Our First Day of School
Encyclopedia
"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.
, 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.
, 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.
' new format was met with mostly positive reviews. 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. 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
. TV Guide
wrote that the show "has lost none of its endearing ability to mix earnest sentiment with sardonic gag-centric humor."
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.", 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."
Scrubs (season 9)
The ninth and final season of the American comedy-drama television series Scrubs premiered on ABC on December 1, 2009 and concluded on March 17, 2010 and consists of 13 episodes...
premiere of U.S. comedy-drama
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 first aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, 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
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
. 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
Series finale
A series finale refers to the last installment of a series with a narrative presented through mediums such as television, film and literature. In many Commonwealth countries, the term final episode is commonly used in regards to a television series...
' episode of Scrubs in May 2009. The episode, "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...
", was expected to be the show's last, but ABC later approached series creator Bill Lawrence
Bill Lawrence (producer)
William Van Duzer Lawrence IV is an American screenwriter, producer, and director best known as the creator of Scrubs and co-creator of Cougar Town. Lawrence is married to the actress Christa Miller whom he cast in both television series; they have three children together...
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
Zach Braff
Zachary Israel "Zach" Braff is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, comedian, and director. Braff first became known in 2001 for his role as Dr. John Dorian on the television series Scrubs, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.In 2004, Braff made his...
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
Kerry Bishé
Kerry Bishé , is an American actress, best known for playing Lucy Bennett, the main character in season nine of medical comedy Scrubs...
. This episode takes place around 18 months after the events of the season eight
Scrubs (season 8)
The eighth season of the American comedy-drama television series Scrubs premiered on ABC on January 6, 2009 and concluded on May 6, 2009 and consists of 18 episodes. The eighth season was the first to be shown on ABC after NBC dropped the series, ending its seven-year run on the network...
finale.
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., TurkChristopher Turk
Christopher Duncan Turk, M.D., is a fictional character played by Donald Faison on the American comedy-drama Scrubs. Turk has appeared in every episode except three Season 8 episodes, "My Saving Grace", "My New Role" and "My Lawyer's in Love". Donald Faison is the only original cast member,...
, Dr. Cox and Dr. Kelso
Bob Kelso
Robert "Bob" Kelso, M.D. , is a fictional character played by Ken Jenkins in the American comedy-drama Scrubs....
have arrived to teach classes. Elliot Reid
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"....
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 CenterNorth Hollywood Medical Center
North Hollywood Medical Center was a hospital in the community of North Hollywood, California, demolished in mid 2011. It was located at 12629 Riverside Drive in North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles...
, an abandoned hospital. For season nine, filming moved to a sound stage
Sound stage
In common usage, a sound stage is a soundproof, hangar-like structure, building, or room, used for the production of theatrical filmmaking and television production, usually located on a secure movie studio property.-Overview:...
at Culver Studios
Culver Studios
The Culver Studios is a historic Colonial-styled movie studio located at 9336 W. Washington Blvd., in Culver City, California. It was the site of filming for Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane and other classics from Hollywood’s Golden Age...
.
The song "Guy Love" is used again in this episode, the second time after the season 6 episode My Musical
My Musical
"My Musical" is a musical episode from the American comedy-drama television series Scrubs. It follows the story of Patti Miller, played by guest star Stephanie D'Abruzzo of Avenue Q fame, a woman who mysteriously starts hearing everyone's speech as singing.The episode was written by Deb Fordham,...
, Season 8 Episode 10 My Comedy Show being the first time.
Reception
The first episode of ScrubsNewsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
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
John C. McGinley
John Christopher McGinley is an American actor, most notable for his roles as Perry Cox in Scrubs, Bob Slydell in Office Space, Sergeant Red O'Neill in Oliver Stone's Platoon and Marv in Stone's Wall Street. He has also written and produced for television and film...
and Donald Faison
Donald Faison
Donald Adeosun Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC comedy-drama Scrubs and as Murray in the film Clueless and the subsequent television series of the same name.Faison has also co-starred in the films Remember the Titans ,...
. TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
wrote that the show "has lost none of its endearing ability to mix earnest sentiment with sardonic gag-centric humor."
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
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.", but did not dismiss the show. USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, 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."