Cool little 'Scrubs' fact:

Basq

Listened to an interview with Zach Braff and Bill Lawrence (creator / producer of Scrubs) online the other day (quite a good interview, about 35 minutes long. Can be streamed in RealPlayer or Windows Media Player).

Bill revealed a fairly interesting tidbit about the show, which has been mentioned in some articles before:

He pitched the idea of 'Scrubs' to NBC, who were somewhat hesitant at the concept of a comedy with no laughtrack and with serious dramatic moments in some episodes. But they agreed to sign it on for one season.

Bill didn't really have high hopes after this. He assumed after one season, the show would be cancelled!

Because of this, he originally had the idea to have the Janitor only interact with JD and at the end of the season (which he assumed would be the end of the show), he planned to reveal the Janitor was just a figment of JD's imagination. It would make sense in a way as JD does have a lot of fantasy sequences - the Janitor was just a recurring one!

But when they got word that the show was renewed for another season, they had to abandon this idea and make the Janitor interact with other characters! I think the first interaction with a character apart from JD was the last episode of the 1st season where an intern asks why he's fixing the door and suggests a penny might be stuck in there (to mirror the Janitor and JD's first meeting / conflict)

I thought it was interesting - wouldn't mind watching some early episodes of 'Scrubs' to see if this was the case.

sceptre

As a self-confessed Scrubs fan that's pretty interesting. I suppose they threw in the diary-reading revelation to account for the janitor knowing all about JD's wheelings and non-successful dealings then? The door thing with the intern was the first time I can recall any interaction with anyone other than the floppy-haired idiot that the janitor had all right.

Basq

sceptre wrote:

As a self-confessed Scrubs fan that's pretty interesting. I suppose they threw in the diary-reading revelation to account for the janitor knowing all about JD's wheelings and non-successful dealings then? The door thing with the intern was the first time I can recall any interaction with anyone other than the floppy-haired idiot that the janitor had all right.

Another funny little anecdote Bill and Zach mentioned was a certain episode of 'Scrubs' mentioned the "swear-word" 'ass' 3 times - NBC censor doesn't mind minor expletives but to limit it to 1 or 2 if possible.

So they gave the script draft of the episode to the censor and he / she circled these instances of 'ass' on a page and sent back a note to Bill explaining she wanted just 1 of these instances of 'ass' in the final script.

So, the note on the script sent back said (and i quote): "Pick your ass!"

He said he has the note framed and hung on his wall!

Raoul Duke

Any of them say why they think the current season (4) is pretty poor? Or how they'll make it funny again?

pickarooney

Why make it funny again? It has fans now, so they're good for 6 more seasons of dross, feeble and so-soey.

Jim

Raoul Duke wrote:

Any of them say why they think the current season (4) is pretty poor? Or how they'll make it funny again?

I've seen a few of the new episodes and they're quite good so far.

Basq

I think it was a pretty good series so far - the first episode was definately a bad opener but i think the last few episodes have been all great!

Jim

basquille wrote:

I think it was a pretty good series so far - the first episode was definately a bad opener but i think the last few episodes have been all great!

Actually, I thought the first episode was great.
The first bit was brilliant,

"Arghh,.....ahhh...." "Eh, I haven't started yet, try that guy"

ElNino

Raoul Duke wrote:

Any of them say why they think the current season (4) is pretty poor? Or how they'll make it funny again?

I wouldn't agree. Some of the JD/Turk/Carla stuff is a bit tired alright but Heather Graham is a great addition to the cast. There was also some very funny Ted/Kelso/Janitor stuff in the last 2 or 3 episodes.

Bri

There's a NEW season on? Argh! When? Any UK station getting it late and starting soon?

flogen

ElNino wrote:

I wouldn't agree. Some of the JD/Turk/Carla stuff is a bit tired alright but Heather Graham is a great addition to the cast. There was also some very funny Ted/Kelso/Janitor stuff in the last 2 or 3 episodes.

I like what I've seen of the 4th series so far... saying that Graham started very poorly, but I've gotten to like her character more and more now (I dont know if it grew on me, or if she just got better). And her hotness doesn't hurt at all..

flogen

Ciaran500

basquille wrote:

He pitched the idea of 'Scrubs' to NBC, who were somewhat hesitant at the concept of a comedy with no laughtrack

Why do they always want to add laughtracks to comedys. They are so annoying and ofter lead me to turing off a program with them.

I know when to laugh, I do not need to be told when.

Basq

Ciaran500 wrote:

Why do they always want to add laughtracks to comedys. They are so annoying and ofter lead me to turing off a program with them.

I know when to laugh, I do not need to be told when.

I definantly agree with you - it's coincidental that most of my favourite comedies / comedy-drama have no laughtrack:

Scrubs.. Phoenix Nights.. The Office.. Spaced.. Freaks N Geeks..

The laughtrack is typically (but by no means always - the BBC have certainly been using them plenty in their so-called "comedies") an American thing... it really struck me as very irritating after a couple of series of 'Friends'

Zaph

The best no-laughtrack comedy of all is M*A*S*H, although it was shown for a while with a track added. Thank God you can turn it off on the series DVDs

ixoy

I'll also agree that the best American comedies seem to have no laughter track: Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Family Guy, Futurama, and Scrubs. Although "Everybody Loves Raymond" has a laugh soundtrack so maybe that's my point disproved

Bri

The laughter cue isn't aimed at the type of people who use web boards generally...

dogs

basquille wrote:

Freaks N Geeks

DVD box set costs $100+ and N2, er RTE Network 2, er RTE 2 aren't showing at 2am anymore Such an underappreciated series.

Back on topic; Scrubs season 4 is pretty good but not as fresh as the first couple series, I suppose this is a natural progression as each character becomes more developed ... they can't all be Family Guy.

Raoul Duke

ElNino wrote:

I wouldn't agree. Some of the JD/Turk/Carla stuff is a bit tired alright but Heather Graham is a great addition to the cast. There was also some very funny Ted/Kelso/Janitor stuff in the last 2 or 3 episodes.

I was probably a little harsh on it. You're right by saying some of the interplay is getting tired. I'm mainly disappointed with the new series because it compares poorly enough with their previous series. I think a new character does need to be added to freshen it up again. Heather Graham was added to do this, but for me she doesn't work. I don't find her funny. Simple as that.

Crucifix

The laugh-track in Bo Selecta was really irritating.

Basq

dogs wrote:

DVD box set costs $100+ and N2, er RTE Network 2, er RTE 2 aren't showing at 2am anymore Such an underappreciated series.

Back on topic; Scrubs season 4 is pretty good but not as fresh as the first couple series, I suppose this is a natural progression as each character becomes more developed ... they can't all be Family Guy.

An amazing series!

Got it on CD Wow! a couple of months back for just E43 - seems to have gone up now to E50 though - buy it here from CD WOW!

Great DVD - all 18 episodes (the original episode uncut - an extra 7 minutes), loads of deleted scenes on each episode, 29 commentaries altogether, bloopers, behind the scenes etc.

Well worth getting!

The special yearbook boxset is close to $100 though.

Stark

I'll also agree that the best American comedies seem to have no laughter track: Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Family Guy, Futurama, and Scrubs. Although "Everybody Loves Raymond" has a laugh soundtrack so maybe that's my point disproved

How does it disprove your point? I think "Everybody loves Raymond" is crap, that guy's voice does my head in.

GuanYin

basquille wrote:

He pitched the idea of 'Scrubs' to NBC, who were somewhat hesitant at the concept of a comedy with no laughtrack and with serious dramatic moments in some episodes. But they agreed to sign it on for one season.

Scrubs is a comedy? Jesus, I thought it was a very true to life drama that just happened to be fupping hilarious!!

ixoy

Stark wrote:

How does it disprove your point? I think "Everybody loves Raymond" is crap, that guy's voice does my head in.

I was being sarcastic Starky

tman

nice little fact!
i wish they'd hurry up and release the first few series on dvd already... that'd make a great crimbo present for myself

Raoul Duke

ixoy wrote:

I was being sarcastic Starky

Shouldn't that be "I was being sarcy Starky"...cue laughter track

Mossy Monk

basquille wrote:

An amazing series!

Got it on CD Wow! a couple of months back for just E43 - seems to have gone up now to E50 though - buy it here from CD WOW!

Great DVD - all 18 episodes (the original episode uncut - an extra 7 minutes), loads of deleted scenes on each episode, 29 commentaries altogether, bloopers, behind the scenes etc.

there's something i must buy, i loved that show, damn the man who cancelled it

another great show with no laughter track is Malcolm In The Middle

Little Goose

Anyone have any idea when Scrubs is coming out on DVD??

Basq

Little Goose wrote:

Anyone have any idea when Scrubs is coming out on DVD??

Been investigating this for quite a while now, being a massive Scrubs fan. Over at the forum on Scrubs-TV.com - the question is asked practically every day!

So, a recurring post is being displayed every couple of days on the forum which is:

"SCRUBS DVDs ARE CURRENTLY _NOT_ AVAILABLE.

In various interviews and web chats, ZACH BRAFF has been very attentive to the issue. The latest info he has given Scrubs fans is that:

__A DVD release relies on the show being sold into syndication.__
__The production company, Touchstone, is hoping such a deal will be struck by the end of 2004.__

An unconfirmed rumor has been floated at another message board by someone claiming to work for the company producing the DVDs that they will be available in May 2005.

You can express your interest in Scrubs DVDs and track release info at:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/showinfo.cfm?showID=5163

Also:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005JNEQ/qid%3D1090195176/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-7885514-4221724

It should be noted that overseas DVD releases often don't hinge on syndication, so it is possible international fans may be able to purchase Scrubs before fans in the U.S. can.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001WHXQG/qid%3D1094439776/202-4256056-5400626

Related Links:
http://www.zach-braff.com/ZB-interivew.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35068-2004Jul7.html"

flogen

I found it odd that Carla wasn't mentioned in the interview at all, while most of the other main characters were...

Great all the same, cheers for the link (I cant wait to see his new episode and the movie too!)

flogen