Scrubs, Season 1

"Scrubs" focuses on the bizarre experiences of fresh-faced medical intern John "J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff, "The Broken Hearts Club") as he embarks on his career in a surreal hospital crammed full of unpredictable staffers and patients - where humor and tragedy can merge paths at any turn. Joining the rumpled J.D. on his first day are his college buddy, Chris Turk (Donald Faison, "Remember the Titans"), an intern with a more elite surgical group, and J.D.'s fellow medical intern, the beautiful and driven Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke, "Roseanne"). Meanwhile, the sobering reality of patients' needs has J.D.'s head spinning and his confidence is challenged by the fatherly chief of medicine, Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins, "Courage Under Fire"). However, with the help of the abrasive, worldly Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley, "Wall Street") and caring nurse Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes, "Oz"), the neophyte doctor works through his mistakes and discovers that he is up to the job in this brave new world.

J.D. (Zach Braff) shows genuine concern for a flaky patient (guest star John Ducey) after a cancer scare, but when the man continues to puff away daily on multiple packs of cigarettes, J.D. seeks advice from his gruff mentor Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) on how to intervene -- and instead gets smacked as a professional courtesy. Elsewhere, Elliot's (Sarah Chalke) unsociable bedside manner and attitude makes her public enemy number-one among the nurses -- especially Carla (Judy Reyes). Meanwhile, Carla's got her hands full as she rebuffs an eager Turk (Donald Faison) who persists in asking her out on a date. Ken Jenkins also stars.

When Turk (Donald Faison) always seems occupied with new girlfriend Carla (Judy Reyes) and with work, a resentful J.D. (Zach Braff) feels like an odd-man-out and abandoned by his buddy -- especially when he believes that Turk botched a patient's surgery that could also implicate him for not reporting the mistake. In addition, J.D. is even more distracted by his tempting flirtations with Elliot (Sarah Chalke) but he feels that unless he makes a more serious romantic maneuver within 48 hours, their budding relationship will be forever doomed and downgraded to merely "friends" status. Elsewhere, Elliot seeks advice from a resentful Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) who hardly relishes becoming the interns' designated mentor. Ken Jenkins also stars.

J.D. (Zach Braff) remembers the medical fact that almost one of three patients dies in the hospital when he forms a bond with a sweet elderly patient (guest star Kathryn Joosten, NBC's "The West Wing") whose kidneys are failing. But when she refuses to undergo dialysis, she must prepare herself -- and a disconsolate J.D. -- for the inevitable. At the same time, Elliot (Sarah Chalke) duels with a hissing Carla (Judy Reyes) as she tries to treat a Hispanic-speaking woman and Turk (Donald Faison) is shocked when he performs surgery on a likable hernia patient (guest star Travis Webster). John C. McGinley and Ken Jenkins also star.

J.D.(Zach Braff) is torn when he discovers that Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) has falsely appropriated the medical insurance of a deceased patient in order to help another more needy patient but when he inadvertently informs Cox' rival -- the nasty Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) -- the two veteran doctors battle for J.D.'s soul during a good-vs.-evil game of golf. Meanwhile, Turk (Donald Faison) frets that his girlfriend Carla (Judy Reyes) might figure out where he got his new gift for her. Sarah Chalke also stars. Louie Anderson ("Family Feud") guest-stars as himself.

An overwhelmed J.D. (Zach Braff) is assigned to treat a demanding and demeaning patient (guest star Christa Miller, "The Drew Carey Show") who is an important hospital board member while he is distracted by the bad news that his gruff mentor, Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley), could be summarily fired by the nasty Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins). Elsewhere, a frustrated Turk (Donald Faison) tries to negotiate his romance with Carla (Judy Reyes) around the looming presence of her intrusive Hispanic mother (guest star Gina Morelli) while Elliot (Sarah Chalke) seeks professional help from her patient -- a psychiatrist whose jaw has been wired shut. Jimmie "J.J." Walker ("Good Times") also guest-stars as himself.

Just when J.D. (Zach Braff) hits his stride and deludes himself to think he's medicine's Golden Child, in strides Nick (guest star Sean Hayes, NBC's "Will & Grace"), a gifted rival intern who's even more capable and promises to challenge J.D. for the attention of the attending doctors. Elsewhere, cocky Turk (Donald Faison) suddenly loses his confidence in surgery and doesn't confide in Carla (Judy Reyes) while the cynical Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) reveals a rare personal side when he expresses a romantic interest in Carla. Sarah Chalke and Ken Jenkins also star.

J.D. (Zach Braff) and Turk (Donald Faison) become reluctant heroes when they sneak off to a strip bar for lunch and instead save the life of a protester in front of TV cameras -- and the crafty Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) wastes no time in exploiting their "salt-and-pepper" images in an ad campaign to tout the hospital's diversity. Elsewhere, J.D. risks Dr. Cox's (John C. McGinley) considerable wrath when he insists that his mentor complete his evaluation form. Meanwhile Elliot (Sarah Chalke) feels slighted by Carla (Judy Reyes).

As Thanksgiving nears, J.D. (Zach Braff) is stricken with appendicitis and gains a new and horrifying perspective on what it means to be a patient, and to make matters worse, it's Turk (Donald Faison) -- his old fraternity drinking partner -- who will be doing the surgery. Elsewhere, Elliot (Sarah Chalke) resents the fact that J.D.'s patients prefer his care to her cold hands when she has to cover his cases for him, and Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) makes sure that his former medical mentor (guest star Paul Collins) gets proper care from the nasty Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins). Judy Reyes also stars.

J.D. (Zach Braff) gains a new nickname -- "Scooter" -- and his relationship with Nurse Carla (Judy Reyes) evolves as he begins to out-distance her medical knowledge while Turk (Donald Faison) trembles when he learns that his secret lunch spot was claimed years ago by the territorial Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins). Elsewhere, Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) gives Elliot (Sarah Chalke) the evil eye when she won't discharge a troublesome patient (guest star Nicole Sullivan, "Mad TV").

As Christmas nears, Turk's (Donald Faison) idealized notion of the wonderful holiday is challenged by the grim reality of the hospital while Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) asks J.D. (Zach Braff) to videotape the birth of his friends' baby -- with calamitous results. Elsewhere, Dr. Cox also has to contend with his abrasive ex-wife Jordan, (guest star Christa Miller, "The Drew Carey Show") and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) searches for a sickly teenaged woman (guest star Granger Green) who disappeared after Elliot told her she was pregnant. Judy Reyes and Ken Jenkins also star.

A hyped Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) challenges the hospital staff not to lose a single patient before his shift ends at midnight while J.D. (Zach Braff) is enchanted by an unseen female patient (guest star Elizabeth Bogush, "Titans") who is trapped inside an MRI machine -- and even considers asking her out. Elsewhere, Turk (Donald Faison) and Carla (Judy Reyes) grapple with a pained patient (guest star Michael McDonald) as they try to re-set his dislocated shoulder. Sarah Chalke and Ken Jenkins star.

J.D. (Zach Braff) is frustrated when his budding romance with an ex-patient (guest star Elizabeth Bogush, "Titans") wilts as their dates are constantly interrupted by emergency calls. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) becomes less fearsome to the wide-eyed interns when Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) informs them how to avoid the blowhard's bite. In addition, a perplexed Carla (Judy Reyes) and Turk (Donald Faison) deal with their first sexual intimacy complication. Sarah Chalke also stars.

J.D. (Zach Braff) strikes up a romantic relationship with an attractive social worker (guest star Elizabeth Bogush, "Beverly Hills, 90210") but he soon learns that Elliot (Sarah Chalke) is not only jealous but thinks his new squeeze is bad news. Meanwhile, Turk (Donald Faison) discovers that Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) also has romantic designs on Carla (Judy Reyes) while Carla encounters hard stares from her fellow nurses when she strikes up a car-pool friendship with the hated Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins).

J.D. (Zach Braff) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) struggle to keep their newfound sizzling romantic relationship under wraps while at the hospital, but when the inevitable happens, they boldly display their mutual affection in public -- which only results in turbulence when she thinks he doesn't respect her enough. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) orders the entire staff to participate in a psychological study about their innermost personal and professional feelings. Donald Faison, Judy Reyes and John C. McGinley also star.

When a rampaging Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) suddenly shows up at his door in a strange funk, J.D. (Zach Braff) sees a possibility of a breakthrough in their relationship -- until he learns that Cox loses control in almost an annual rite. Meanwhile, Turk (Donald Faison) elects to partner with Elliot (Sarah Chalke) on a research project so that he can maneuver her back with his buddy J.D., and Carla (Judy Reyes) struggles to fulfill a comatose patient's final request -- playing heavy metal music in his room. Ken Jenkins also stars.

A gleeful J.D. (Zach Braff) can't wait to get his hands on a goofy new medical student (guest star DJ Qualls, "Road Trip") so that he can make his life as miserable as he was early on -- but his harsh words have an unintended effect on the mistake-prone young man. Meanwhile, another medical student (guest star Kelli Williams, 'The Practice') draws Dr. Cox' (John C. McGinley) appreciative eye and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) is paired with the son (guest star Adrian Wenner) of the hospital's chief executive officer. Donald Faison, Judy Reyes and Ken Jenkins also star.

J.D. (Zach Braff) suffers from guilt-induced insomnia after Carla (Judy Reyes) points out that he avoided a terminally ill patient because the man was a difficult pill. Meanwhile, Dr. Cox' (John C. McGinley) ex-wife Jordan (guest-star Christa Miller) interferes in his new relationship with medical student Kristin (guest star Kelli Williams, "The Practice"), and Turk (Donald Faison) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) obsess over evidence that Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) might be concealing a musical past.

While Elliott (Sarah Chalke) and Turk's (Donald Faison) parents pay a visit to see them present at a medical conference, J.D.'s (Zach Braff) father Sam (guest star John Ritter, "Three's Company") makes a surprise visit, leaving all three interns in a state of emotional distress as old parental behaviors come into play. Meanwhile, Carla gets the biggest shock of them all when she discovers she is exactly like Turk's mother (guest star Hattie Winston). John C. McGinley and Ken Jenkins also star. Markie Post also guest stars as Elliott's mother, Lily.

J.D. (Zach Braff) gets a lesson in competitiveness when he asks for Turk's (Donald Faison) support in persuading his patient to opt for medical treatment over surgery, and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) develops a crush on one of her patients (guest star Scott Foley, "Felicity"), but her own fumbling, insecurity and bad timing are compounded by their similar traits. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) finds Dr. Cox's (John C. McGinley) Achilles heel when he fires the nurse who makes Cox's favorite cup of coffee. Judy Reyes also stars.

When J.D. (Zach Braff) accidentally gets stuck with a needle that may have been infected with hepatitis, he starts to shy away from dealing with his sicker patients. Meanwhile, he and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) are forced to deal with four doctors (guest stars Ed Begley, Jr., William Daniels, Stephen Furst and Eric Laneuville of "St. Elsewhere") who become ill while attending a local medical convention. Elsewhere, Turk (Donald Faison) pays a high price when he goes to Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) to help him get in shape. Ken Jenkins and Judy Reyes also star.

J.D. (Zach Braff) sees the human side of his mentor when he has to deliver disturbing test results to Dr. Cox's (John C. McGinley) good friend and former brother-in-law, Ben Sullivan (guest star Brendan Fraser, "The Mummy"). Meanwhile, Elliot (Sarah Chalke) and Turk (Donald Faison) are both embarrassed by patient mix-ups. Judy Reyes and Ken Jenkins also star. Christa Miller ("The Drew Carey Show") also guest-stars as Jordan, Dr. Cox's ex-wife and Ben's sister.

J.D. (Zach Braff) begins to think Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) may have feet of clay when his mentor seems unable to deal with his friend Ben's (guest star Brendan Fraser, "The Mummy") potentially fatal illness. Meanwhile, Turk (Donald Faison) is upset at the news that he isn't the best surgical intern on the team, but he's even more frustrated when he finds out who is; Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) asks Elliot (Sarah Chalke) to write a supposedly anonymous evaluation of him -- but the joke's on Carla (Judy Reyes) when she volunteers to ghost-write. Christa Miller ("The Drew Carey Show") play's Cox' ex-wife and Ben's sister.

As J.D. (Zach Braff), Elliot (Sarah Chalke) and Turk (Donald Faison) end their first year as interns, they try to help an elderly man (guest star Don Perry) get an operation despite a lack of insurance, which draws the ire of Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) in the season finale. Meanwhile, when Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) and his ex-wife Jordan's (guest star Christa Miller, "The Drew Carey Show") relationship reaches a breaking point, she drops a bombshell on the gang. Judy Reyes also stars.