 2011

In August 2011, the North Hollywood Medical Center, where the series was filmed, was demolished.


72. Dr. Cox Talks To God More Than Anyone Else In Scrubs

Despite Dr. Cox being an outspoken atheist, he ironically talks to God more frequently than any other character in the show.


73. The Characters Speak Multiple Languages

Throughout the episodes, the characters' language abilities are revealed. Elliot speaks German and French, Turk has limited knowledge of French and learns Spanish for Carla. Dr. Cox and Carla speak Spanish, and The Janitor knows sign language, as well as Spanish and Korean. J.D. also speaks a bit of Turkish when confronted by a Turkish doctor trying to take his pudding for the second time. Ted also speaks some Korean, and Dr. Kelso speaks Vietnamese.


74. Sacred Heart Is Named After Christa Miller’s School

Sacred Heart Hospital is named after the school attended by Christa Miller, the wife of writer Bill Lawrence.


75. Elliot Speaks Bavarian In The German Version

In the German dubbed version, Elliot speaks Danish instead of German, and in later episodes, she occasionally speaks Bavarian, a dialect spoken in the southeast of Germany.


76. There Is A Spin City Connection

Former cast members of Spin City (1996) frequently made guest appearances on the show. These included Michael J. Fox, Heather Locklear, Barry Bostwick, Richard Kind, Alan Ruck, Alexander Chaplin, and Michael Boatman. 

Additionally, Bill Lawrence, the creator of Spin City (1996), was also involved in creating this show, and producer Randall Keenan Winston served as an associate producer on Spin City (1996).


77. Dr. Cox Is Called Percival Ulysses Cox

Dr. Cox's full name is Percival Ulysses Cox, although he preferred to go by Perry.


78. The Scrubs Teasers In 2001 Parodied 24

The teasers for the 2001 season finale playfully parodied the teasers for 24 (2001), which aired in the same time slot as this show.


79. Sacred Heart Hospital Is Also Seen In Children’s Hospital On Adult Swim

The hospital setting of Sacred Heart was also utilised as the backdrop for the Adult Swim show Childrens Hospital (2008) during its first three seasons.

The set used for Sacred Heart Hospital was also featured in the film Crossroads (2002).


80. Perry Cox Is Named After Bill Lawrence’s English Teacher

Dr. Perry Cox is named after one of Bill Lawrence's former high school English teachers. It's merely a coincidence that the surnames of the only two major cast members from his previous show, Friends (1994), who made guest appearances on this show, are Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox.


81. Sarah Chalke Was Named “Second Becky” By The Crew

Sarah Chalke earned the nickname "Second Becky" from the cast and crew due to her portrayal of the second Becky Conner-Healy on Roseanne (1988).


82. Is The Janitor Glenn Or Neil?

While Bill Lawrence mentioned on Facebook that The Janitor's real name was Glenn Matthews, this contradicted a scene in season three, episode eight, titled "My Friend the Doctor," where J.D. sees The Janitor playing the role of the Transit Cop in The Fugitive (1993). 

At the end of the episode, The Janitor confesses to playing that role, and the character was portrayed by an actor named "Neil Flynn," suggesting that The Janitor's actual name is Neil Flynn. However, it's possible that, like many actors and actresses, Glenn Matthews used the stage name "Neil Flynn".


83. Turk Never Actually Removes A Spleen

Whenever discussing surgery or operations, Turk frequently mentions the removal of the spleen, even though he never actually performs that procedure. The closest he comes to it is removing J.D.'s appendix in season one.


84. Bill Lawrence Founded Sarah Lawrence College

Ken Jenkins' (Dr. Kelso's) wife, Katharine Hougton, graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, which was founded by Bill Lawrence's great-great-grandparents.


85. Courteney Cox And Ken Jenkins Are Both In Cougar Town

Courteney Cox briefly replaces Ken Jenkins as Chief of Medicine on the show. Interestingly, Cox and Jenkins would later portray father and daughter in Cougar Town.


86. Scrubs Was The First Network Show To Be Edited Online With Final Cut Pro

For an experiment, the season five finale titled "My Transition" was completed and aired in high definition. This marked the first network show to undergo an online edit in Final Cut Pro SD, and it became the first network show to be aired in high definition through Final Cut Pro. However, the show continued to be produced in standard definition. According to producer Randall Keenan Winston, this HD experiment was a one-time occurrence due to cost constraints and debates about the quality of the high-definition format not aligning with the show's intended look.


87. Travis Sculdt Is Older Than Sarah Chalke

Travis Schuldt, who played Keith, is actually older than Sarah Chalke, who portrayed Elliot, despite Keith's role as Elliot's younger boyfriend.


88. There Are Many Friends References In Scrubs

The show includes several references to Friends (1994), including numerous comparisons between Elliot and J.D. to Rachel and Ross. Additionally, Courteney Cox and Matthew Perry, known for playing Monica and Chandler on Friends, made guest appearances on this show.


89. This Is J.D.’s Social Security Number

J.D.'s social security number within the show is 987-65-4320, and his P.I.N. is 3674 (D-O-R-I).


90. Michael Muhney Auditioned For J.D.

Michael Muhney was initially considered for the role of J.D. but was ultimately informed that he didn't possess the necessary level of quirkiness for the character.


91. Many Cast Members Also Voiced Characters On Clone High

Many of the lead cast members, as well as several recurring characters, also provided voices on the animated series Clone High (2002). Both shows were executive produced by Bill Lawrence. In episode 5x01 of Clone High, a mysterious trucker voiced by John McGinley (Dr. Cox) spends the episode with Ghandi, addressing him with phrases like "listen, Ghandi," which is reminiscent of how Dr. Cox often refers to Turk.


92. Zach Braff Has Never Watched Season 9

Zach Braff has openly admitted that he has never watched a single episode of season 9, not even the six episodes in which he appeared. This may change with his rewatch podcast…


93. There Is A Hunter S. Thompson Connection

In season one, episode nineteen titled "My Old Man," during Eliot and Turk's presentation, a doctor is seen wearing a name badge that reads "Dr. Hunter S. Thompson." This is a reference to Hunter S. Thompson, the American author known for works like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "The Rum Diary."


94. The Teacher Evaluations In Season 9 Are US Presidents

In the Scrubs season nine, episode five titled "Our Mysteries," the teacher evaluation results list is primarily filled with the names of U.S. Presidents, including Thomas Jefferson, Gerald Ford, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.


95. Zach Braff And Eliza Coupe Share The Same Birthday

Zach Braff (J.D.) and Eliza Coupe (Denise "Jo" Mahoney) share the same birthday, although Braff is six years older than Coupe.


96. What Is TCW?

The show has several connections to the abbreviation "TCW." Donald Faison starred in Remember the Titans (2000), where the high school was referred to as "TCW." J.D. once dated a girl called "TCW" (Tasty Coma Wife), and in season six, episode fourteen titled "My No Good Reason," it is revealed that she attended a school with the initials "TCW."


97. JD And Turk Have Identical Bed Sheets

J.D. and Turk have nearly identical bed sheets throughout the series, with J.D.'s being red and Turk's being blue.


98. Donald Faison And Tara Reid Have Worked Together Before

Donald Faison (Christopher Turk) and Tara Reid (Danni Sullivan) co-starred in Josie & The Pussycats (2001).


99. Bill Lawrence Officiated The Janitor’s Wedding

Bill Lawrence officiated the wedding of Lady and The Janitor. At the start of the ceremony, he declares that it's "time to join you two in marriage as only the creator can."


100. There Are 18 Deaths In Scrubs

There are a total of 18 "deaths" depicted in the series, three of which involve family members.



Scrubs Facts - 100 Ultimate Scrubs Facts Every JD And Turk Fan Should Read

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