My Old Man
From Scrubs Wiki
| My Old Man | |
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Written by Matt Tarses Air Date - April 9, 2002 on  DVD • iTunes • Syndication | |
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- “You still talking to yourself? I thought you'd outgrow that by now.”— Sam Dorian
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
When Elliot and Turk learn that they have to present their paper to a board they get mopey. J.D. is jealous but once he learns their parents are arriving he understands why they are sad. After paying no attention to karma and joking with Turk about his mother coming he accidentally invites his father to come visit. When Sam arrives J.D. is upset that he still acts like a buddy to him rather than a father. The next day at the hospital when Dr. Cox tosses him a decent idea, J.D. ignores it, but when he gets a chance to think about it, he heeds Dr. Cox's advice and invites his father to his lecture on heart murmurs. In the cafeteria Sam later tells J.D. that he is going to see a good friend off and have to miss the lecture. After getting upset, J.D. stops being selfish and thinks about things from his father's point of view and leaves work early to tell his father goodbye.
Meanwhile, Turk's mother Margaret and Elliot's parents Simon and Lily come to the hospital before the presentation. Turk is afraid to introduce Carla to his mother because he has yet to mention her to his mother. When the two finally meet Turk is surprised they like each other so much. Carla later notices that the two are very similar and gets freaked out that Turk is only attracted to her because she is so much like his mother. He informs her that only their good qualities match, and that he is glad they do. Elliot has to struggle with the pressure from her judgmental parents who don't approve of Sacred Heart. Simon and Dr. Kelso butt heads and Elliot has to pay at rounds. After getting worried that she only got into medicine because of her father, she realizes that she is happy where she is, and isn't upset that she got there for the wrong reasons.
[edit] The Parents
- J.D.'s father embarrasses J.D. by trying to be one of the guys.
- Elliot's parents are very snobbish and expect too much of her.
- Carla realizes that she is just like Turk's mother.
- The Janitor's father is harsh on his son and makes him do everything he doesn't want.
[edit] Recurring Themes
[edit] Fantasies
- Turk as a small child saying he doesn't want to wear blue scrubs after his mother says blue scrubs would look better.
- Elliot as a small child crying about her mother telling her that mullets are for "trailer trash."
- Dr. Steadman appears out of nowhere to ask J.D. for a favor and disappears instantly in a puff of smoke.
- Dr. Simon Reid and Dr. Kelso fight in boxing outfits reminiscent of the early 1900s, dancing around and taunting each other.
[edit] Janitor story
The Janitor's dad visits him at the hospital and he immediately takes a dislike to J.D.. Over the day he criticizes the Janitor and hospital, acting like a drill sergeant and making him do push-ups because he misses a spot while mopping. At the end of the day, Janitor reminds him that he doesn't need to stop by again to which his father responds that he will see him the next day.
[edit] J.D.'s Girl Name
- Reba
- “Look, Reba, if I ask you a question that doesn't specifically deal with a medical issue, you can bet your powdered bottom that I don't want you to answer. Do you understand?”— Dr. Cox
[edit] Guest Stars
- Lane Davies as Simon Reid
- R. Lee Ermey as Janitor's father
- Alexandra Lee as Young Elliot
- Colin Martin as Patient (My Old Man)
- Markie Post as Lily Reid
- John Ritter as Sam Dorian
- David S. Robinson-Hicks as Young Turk
- Hattie Winston as Margaret Turk
- Matt Winston as Jeffrey Steadman
[edit] Music
| Music from Season: |
- "Surrender" by Cheap Trick
[edit] Quotes
- “Well, you definitely need something. Um, maybe a backbone, or perhaps some testicles. At the very least, a pillow that you could carry around the hospital and just cry your sad eyes out into whenever drama occurs.”— Dr. Cox
- “I just freaked out because your mom and I have so much in common.”— Carla
- “Turk, I do like that Cuban restaurant.”— Carla
- “What's that, a shot at my Dad? That's stepping over the line pal!”— Janitor
- “I came out to my mother this afternoon.”— Elliot
- “Well it seems the boys down in Radiology owe me quite a bit of money.”— Kelso
- “Well it seems the boys down in Radiology owe me quite a bit of money.”— Kelso
[edit] Trivia
- In My Mentor, Elliot mistakes Turk's mother for Morgan Freeman in a photograph because she has freckles. But it's clear that she looks nothing like Morgan Freeman.
- In this episode, we apparently meet the Janitor's father, but in My Words of Wisdom the Janitor states that his father died when he was young. This means that what he said was a lie or the man in this episode isn't really his father.
- The Janitor's father is played by R. Lee Ermey. In this episodes he acts much like a drill sergeant; probably a reference to Ermey's most famous role in Full Metal Jacket as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman or a reference to his own experiences being a United States Marine Corps drill instructor. 'Sound off like you got a pair' is a line Hartman uses several times in the movie.
- In the scene where Elliot and Turk are presenting their essay, one of the doctors in the audience's name is Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.
- Turk wears blue scrubs in this episode rather than green because his mother says he looks better in blue scrubs, even though the surgical team wear green, and the medical blue.
- Elliot does a "Gollum" impersonation in this episode. Lord of the Rings had been released four months prior to this episode's air date.
[edit] Title explanation
J.D.'s father is in town.
[edit] Images
 A young Turk is scolded by his mother. |
 A young Elliot has a temper-tantrum. |
 J.D. is frightened by Janitor's father. |
 Margaret Turk meets Carla. |
 Dr. Kelso and Simon Reid box. |
 Dr. Steadman appears from nowhere. |
 Janitor and his father. |
