"My Words of Wisdom" is the sixteenth episode of Scrubs' six season. The staff of Sacred Heart Hospital attends Nurse Roberts' funeral. Dr. Cox gets upset when he can't take a twenty minute break. J.D. and Turk need the help of the Janitor to communicate with a deaf patient.
Synopsis[]
Dr. Cox freaks out over Jennifer's name.
The staff of Sacred Heart attends Nurse Roberts' funeral, where the gospel music is very touching. The reverend gives advice to those in attendance to consider the lessons Laverne has taught all of them, and to take twenty minutes out of their day to reflect on themselves. Back at the hospital, Carla is upset that no one else is showing emotions, like she is, about losing Laverne.
Dr. Cox gets upset when he can't take a twenty minute break. While it bothers him that Dr. Kelso gets joy out of seeing him annoyed, it irks him even more when Kelso tells Cox that he gets joy out of being everybody's go-to-guy. Meanwhile, Keith and Elliot break up because Keith thinks that Elliot is not taking the relationship seriously. While drinking what appears to be appletinis at a bar with Jordan and Carla, Carla tells Elliot that she never lets her guard down. Later that day she tells Keith for the first time that she loves him, and they get back together.
J.D. and Turk need the help of the Janitor to communicate with a deaf patient and his deaf father. While they believe they have found a way to make the boy hear, the father does not want them to do the procedure. They go around him and get permission from the mother. However, they stop and think for a moment when they realize that the father didn't want them to do the procedure because being deaf was his connection with his son.
Recurring Themes[]
"You were the only one I never faked it with"
Fantasies[]
- The gospel at J.D.'s funeral sings "Party All The Time", while his casket is standing up so everyone can hug him goodbye. Elliot reveals that J.D. was the only person she never faked it with. Dr. Cox admits he loves J.D. and hugs him, and J.D. reveals it was an elaborate set-up to get Dr. Cox to admit it. Dr. Cox then snaps J.D.'s neck which is "worth it" to J.D.
Janitor story[]
As the Janitor helps Turk and J.D., he never reveals how and why he learned sign language. His first story is that he befriended a gorilla at a zoo where he was a "volunteer janitor". The other story involved how his father taught him sign language for his deaf sister. When questioned, the Janitor says this story not entirely true because his father died before he was born. J.D. and Turk remember meeting his father in My Old Man, to which the Janitor says "You met a man".
J.D.'s Girl Names[]
Episode Running Gags[]
- Elliot uses the word "caboodle" to replace the word "ass".
Dr. Cox points angrily at J.D.
- Dr. Cox and Dr. Kelso point angrily at anyone who interrupts them.
Guest Stars[]
- Michael Hobert as Lonnie
- Deanna Webb as Tammy 2 Toes
- Benton Jennings as Mr. Hobbs
- Keeshan Giles as Lester Roberts
- Manley Henry as Snoop Dogg Intern
- George Wallace as Minister
- Katherine Disque as Waitress
- Philip McNiven as Roy
- Paul Perry as Randall (Accountant)
- Justin Grafman as Mr. Frances' son
- Troy Kotsur as Mr. Frances
- Darlene Kardon as Patient #1
- Bernie Hourihan as Patient #2
- Ben Kronen as Patient #3
- Frank Encarnacao as Dr. Mickhead
- George Miserlis as Crispin
- Lindsay Ravage as Debbie
- Maurice Warfield as Laverne's uncle
Music[]
♫ List of music featured in Scrubs
- "It's a Beautiful Morning" by The Rascals
- "Party All The Time" by Eddie Murphy
- "Amazing Grace" (traditional)
- "Last Request" by Paolo Nutini
Quotes[]
- “You might want to knock. He's in an imaginary glass bubble.”— Dr. Kelso
- “You might want to knock. He's in an imaginary glass bubble.”— Dr. Kelso
- [Lonnie 'knocks' on the 'bubble']
- “What?”— Dr. Cox
- “What?”— Dr. Cox
- “I need help with a patient”— Lonnie
- “20 minutes.”
- “20 minutes.”
- [Lonnie starts to walk away, before turning back around and saying...]
- “Hey, how long does it take for an old lady to bleed to death?”
- [A mournful piano version of Guy Love plays.]
- “I knew that, I just didn't want to believe it.”— Turk
- “My lip reading really is horrible, because they couldn't be talking about sour balls while there is a sick child in the room.”— Mr. Frances talking to his son in sign language
- “My lip reading really is horrible, because they couldn't be talking about sour balls while there is a sick child in the room.”— Mr. Frances talking to his son in sign language
- “I knew that, I just didn't want to believe it.”— Turk
- “Fine. I'm a trailer trash-y pop star, who rarely wears her underwear, and you're one of my backup dancers who's not quite sure about his sexuality...yet.”— Elliot
- “I don't want to do Britney and K-Fed anymore. Since the divorce it's too sad.”— Keith
- “I don't want to do Britney and K-Fed anymore. Since the divorce it's too sad.”— Keith
- “Is any of that true?”— J.D.
- “Someone would have to read it back to me.”— Janitor
- “Someone would have to read it back to me.”— Janitor
- “Bitches, huh? What are you gonna do?”— Dr. Kelso
- “Is any of that true?”— J.D.
- “Mostly. My dad died before I was born.”— Janitor
- “Mostly. My dad died before I was born.”— Janitor
- “Wait a minute, I met your dad.”
- “You met a man.”
- “You met a man.”
Trivia[]
- During the commercial break, it is revealed that Sarah Chalke's nicknames were "Chalky" and "Second Becky". Zach Braff claims he has the nickname "Long Bear".
- Janitor says "Hell hath no fury like a Helgenberger scorned", a reference to "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" from William Congreve's play "The Morning Bride" (1697).
Controversy[]
The subplot about the deaf child provoked ire in some Deaf internet communities because it neglected to mention the debate surrounding cochlear implants. The culturally Deaf, a community of which the father seems a part, disdain cochlear implants, regarding them as a "selling-out" into the greater Hearing culture. In recent years, however, the Deaf community has become more tolerant of Deaf people with cochlear implants.
However, the story still presents some medical objections. There was no reference to an audiological consult, which would be necessary before any procedure could be undergone. Furthermore, ideal candidates are slightly younger than this boy, who appeared five or six. Finally, audiologists still do not consider cochlear implants as an ideal solution, nor one appropriate in all cases, and it would be clinically irresponsible to go behind the father's back to get the child implanted, regardless of visitation status.
Images[]
