Scrubs S8E16 "My Finale"

Maybe it is exhaustion (or simply really tired), maybe I am just overly emotional lately (for who knows what reason), maybe it is the one beer I had when I sat down to watch this finale or maybe Scrubs really has touched my life that much, but I teared up a little.

I teared up as JD walked down that hall and we saw many old faces from the past eight seasons. I teared up watching JD fantasize about his future via movie reel on a bedsheet Turk painted "Goodbye JD" on.

And I laughed a laugh I have not laughed while watching Scrubs (or any show) in a long time. Nothing overly dramatic, just real good hearty laughs.

Maybe it is just because I knew it was the end.

I am a late comer to Scrubs, first hearing about it from Bagby in 2005 ("It's like a live action Simpsons," he described it as) and finally watching a few episodes in late 2006, either when I moved to North Carolina or soon beforehand. I know I remember always getting up on Saturdays before the-first-"I Love You" when we moved out here and going into my apptly named man-cave "the Swamp" (see M*A*S*H*) and watching it on Comedy Central. Over and over and over again.

I was hooked.

It was brilliant, funny and it made me think and has continued to make me think. It got me through last summer (the season seven episode "My Perspective" especially) and I count myself lucky to have been able to see this show over the years.

Regardless of whether or not I have been around for all eight season, "goodbye" is never easy. For anything you care about.

I have had several "goodbyes" over the years, and while this does not mount up to the final box being unloaded at the-first-"I Love You"'s house after the break-up or seeing my dear teacher one last time at his funeral, the only thing I could identify this "Goodbye" with was the one I - and millions of other devoted fans - had to say at 8:47 p.m. on July 23, 2007 as I finished the Epilogue and turned the final page, closed my beloved series' final book and smiled.

Some may say Scrubs or any show, movie or book is something stupid to get attached to, to care about, to feel so much about. To them I say, "I disagree." Because the fact of the matter is we are on this Earth for a short period of time and there is nothing wrong with being entertained and developing feelings for whatever it is that entertains you, even if there are other things that more directly affect you in the world.

So thank you Bill Lawrence (producer), Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Judy Reyes, Sarah Chalke and John C. McGinley (and everyone else) for eight years (or three years for me) of laughter, thought provoking dialogue and crazy fantasies. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, because Scrubs was and always will be one damn fine show and I implore anyone that has not given it a shot to check it on on re-runs. You won't be disappointed if you like a show that is silly but thoughtful too.

And, similarly to the moments after reading that final line in July 2007, I hit "Stop" on my DVR, sat back, and smiled as the final episode concluded (which, oddly enough coincinded with my dad calling me 2 seconds later too) and said "Goodbye" to Dr. John Dorian.



PS - As much as it pains me to say it, I really don't think it would work well without JD at Sacred Heart Hospital. It just would not be right, like a John Cleese-less Monty Python. Maybe my mind can be changed though and they did say "season finale wrap" for several characters (including Judy Reyes) in the extra's (and several articles show it could go to a ninth, minus Braff and Lawrence) but without JD in the show most of the time, I don't know how much it would work. I would watch it though. I promise.