The second season of the American comedy television series Scrubs premiered on NBC on September 26, 2002, and concluded on April 17, 2003, and consists of 22 episodes. For the second season Neil Flynn was made a series regular. Colin Hay guest starred for the first time. It is also the first time an episode gives the narration to another regular, in "His Story".

Scrubs
Season 2
DVD cover
No. of episodes22
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 26, 2002 (2002-09-26) –
April 17, 2003 (2003-04-17)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 1
Next →
Season 3
List of episodes

The show used a longer opening credits sequence for episodes 1 and 2, moving through the ward rather than just two beds, including a shot of Flynn as The Janitor, showing the names of the series regulars and ending with the chest X-ray showing the heart on the left side of the chest. However, the credits reverted to the original version in episode 3.

The second season focuses on Dr. John Dorian's second year practicing medicine at Sacred Heart, where he is now a resident. In the season opener, everyone is still in shock from the secrets Jordan just revealed ("My Last Day"). As the season develops, J.D.'s older brother Dan (Tom Cavanagh) comes to visit, money issues affect J.D., Elliot, and Turk, Turk proposes to Carla, and Elliot finds a new boyfriend, a nurse named Paul Flowers (Rick Schroder). Dr. Cox resumes a sexual relationship with his ex-wife Jordan, with quite unexpected results.

Cast and characters edit

Main cast edit

Production edit

Tim Hobert was added as a consulting producer. Angela Nissel was hired as a staff writer for this season. April Pesa, the script coordinator, was given the chance to write an episode. Bonnie Sikotwiz (credited as Bonnine Schneider) & Hadley Davis, who Lawrence knew through Spin City, came into write an episode this season.

Episodes edit

Scrubs season 2 episodes
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
251"My Overkill"Adam BernsteinBill LawrenceSeptember 26, 2002 (2002-09-26)20122.31[2]

After Jordan revealed that she slept with J.D., he expects the worst from Dr. Cox. Elliot, embarrassed by Jordan's revelation about her lingering feelings for J.D., is avoiding J.D. at all costs. Carla is angry with Turk for not telling her that Dr. Cox was in love with her, and Dr. Cox is annoyed at Dr. Kelso for being played for a non-existent promotion and at J.D. for sleeping with Jordan.

NBC did not approve of the musical sequence featuring Colin Hay on screen performing an acoustic version of "Overkill"; such a scene had never been done by a sitcom.[1] The episode's title is derived from the featured song. A longer design for the opening credits was introduced with this episode, with Neil Flynn (the "Janitor") listed as a regular cast member.
262"My Nightingale"Craig ZiskEric WeinbergOctober 3, 2002 (2002-10-03)20318.94[3]
The residents spend a night on-call with no attending physicians available and deal with the responsibility of running the hospital on their own and having to make a tough decision about a patient. Meanwhile, Cox struggles with his feelings for Jordan.
273"My Case Study"Michael SpillerGabrielle AllanOctober 10, 2002 (2002-10-10)20518.64[4]

Dr. Kelso starts an impromptu competition with the residents, offering an all-expenses-paid medical conference outing in Reno if they can bring him the most interesting case study. J.D. wants to compete, but fears he will fall out of favor with Dr. Cox if he does. The entire hospital takes advantage of Dr. Kelso's annual good mood the day after he renews "marital activities" with his wife Enid. Elliot worries that she isn't getting along well with Carla.

The opening credits permanently (except episode 7) reverted to the shorter design used in season 1.
284"My Big Mouth"Paul QuinnMark StegemannOctober 17, 2002 (2002-10-17)20617.76[5]
J.D. and Carla's relationship deteriorates when J.D. accidentally reveals some of Carla's secrets. The surgical residents compete for a trip to Mexico with Dr. Kelso. Elliot worries that she isn't presenting a competent image to Dr. Cox and takes on some harrowing cases to improve it.
295"My New Coat"Marc BucklandMatt TarsesOctober 24, 2002 (2002-10-24)20214.11[6]
J.D. gets an ego boost by wearing a white doctor's coat, but also has to accept the increased responsibilities that come with it. Elliot's reputation suffers when she has a one-night stand with another Sacred Heart doctor.
306"My Big Brother"Michael SpillerTim HobertOctober 31, 2002 (2002-10-31)20418.02[7]
J.D.'s older brother Dan (Tom Cavanagh) drops by for a visit, but J.D. can't hide how ashamed he is of his brother's life. Turk learns a lesson when he makes a bet with Dr. Cox on whether a patient lives or dies. Meanwhile, Sacred Heart staff is in costume for Halloween, and one person in particular is wreaking havoc in a gorilla suit, much to Dr. Kelso's disgust.
317"My First Step"Lawrence TrillingMike SchwartzNovember 7, 2002 (2002-11-07)20717.53[8]
Julie Keaton (Heather Locklear), the attractive pharmaceutical representative on whom everyone has a secret crush, arrives at Sacred Heart, and tensions between her and Dr. Cox run high. J.D. and Elliot bicker over which one is the better doctor. Carla considers the drawbacks of being "just a nurse".
328"My Fruit Cups"Ken WhittinghamJanae BakkenNovember 14, 2002 (2002-11-14)20819.93[9]
Dr. Cox and Julie (Heather Locklear) hook up, but Cox's new happiness is complicated when a pregnant Jordan arrives. J.D. and Turk suffer from a poor financial situation and continue to steal food and toilet paper from the hospital. Elliot's father cuts her off after she refuses to become an OBGYN as he wishes.
339"My Lucky Day"Lawrence TrillingDebra FordhamDecember 5, 2002 (2002-12-05)20919.50[10]
Elliot is forced to move out and also has to deal with a malpractice suit. J.D. shows up Dr. Cox and an unofficial competition begins between them. The episode guest stars Alan Ruck as Mr. Bragin, and features cameo appearances by David Copperfield and John Ritter.
3410"My Monster"Gail MancusoAngela NisselDecember 12, 2002 (2002-12-12)21016.49[11]
Problems develop in the relationships of Turk and Carla and of Dr. Cox and Jordan. J.D. considers exactly how much the hospital consumes their lives; the stress and general gross experiences he deals with everyday are stealing his "mojo" just as he starts dating Lisa the Gift Shop Girl (Sarah Lancaster). Having lost the apartment her father paid for, Elliot is forced to live in the back of a moving truck as she has no time to find another place.
3511"My Sex Buddy"Will MackenzieNeil Goldman & Garrett DonovanJanuary 2, 2003 (2003-01-02)21212.81[12]
Not wanting to repeat their last disastrous relationship, J.D. and Elliot agree to remain "sex buddies," but J.D. isn't satisfied with this arrangement. Turk tries to help out Elliot with her workload, but his efforts backfire. Carla learns a lesson about why hospitals can't always give definite answers.
3612"My New Old Friend"Chris KochGabrielle AllanJanuary 9, 2003 (2003-01-09)21117.18[13]
J.D.'s feelings for Elliot continue to grow even after they break off casual sex; he tries seeing Lisa (Sarah Lancaster) again. Dr. Cox and Carla misdiagnose a hypochondriac patient (Richard Kind) after not taking his claims seriously. Dr. Kelso teaches Turk a lesson about the small lies their patients tell them.
3713"My Philosophy"Chris KochStory by : Bill Lawrence
Teleplay by : Matt Tarses & Tim Hobert
January 16, 2003 (2003-01-16)21318.02[14]
Elliot demands single-sex locker rooms from Dr. Kelso, who is considering ways he might acquire a bigger office. Turk pops the question to Carla, but not in the way he'd originally planned. A favorite patient of J.D. is back in the hospital for her heart condition.
3814"My Brother, My Keeper"Michael SpillerEric WeinbergJanuary 23, 2003 (2003-01-23)21414.09[15]
Turk's brother Kevin (D.L. Hughley) comes to visit with important news; Turk's feelings of inadequacy and debt to his brother surface. Dr. Townshend (Dick Van Dyke), an elderly doctor liked by everyone, runs into trouble with his best friend Dr. Kelso when J.D. screws up an out-dated procedure under his supervision.
3915"His Story"Ken WhittinghamBonnie Schneider & Hadley DavisJanuary 30, 2003 (2003-01-30)21517.25[16]
This episode is narrated from Dr. Cox's, rather than J.D.'s, viewpoint. Dr. Cox discusses the hospital and Jordan in his sessions with his psychiatrist, Dr. Gross (Eric Bogosian). Elliot is thrilled to meet Paul Flowers (Rick Schroder), an attractive and charming doctor—until she learns he's actually a nurse. Carla finally says yes to Turk's proposal.
4016"My Karma"Marc BucklandJanae Bakken & Debra FordhamFebruary 20, 2003 (2003-02-20)21613.45[17]
J.D. and Turk attempt to cover up the fact they were hitting golf balls off the roof and may have caused the accident that landed their patient in the hospital, but the Janitor knows. Jordan finally gives birth, and reveals to J.D. who the father of her baby is, and asks him to keep her secret.
4117"My Own Private Practice Guy"Marc BucklandAngela Nissel & Mark StegemannMarch 13, 2003 (2003-03-13)21815.64[18]
J.D. comes to admire his patient's private practice doctor, Dr. Peter Fisher (Jay Mohr), but is shocked to find out Peter was actually the reason Jordan and Dr. Cox divorced. The Janitor starts flirting with Elliot, and Carla begins to worry about her appearance. Features a cameo appearance by Jay Leno.
4218"My T.C.W."Adam BernsteinBill LawrenceMarch 20, 2003 (2003-03-20)21714.21[19]
Dr. Cox switches from female to dog names for J.D. after an interesting bestiality rumor about J.D. makes the rounds. Dr. Cox competes with baby Jack for Jordan's attention; relationship troubles crop up for Elliot and Paul and for Turk and Carla. When J.D. accepts a date from Jamie Moyer (Amy Smart), the very attractive wife of a comatose patient, his friends give him flak for it, causing him to tell them all a few home truths. Meanwhile, J.D. is criticized by the Chinese community of Sacred Heart after he accidentally says the word "chink". The title is an abbreviation for "Tasty Coma Wife," the moniker J.D. and Turk give to Jamie.
4319"My Kingdom"Michael SpillerApril PesaMarch 27, 2003 (2003-03-27)21913.56[20]
When J.D. does a temporary surgery elective, his friendship with Turk suffers as he tries to win popularity. The Janitor gets a new power saw. Dr. Cox plays a prank on Dr. Kelso while he's away, and it gets a little out of hand. Elliot's slip of the tongue drastically changes her relationship with Paul.
4420"My Interpretation"Will MackenzieStory by : Mike Schwartz
Teleplay by : Neil Goldman & Garrett Donovan
April 3, 2003 (2003-04-03)22015.29[21]
J.D. attends the funeral of Jamie's (Amy Smart) husband, with predictable results. Turk has a sex dream about Elliot and is bewildered and embarrassed by it. Dr. Cox still experiences more mixed feelings about raising a child he still believes is not his.
4521"My Drama Queen"Michael SpillerWill BersonApril 10, 2003 (2003-04-10)22111.95[22]
J.D.'s relationship with Jamie (Amy Smart) takes a few interesting twists; Elliot correctly identifies her as a drama queen. Carla's mother dies. Dr. Cox is stuck with Ted in teaching a sensitivity seminar after Dr. Kelso witnesses Dr. Cox being particularly vicious towards a patient.
4622"My Dream Job"Bill LawrenceTim Hobert & Matt TarsesApril 17, 2003 (2003-04-17)22214.66[23]
The end of the second year has the residents finding their jobs too monotonous; luckily, Spence (Ryan Reynolds), an old college buddy of J.D. and Turk's, visits and lightens things up, perhaps a little too much. Dr. Cox learns the truth about baby Jack and confides in J.D. he doesn't think he'd make a good father. J.D. encourages Cox to imagine being a father, and as Dr. Kelso further attempts to break Elliot's spirit, Dr. Cox steps in.

Notes edit

  • denotes a "supersized" episode, running an extended length of 25–28 minutes.

References edit

  1. ^ Scrubs: The Complete Second Season—"Musical Stylings" featurette. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. November 15, 2005.
  2. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 23–29)". The Los Angeles Times. October 2, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 30–Oct. 6)". The Los Angeles Times. October 9, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 7-13)". The Los Angeles Times. October 16, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ "Top 20 Network Primetime Report: Week of 10/14/02 - 10/20/02". Zap2it. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  6. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 21-27)". The Los Angeles Times. October 30, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 28-Nov. 3)". The Los Angeles Times. November 6, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 4-10)". The Los Angeles Times. November 13, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 11-17)". The Los Angeles Times. November 20, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  10. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 2-8)". The Los Angeles Times. December 11, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  11. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 9-15)". The Los Angeles Times. December 18, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  12. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 30-Jan. 6)". The Los Angeles Times. January 9, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  13. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 6-12)". The Los Angeles Times. January 15, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  14. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 20-26)". The Los Angeles Times. January 29, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  15. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 20-26)". The Los Angeles Times. January 29, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  16. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 27-Feb. 2)". The Los Angeles Times. February 5, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  17. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 17-23)". The Los Angeles Times. February 26, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  18. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (March 10–16)". The Los Angeles Times. March 19, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  19. ^ "Prime-Time TV Rankings (March 17–23)". The Los Angeles Times. March 28, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  20. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (March 31-April 6)". The Los Angeles Times. April 9, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  21. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (March 31-April 6)". The Los Angeles Times. April 9, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  22. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 7–13)". The Los Angeles Times. April 16, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  23. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 14–20)". The Los Angeles Times. April 23, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
General references

External links edit