- Our First Day of School
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"Our First Day of School" Scrubs episode Episode no. Season 9
Episode 1Directed by Michael Spiller Written by Bill Lawrence Featured music "Guy Love" by Zach Braff & Donald Faison
"Out of Place" by WAZProduction code 901 Original air date December 1, 2009 Guest stars Sarah Chalke as Dr. Elliot Reid
Ken Jenkins as Dr. Bob Kelso
Neil Flynn as Janitor
Nicky Whelan as Maya
Walter Addison as Ben Coleman
Robert Maschio as Dr. Todd "The Todd" QuinlanEpisode chronology ← Previous
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"Our Drunk Friend"List of Scrubs episodes "Our First Day of School" is the ninth season premiere of U.S. comedy-drama Scrubs. It first aired on ABC, on December 1, 2009. The episode is the first episode of Scrubs following its re-design, and takes place in a different location to the first eight seasons; rather than being set in a hospital, it is set in a medical school. The episode also introduces several new cast members and does not feature many cast members from previous seasons.
The new format of the show was created after ABC aired a one-hour 'series finale' episode of Scrubs in May 2009. The episode, "My Finale", was expected to be the show's last, but ABC later approached series creator Bill Lawrence regarding a new season. After the events of the previous episode, in which lead character J.D. leaves Sacred Heart Hospital, the formula of the show had to be changed. This led to the show's location switching from a hospital to a medical school, the series focusing on students rather than doctors, and the remaining characters from previous seasons becoming professors.
Former star Zach Braff agreed to appear in six of the season's 13 episodes, and narrates this episode alongside new character and narrator Lucy Bennett, played by Kerry Bishé. This episode takes place around 18 months after the events of the season eight finale.
Contents
Plot
The episode begins by introducing the changes made to the show; the former Sacred Heart Hospital has been torn down and a replacement has been built on the campus of the Winston University medical school. J.D., Turk, Dr. Cox and Dr. Kelso have arrived to teach classes. Elliot Reid is now married to J.D. and expecting their first child. Meanwhile, three new medical students are introduced: Lucy Bennett, a self-conscious loner keen to make new friends; Cole Aaronson, an arrogant rich kid whose father funded the new hospital, and Drew Suffin, an older man who dropped out of med school 10 years previously.
After getting off to a poor start with Denise,the new student adviser, and being berated by Dr. Cox, Lucy grows discouraged. She sleeps with Cole, whom she met in class, to boost her self-esteem. However, Cole drops a naked picture of Lucy he took secretly in the university campus, which J.D. finds. When he returns it to her, the pair begin talking and begin a friendship. Lucy asks J.D. for help with Dr. Cox, and he tells her to stand up to him to show him she has courage. Lucy stands up to Dr. Cox — sort of — and begins to feel better about herself.
Meanwhile, Denise is adjusting to her new role as student advisor. She tries to convince Drew to take care of her responsibilities because she thinks the other students looked up to him, but he tells her that he wants to "stay under the radar". Drew and Denise soon become romantically involved. The next day, Drew asks Dr. Cox to be nicer to Lucy. Cox agrees, and says that he will now focus all of his anger at Drew. Cox decides to make Drew wear a '#1' sign all the time, and demands high results from him.
Production
This is the first episode of Scrubs to be filmed on a set, rather than on location. The previous seasons were filmed at the North Hollywood Medical Center, an abandoned hospital. For season nine, filming moved to a sound stage at Culver Studios.
The song "Guy Love" is used again in this episode, the second time after the season 6 episode My Musical, Season 8 Episode 10 My Comedy Show being the first time.
Reception
The first episode of Scrubs' new format was met with mostly positive reviews.[1] The Chicago Sun-Times opined that "fresh blood adds vigor to [the show]", before concluding that "the new season looks promising" and awarding the show three and a half stars.[2] Newsday agreed, saying "a change of scenery has done Scrubs a world of good... the new students are funny", before praising the performances of John C. McGinley and Donald Faison.[3] TV Guide wrote that the show "has lost none of its endearing ability to mix earnest sentiment with sardonic gag-centric humor."[4]
Entertainment Weekly criticised Lucy's character, writing "the writers need to get a fix on that character fast, or she won't be someone to root for."[5], but did not dismiss the show. USA Today, however, called the new season "a deadly, deal-driven mistake that takes a network that has made great sitcom strides forward one unfortunate step back."[6]
References
- ^ http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/scrubsseason9
- ^ http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/wiser/1910624,CST-FTR-paige30.article
- ^ http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/scrubs-premiere-the-gang-teaches-med-students-1.1622534
- ^ http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/matt-roush-daily-review/scrubs-never-say-die-3350.html
- ^ http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20325968,00.html
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/criticscorner/2009-11-30-critics-corner_N.htm
External links
- "Our First Day of School" at ABC.com
- "Our First Day of School" at the Internet Movie Database
- "Our First Day of School" at TV.com
Scrubs Episodes Production Characters Related Categories:- 2009 television episodes
- Scrubs (season 9) episodes
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