I can’t do this all on my own. I need help surviving the dumpster fire we are living in.
The news lately has been gut-wrenching, especially out of Minnesota. Communities are being fractured, families are being torn apart, and lives are being taken due to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids spurred by President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.
Additionally, two journalists were arrested while covering anti-ICE protests in Minnesota. Arresting reporters is an infuriating affront to the First Amendment, which makes my blood boil almost as much as seeing people be killed for exercising their First Amendment rights.
Such polarizing events aren’t isolated in Minnesota, though. Raids have happened elsewhere, and the presence and actions of ICE agents have become a point of political contention.
In fact, according to the Kansas Reflector, “a federal grand jury charged two Kansas men, in unrelated cases, for threatening the lives of public officials.” One posted on social media threatening to murder U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and the other posted on social media threatening to assault and murder ICE agents.
We are living in troubling times. I need a break from dwelling on the horrors unfolding in our country. I need a diversion from the overwhelming sense of dread thinking about what is happening. I need an escape from reality and the incessant political turmoil.
After all, I know I’m no Superman. A regular person can only take so much.
Thankfully, a reprieve is on the horizon as my favorite television show returns to the air.
“Scrubs” is coming back.
As one X user posted under the handle @MrsGothicc, “My depression might be cured.”
You can call it a revival or a sequel, but season 10 of this medical comedy premieres Feb. 25 on ABC, streaming the next day on Hulu. It is slated for nine episodes.
It’s been nearly 16 years since the doctors at the fictional Sacred Heart teaching hospital graced our screens as the last episode of season nine aired March 17, 2010, although many like to pretend that season doesn’t exist because it was a widely panned and failed attempt to reboot the show with a new cast under the subtitle of “Med School.”
From its debut in October 2001, I fell in love with the humor and heart packed into each episode, which is a hallmark of the work done by “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence.
I saw myself in the main character, Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian, played by Zach Braff, as he struggled to find himself and his place in the world. There were parallels between Dorian’s best friend — Dr. Christopher Turk, played by Donald Faison — and my own best friend. I longed to be more like Dorian’s mentor and idol — Dr. Perry Cox, played by John C. McGinley. Sarah Chalke’s portrayal of Dr. Elliot Reid provided constant laughs due to her neurosis.
Then there are other characters — Chief of Medicine Robert “Bob” Kelso, played by Ken Jenkins; the Janitor, played by Neil Flynn; nurse Carla Turk (nee Espinosa), played by Judy Reyes; Dr. Todd “The Todd” Quinlan, played by Robert Maschio; hospital lawyer Ted Buckland, played by the late Sam Lloyd; and many others — who also made invaluable contributions to the show’s story arc and provided endless laughs and heartfelt moments.
It’s because of these people that I am stoked to have the show returning to the airwaves, and I’m overjoyed that folks like Braff, Faison, and Chalke are going to be series regulars, while Reyes and McGinley will be recurring cast members.
These powerhouse actors will be joined by newcomers in roles of interns, nurses, and other staff members.
Unlike the much-derided season nine, according to TVLine, “which passed the narrative torch to a new protagonist, ‘Scrubs’ season 10 is told exclusively from J.D.’s perspective, and begins with J.D. and Turk front and center.”
This is why this new season will be a success. It’s about the connection between J.D. and Turk. As the official ABC logline says, “JD and Turk scrub in together for the first time in a long time: Medicine has changed; interns have changed; but their bromance has stood the test of time.”
I’ll admit, I might have an unhealthy obsession with “Scrubs.” In college, I went as J.D. for Halloween. I still watch the episodes frequently, thanks to digitally purchasing all nine seasons currently available. I have the soundtrack from the show in my music library, and I follow most of the actors on social media because I consider them friends.
We could discuss how such a parasocial relationship could be problematic, but we can save the psychoanalysis for a different time.
Besides, Braff and Faison have helped me in the past, even though they don’t know it.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the two launched “Fake Doctors, Real Friends,” which was a “Scrubs” re-watch podcast. Though they didn’t start recording it because of the pandemic, because they had already planned to do it, the timing was fortunate, at least for me.
My family and I were locked down just like everyone else. One of the few activities we could do without fear of getting sick was go for walks. So we would stroll around the neighborhood and play “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” through a Bluetooth speaker tucked into my newborn son’s stroller.
I began to feel like I knew Braff and Faison, which is the beauty of audio. It’s a very personal medium.
Much like the doom and gloom of now, the pandemic was a difficult time as well. I looked forward to when “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” would publish. It gave me a bit of joy in an otherwise bleak era.
This new season of “Scrubs” will do the same, creating cheer and serving as a welcome distraction from the ICE-induced and politically powered imbroglio we are mired in.
It will make me so happy that I’ll be shouting “eagle” for all to hear.
Todd R. Vogts, Ph.D., is a native of Canton, a resident of McPherson County, and a media researcher and educator. He can be contacted with questions or comments via his website at www.toddvogts.com.
