My Lunch
Encyclopedia
"My Lunch" is the 20th episode of season five and the 113th episode overall of the American comedy-drama
Scrubs
. It originally aired on April 25, 2006 on NBC
.
It is one of the three highest-rated episodes of the series, along with "My Screw Up
" and "My Finale
". The plot is based on the true story
of three patients who died in June 2004, due to rabies
contracted by organ transplants. However, as the commentary on the Season 5 DVD
mentions, the episode took some dramatic license, as the organs from one donor do not usually all go to the same hospital.
), J.D. feels guilty when she dies of an apparent drug overdose
and he didn't act on warning signs that she showed previously when meeting him. Carla
and Elliot
convince The Todd to admit to being gay
, but contrary to what they had hoped, this does not change his personality for the better. Dr. Cox
initially tells J.D. not to blame himself for patients' deaths, but struggles to follow his own advice later on, when he finds out that Jill actually died of rabies
and the infected organs went on to kill all the recipients.
After two of the three patients die from rabies, Dr. Cox becomes depressed
and J.D. attempts to console him with lunch. J.D. tells Dr. Cox that there was no way he could have seen such a complication with the organs, as rabies is a relatively rare medical condition, and that he (J.D.) would have made the same call, especially considering the patients were in dire need of transplants. This appears to make Dr. Cox feel better, but they then both receive a page concerning Dr. Cox's friend and patient, Mr. Bradford. Carla and Dr. Cox attempt to revive Mr. Bradford, but he dies, sending Dr. Cox into a meltdown; it turns out that Mr. Bradford could have waited another month for a kidney. Dr. Cox then leaves the room, and J.D. reminds him of his own advice, stating: "The second you start blaming yourself for people's deaths, there's no coming back". Dr. Cox, in tears, merely replies, "Yeah, you're right", and walks out of the hospital.
The episode was criticized for the unlikelihood that Jill's organs matched all three patients, although the critic later acknowledged that he was unaware that the episode was based upon a real case.
Amazon.com
's Donald Liebenson calls it a "powerful episode that shows a welcome maturity". Liebenson is also thankful that "the music rights were secured for the DVD
release so that The Fray
's "How to Save a Life
" is playing on the soundtrack when Dr. Cox has his own tragic setback."
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
. It originally aired on April 25, 2006 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
It is one of the three highest-rated episodes of the series, along with "My Screw Up
My Screw Up
"My Screw Up" is the 14th episode of season three and the 60th episode overall of the American sitcom Scrubs. It originally aired on February 24, 2004 on NBC....
" and "My Finale
My Finale
"My Finale" is the hour-long season finale for season eight of the American sitcom Scrubs. It was originally broadcast as episode 18 of season eight on May 6, 2009, and was intended to be the series finale. However, the show unexpectedly returned for a ninth season...
". The plot is based on the true story
Rabies transmission
Rabies may be transmitted through the saliva of animals.Transmission between humans is extremely rare, although it can happen through transplant surgery, or, even more rarely, through bites, kisses or sexual relations....
of three patients who died in June 2004, due to rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
contracted by organ transplants. However, as the commentary on the Season 5 DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
mentions, the episode took some dramatic license, as the organs from one donor do not usually all go to the same hospital.
Plot
After repeatedly running into annoying recurring patient Jill Tracy (Nicole SullivanNicole Sullivan
Nicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
), J.D. feels guilty when she dies of an apparent drug overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
and he didn't act on warning signs that she showed previously when meeting him. Carla
Carla Espinosa
Carla Espinosa, RN is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama Scrubs, portrayed by Judy Reyes.Carla has appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except three Season 8 episodes, "My Happy Place", "My Cookie Pants" and "My Full Moon"...
and Elliot
Elliot Reid
Dr. Elliot Reid is a fictional character played by Sarah Chalke in the American comedy-drama Scrubs. She has appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except two Season 8 episodes, "My Last Words" and "My Lawyer's in Love"....
convince The Todd to admit to being gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, but contrary to what they had hoped, this does not change his personality for the better. Dr. Cox
Dr. Cox
Percival "Perry" Ulysses Cox, M.D. , is a fictional character played by John C. McGinley on the American television comedy-drama Scrubs....
initially tells J.D. not to blame himself for patients' deaths, but struggles to follow his own advice later on, when he finds out that Jill actually died of rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
and the infected organs went on to kill all the recipients.
After two of the three patients die from rabies, Dr. Cox becomes depressed
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and J.D. attempts to console him with lunch. J.D. tells Dr. Cox that there was no way he could have seen such a complication with the organs, as rabies is a relatively rare medical condition, and that he (J.D.) would have made the same call, especially considering the patients were in dire need of transplants. This appears to make Dr. Cox feel better, but they then both receive a page concerning Dr. Cox's friend and patient, Mr. Bradford. Carla and Dr. Cox attempt to revive Mr. Bradford, but he dies, sending Dr. Cox into a meltdown; it turns out that Mr. Bradford could have waited another month for a kidney. Dr. Cox then leaves the room, and J.D. reminds him of his own advice, stating: "The second you start blaming yourself for people's deaths, there's no coming back". Dr. Cox, in tears, merely replies, "Yeah, you're right", and walks out of the hospital.
Reception
This episode is tied for the highest-rated episode of Scrubs on TV.com (9.8 out of 10).The episode was criticized for the unlikelihood that Jill's organs matched all three patients, although the critic later acknowledged that he was unaware that the episode was based upon a real case.
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
's Donald Liebenson calls it a "powerful episode that shows a welcome maturity". Liebenson is also thankful that "the music rights were secured for the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release so that The Fray
The Fray
-Literature:*Fray, a phenomenon in Terry Pratchett's The Carpet People*Fray , a comic book series by Joss Whedon**Melaka Fray, titular character of the comic book series-Music:*"Fray", a song from the album 14 Shades of Grey by Staind...
's "How to Save a Life
How to Save a Life (song)
"How to Save a Life" is a song by American rock band The Fray. It is the title track from their debut album and was released as the second single from it. The song is one of their most popular airplay songs and peaked in the top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States...
" is playing on the soundtrack when Dr. Cox has his own tragic setback."
Guest stars
- Nicole SullivanNicole SullivanNicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
as Jill Tracy. - Rachel Winfree as Jill's mother, who agrees to donate her daughter's organs.
- David Warshofsky as Dave Bradford, Dr. Cox's patient, who needs a kidney transplant.