Scrubs – The Complete Sixth Season (DVD-Video)
Picture: B-
Sound: B- Extras: B- Episodes: A-
My heart rate is rapidly increasing. I have butterflies in my stomach. And the upchuck reflex that most of
television induces has suddenly ceased.
This can only mean one thing; a new season of Scrubs is available on DVD.
Now on DVD for all stethoscope chasers to enjoy is Scrubs: The Complete Sixth Season.
This season picks up where Season
Five left off. JD (Zack Braff) has
just gotten Dr. Kim Briggs (Elizabeth
Banks of 40 Year Old Virgin)
pregnant [no so much on purpose either] and they discuss where their lives our
going now that this ‘bundle of joy’ has been thrust upon them. Meanwhile, there must be something in the
water at Sacred Heart because Turk and Carla, as well as Dr. Cox and Jordan are
awaiting the births of their own children.
That makes it number 2 for team Cox/Jordan and 1 for team Turk/Carla
(for all those who were counting).
Not much has changed in terms of the series. The characters are still all a bit offbeat
and zany, but maintain a degree of odd professionalism that ensures that series
is not some medical variety hour. The
series started off as a slight drama with a dash of comedy and since has recast
itself as a comedy with a dash of drama.
Overall, a good move; since there are already enough Medical Dramas on
television today. I mean really start
the count; Grey’s Anatomy, E.R., Private Practice, HOUSE M.D.,
General Hospital, Nip/Tuck and those are just the series
off the top of my head. There are plenty
of other medical series out there that were also thrown into the mix and just
were not edgy or creative enough to have staying power. From the list above this reviewer can say
some are amongst his favorite series, others have outworn their welcome, and
other just won’t last very long.
Scrubs is one of the few series in
recent years that has managed to capture the hearts, minds, and funny bones of
a wide ranging audience. Even in
syndication on several networks Scrubs
is a top rated series (granted the picture quality is God awful). It is just a shame that NBC for the last
several years has messed with Scrubs
time slot and in turn detracted from audience viewership. In other ways, however, it seems that a 6
season (soon to be Seven) run was a good go and it is time to gracefully
bow-out; something other series have failed to do in the past. The Seventh
and Final Season which is currently
airing on NBC is the network’s way, if nothing else, of giving the cast and writers
of Scrubs their curtain call and a
chance to tie up all loose ends. The Sixth Season on DVD leaves many
cliffhangers and it would be a shame it those never got resolved; too often
that unresolved nature being the fate of many canceled series.
Another key feature the Sixth Season is the ‘My
Musical’ episode; which, yes, you guessed it, is a MUSICAL! In many ways the audiences’ cries have
finally been answered. Scrubs is a
series that has been so well suited to be adapted into a musical from its very beginning
that with the final season approaching it was now or never. The series has always used a serene blend of
Rock, Indie, and Pop music (new and old) to emphasize scenes and elaborate upon
themes. Adapting the series into a
musical was a natural progression. For
the ‘My Musical’ episode the
creators/writers of the series enlisted the help of the Tony Award winning crew of the hit Broadway Show Avenue Q, as well as some of the
original cast of that Broadway hit. The
heart of this episode was pure Broadway and it was done so fantastically; also
amazing to observe was the plethora of hidden musical talent among Scrubs cast. This one episode really took the series to a
new level of greatness and with love ballot songs like ‘Man Love’ between Turk and JD, how could audiences not fall in love
with Scrubs all over again?
The technical features of this 3 disc, 24 episode set are
quite good but as always need to be scrubbed up. The picture once again
is presented in 1.33:1 full screen that continues to at times have an
unbalanced and skewed quality, but seems to be a step up from any previous
season. Though it has been stated before, Scrubs was the last NBC
series to switch into the HD filming format, and with the start of season 5
fans of the series finally get to view the groundbreaking series kicked up a
notch; though some film quality that was apparent in older seasons is missing
in this HD approach. And though they may all be MDs you bet I can’t wait
to see these doctors in HD. The sound is
once again being presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound that continues
to elaborate and highlight the use of music throughout the episodes, as well as
giving the comedic chaos of the series a good ‘POP’ quality also.
The extras on this 3 Disc set are better than any previous
season, but do not necessarily have a rewatchable quality. Extras include The Making of My Musical, Judy
Reyes Keeps talking featurette that is basically a behind the scenes with the
actress behind Carla Espinosa, deleted scenes, alternate lines, outtakes, audio
commentaries and a few hidden Easter Eggs.
Overall, though the extras are plentiful this reviewer found them to be
drab and dry after a while; with the exception of the Outtakes, which were
hilarious.
Though the chart may be closing and going to the dead
records office for Scrubs, audiences
will always remember the laughs that the series gave us. Plus, with the series in syndication and
doing so well at that the series will never be far away. Overall, Scrubs is a definite buy on DVD and
will be a great addition to any collection.
So put on those latex gloves, grab a bowl of popcorn and get ready for a
dose of great comedy.
- Michael P
Dougherty II
