Goodbye five! A fitting end to "Scrubs"

Just some quick thoughts on last night's "Scrubs" finale since I already posted a bunch of YouTube memories below.

It was a wonderful, fitting hour-long finale to a show that I stopped caring about three years ago. Not to spin an awful Brett Favre analogy here -- trust me, I really don't want to flog that dead horse -- but "Scrubs" proves that maybe it isn't such a bad idea to hang around a little while longer.

One final season on ABC -- at least with the regular cast that made it great -- made me care about J.D., Elliot, Cox, Carla and Turk again. I probably would have watched last night's finale simply because of the investment I had in Seasons 1-4. But without the closure of this final, understated season, without J.D. being brought back to human form, without the focus being placed back on the characters that made the show great instead of baby drama, I wouldn't have felt such sadness -- and I really did feel sad -- when J.D. walked out of Sacred Heart Hospital one last time.

It was a great send-off that didn't pour on the schmaltz. More than 50 characters were brought back in a brilliant hallway reminiscence that captured daydreaming J.D. at his best.

Anyway, here a few favorite moments from last night now that "Scrubs" -- at least with Zach Braff at the helm -- is done for good.

* Loved the J.D. daydream sequence where he pictures going out in classic sitcom style with one light switch turning everything off inside Sacred Heart. I'm pretty sure that was a slight jab at "Cheers." It also reminded me of the laugh-track/live audience episode -- "My Life in Four Cameras" -- where J.D. expects everything to wrap up neat and tidy in that same classic sitcom style.

* The Janitor's name. Classic bit. At least J.D. will go on believing it's Glenn Matthews.

* Nice callback to the pilot and J.D.'s deer-in-headlights first day. The beauty of the "Scrubs" pilot is that it left no mystery as to how the show would develop over the next few seasons. Elliot was one of the few to truly advance as a more competent, confident character. Turk and J.D. were exceptional doctors who always acted like clowns, Kelso never strayed too far as the cost-cutting bossman (he became kookier only after his retirement), Cox would always remain the rebel narcissist. That formula worked as the show's core. Wacky side characters and killer cameos (no one tops Brendan Fraser and Michael J. Fox) only added further amusement.

* Boing, flip!

* Always enjoyed tiny Randall. "Just got the job, brah."

* Man, Hooch IS crazy

* "I want to touch it, but I don't!" Jordan (Christa Miller) delivers the funniest line of the night.

* Another excellent song choice: Peter Gabriel's cover of The Magnetic Fields' "Book of Love." Yeah, that almost brought the tears out. How many people downloaded that one last night, eh?

* Awesome effect with the projection screen playing out the future in front of J.D.'s eyes.. J.D. and Elliot's wedding, Sam and Izzy getting engaged, the "Merry Perry" sweater. Hilarious.

* Loved that creator Bill Lawrence appeared as a maintenance man and bid adieu to J.D.

* One last goodbye five for The Todd. SMACK.

Any final words? Favorite moments from last night? Leave a comment below.

UPDATE: Here's the final scene and song discussed above and in the comments section. Some of the most moving television I've seen in a long while.



-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com