Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Scrubs deserved better. That’s a bold statement to make about a network sitcom that produced 182 episodes over nine seasons and earned 17 Emmy nominations, including a 2005 nom for Outstanding Comedy Series. Bill Lawrence’s mordant medical comedy garnered critical acclaim — the show boasts an impressive 83% Tomatometer Score — and lives on both in syndication and in the hearts of its immensely passionate fanbase. By almost any metric, Scrubs was an unequivocal success.
And yet it’s still underrated.
Premiering in October of 2001, Scrubs took over for NewsRadio as NBC’s critically-adored utility player. Not only did the series bounce around the schedule, it bounced around networks, moving from NBC to ABC for its final two seasons. It’s not like Scrubs has been unfairly maligned since it went off the air, it just doesn’t receive enough mainstream attention for being a true television trendsetter. Much like NewsRadio before it and Community in its wake, Scrubs was an innovator at a time when sitcom uniformity reigned supreme. If there’s a TV show worthy of an A to Z rewatch, it’s Scrubs.
Enter Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald.
Premiering earlier this week, Zach Braff and Donald Faison’s new iHeartRadio original podcast is just what the doctor ordered. Each week, the real-life best friends watch an episode of Scrubs (starting with the pilot, naturally) and share some of their favorite memories and behind-the-scenes stories from the episode. Future installments will feature interviews with co-stars, series creator Bill Lawrence, and an assortment of Scrubs super fans.
The premiere episode was — hmm… what’s the proper medical term? Ah yes… — a freaking delight. Zach and Donald prove that you can’t fake chemistry as their genuine love for one another radiates through the airwaves providing a medley of fun, heart-warming moments. It should come as no surprise to Scrubs fans that Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald is chock-full of guy love… between two guys.
99% of the time, recommending a nine-season binge watch to someone would be borderline criminal, but Scrubs is the 1%. The sitcom was a deft blend of quick-wit, blistering absurdity, and genuine heart. If you’ve never seen the show, Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald provides you with the perfect opportunity to start it. If you’re already a Scrubs fan, Braff and Faison’s podcast is like a welcome visit from an old friend.
Listen to Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald on iTunes
