Wed, January 4, 2006
Last Night's Scrubs—11:10 AM
All in all, not a great kickoff to the latest season of one of TV's funnier comedies. Not one of the "intern's POV" shots was funny, the stories of both episodes were wildly fragmented, and Elliot's arc was a huge, elaborate diversion just to tell the same old Elliot story. (No one respects her, she makes a move to get some respect, it seems to be working, but in the end she fails, reduced to a whimpering "frick"-spewing frenzy.) I can't see the value in separating her from the others, unless they're planning to edge her character out of the show – which would result in the cancelation of my TiVo Season Pass and possibly a boycott of NBC altogether.
I'm sure the show will improve – it has before – but what a lackluster way to start the season.
Brandon — Wed, 1/4/06 2:21pm
WHA???
Look, I can agree that the "intern POV" fell flat, the plots were fragmented, and we've seen this before with Elliot. But those are all such minor details. The Funny remained intact. Both episodes had me laughing throughout, at a level on par with Arrested Development, Family Guy, My Name is Earl and Curb Your Enthusiasm; those four have been the best comedies on TV this season in my opinion, and Scrubs came back strong right out of the gate to round out the Top 5. The only thoughts I had while watching last night's episodes were "I'm so happy they're back!" and "They still got it, baby!"
Bee Boy — Wed, 1/4/06 3:40pm
The only thoughts I had were "I'm so happy they're back!" and "I'm sure the show will improve."
Brandon — Wed, 1/4/06 3:52pm
I guess we'll just have to wait for Joe to come by and provide a swing vote...
(Bites his hand and nervously hopes that Joe liked the premiere episodes)
Joe Mulder — Wed, 1/4/06 4:09pm
A agree with Jameson. More completely than anyone has ever agreed with anyone else on any issue in the history of the world.
And I've read the script for episode 3, and, I'll say that I'd wait until at least episode 4 and until they're completely "back."
[not that 3 – or 1 or 2, for that matter – didn't have some good stuff in it]
Bee Boy — Wed, 1/4/06 7:33pm
YES!!!!! Man, it's been a while since I won one of these tie-breakers. (Fuckin' West Wing Live Debate Episode...)
(And – look out, "most complete agreement ever" record – I agree with Joe that 1 & 2 certainly had some good things in them. Never meant to imply otherwise.)
Brandon — Tue, 1/10/06 11:44pm
Okay, NOW I'm concerned. Tonight's eps had almost no good things in them. I didn't laugh at all in the 2nd one (Episode #4) - I can't remember the last time that happened - and this time I'll admit that things just felt... off. See, last week wasn't lackluster - THIS is lackluster.
Bee Boy — Wed, 1/11/06 8:25am
Funny, I thought the show improved over the course of the hour. I liked the JD/Elliot arc over the first episode (and I laughed a lot at her sex fantasy), and I enjoyed the Janitor stuff, too.
Plus, a Josh Randall appearance always ratchets an episode up a letter grade.
"Mike" — Wed, 1/11/06 8:58am
I enjoyed the episodes, though I think they are a step down in quality from last year. I think that they are trying to do one or two too many things per episode and then when it all comes together at the end, it feels more forced than it did last year.
Of course, in the midst of my dissertation, I rely on Scrubs to bring me joy, and dammit, it is going to bring me joy, regardless of actual quality.