Best of the Small Screen: Network Sitcoms, No. 10

 


Welcome to this year's exploration of TV, the Best of the Small Screen. Throughout the year I'll be looking at my favorite shows in four categories: Network Sitcoms, Network Dramas, Cable Series and Streaming Series. We'll cap the exploration with my Top 10 shows of all time regardless of format. Check back each Saturday for another installment in the countdown!

Dr. Cox: [to J.D] Don't ever be afraid to come to me with stuff like that. The simple fact that you actually seem to give a crap is the reason I took an interest in you to begin with. It's why I trust you as a doctor. Hell, it's... it's why I trust you as a person.

Scrubs (2001-2010)
Starring: Zack Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes, John C. McGinley, and Neil Flynn
Favorite Episodes: "My Own Personal Jesus," Episode 1.11, "My Screw Up," Episode 3.14, "My Lunch," Episode 5.20
About: Scrubs was part of the heyday of NBC comedies, when the format was dominant and NBC was the place to go for shows. Despite that, I never felt like it was one of the most talked about shows. But, for me, it was always one of my favorites. Creator Bill Lawrence offered a world that was a beautiful mix of comedy and heart-felt moments. That's what elevated this series about a group of doctors into something more. The soundtrack was great, too. I remember collecting Scrubs soundtrack CDs and enjoying the songs again and again. That's something that was often curated by Braff, and something he did well with his film, Garden State. The cast here was also solid. Flynn was a delight as the janitor, always wreaking havoc on the characters, particularly J.D. (Braff). Reyes and Chalke, along with frequent guest star Christa Miller, were great and funny ladies. But this was really about two best friends, Braff and Faison, and a mentor, McGinley. J.D. and Turk were a fun pair, with each of them contributing to my enjoyment of the series. In fact my favorite episode, "My Own Personal Jesus," is actually all about Turk (Faison) as the driving force in the narrative. But the other piece that really made the show hum for me was the mentor-mentee relationship between J.D. (Braff) and Dr. Cox (McGinley). I loved Braff as the lead, but McGinley made the show as Dr. Cox. He could be incredibly funny in one moment and yet incredibly poignant with his comments in the next moment. Scrubs was a magical mix of comedy, story, characters and heart. It's a series that stuck with me and was one I anticipated watching each week throughout its run. It ended with a ninth season that didn't quite match its time on NBC, but it at least let us spend some more time with these characters. If you've never seen Scrubs, I recommend checking it out!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more