- “Just exactly why does every Asian person who's passing us by in the hallway, here, keep giving you the old stink-eye?”— Dr. Cox
"My T.C.W." is the eighteenth episode of Scrubs' second season. J.D. starts a relationship with the T.C.W. Jamie Moyer (Amy Smart). Dr. Cox doesn't receive any attention from Jordan. Elliot and Paul, and Turk and Carla fight about their relationships.
Synopsis[]
Elliot and Paul argue
J.D. and the T.C.W.[]
One morning as Carla gets ready for work J.D. practices kissing with Rowdy. Carla notices and pokes fun at him and Turk comments that everyone at the hospital will know because Carla is a gossip. The couple argues.
At the hospital, everybody does know about his encounter with Rowdy and Dr. Cox pokes fun at him by calling him dogs names the entire day. This doesn't faze J.D., because the T.C.W. (tasty coma wife) Jamie Moyer is back visiting her comatose husband Jack Moyer. J.D. tries to find people to grab a beer with him but all of his friends are busy with their own partners. Jamie overhears him and asks to go out with him. At the bar she acts as his wingman unsuccessfully. The next day she appears at his apartment and tells him that she is ready to move on with her life and tells him to ask her to dinner sometime.
Back at Sacred Heart, J.D has some reservations about forming a relationship with Jamie but eventually goes ahead with it. When he tells his colleagues they unanimously comment that he is a terrible person for going out with a woman whose husband is in a coma but still very much alive.
Enraged by their lack of support and the pressure caused by the Janitors latest scam, J.D. stands up for himself. Jumping to his feet, he yells at all four of them to shut up, before calling them out on their hypocrisy. All they have done recently is complain about their relationships, without ever taking J.D's feelings into consideration, when he is both single and lonely. After making it very clear that they have no right to chew him out for trying to find companionship, J.D. proceeds to verbally beat down all four of his unsupportive friends.
Firstly, he calls Dr. Cox "Big Dog" in retaliation for all the dog nicknames, before mockingly calling his mentor "Dr Look At Me" as expression of his disgust at Dr Cox's pettiness to compete with an innocent baby for the attention of his ex-wife. Turning to Carla and Turk, J.D. calls them out for their unoriginal bickering due to their fears of getting married. He effectively labels them both cowards for not facing up to their fears and whispering to him behind each others backs instead of just doing the sensible thing and talking it out like adults. Last but not least, J.D. makes it very clear to Elliot that not only is he enjoying watching her sabotage her current relationship, but after what she did to him last month in order to get together with Paul, she has absolutely no right to criticise him.
Having put his hypocritical friends in their place, J.D. collectively tells his detractors that his only comfort in his hours of loneliness is knowing that none of his idiotic friends realize how lucky they are to have a significant other in their lives. Rant over, J.D. storms out, marching past Laverne. Seeing his attitude, Nurse Roberts quickly asks if she missed "something good?" Shamed into silence, none of the others answer her.
J.D. ultimately takes Jamie up on the offer and the two go for dinner, but does not go back to her place with her because he doesn't want her to move too quickly. He spends the rest of his night pondering his singleness at Sacred Heart.
Unhappy Couples[]
Meanwhile, Dr. Cox can't seem to get any attention from Jordan. She doesn't let him watch TV or curse around their new baby, and sends him out to get a booger suction tool. Carla finds out from Ralphie that he ate her ring at one point in time, and gets Turk to confess. Proving that the ring is clean, he accidentally swallows it himself and has to get his stomach pumped. When Paul refuses to eat turkey jerky, Elliot becomes very upset and won't talk to him. After J.D. yells at all of them in the cafeteria, they all realize how blessed they really are and take time to appreciate their respective relationships.
Recurring Themes[]
More: Fantasies • Flashbacks • J.D.'s girl names • Janitor's pranks and lies
A teenager breastfeeds
Fantasies[]
- J.D. makes out with Jamie in front of her comatose husband.
- J.D. sees Jamie's husband everywhere around the hospital, haunting him as his conscience.
- A teenager still breastfeeds from his mother.
Janitor story[]
When J.D. accidentally says the word "chink" in front of Franklyn, Janitor refuses to cover for him by accepting the story that it came up in a game of crossword. Every Asian staff member begins to give J.D. the "stink-eye," which Dr. Cox also notices.
J.D.'s Girls Names[]
Dr. Cox doesn't call J.D. any girls names, but instead dog names because of what he did with Rowdy.
- Lassie, one of the most famous movie dogs to have existed.
- Scooby, the animated dog of the cartoon show "Scooby-Doo."
- Toto, the dog of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. John C. McGinley originally did not want to call J.D. this until he convinced himself that Toto from The Wizard of Oz was a female dog.
- Benji, a dog made famous in several movies in the 70s and 80s.
- Astro, an animated dog from the cartoon show "The Jetsons."
- Fido, a common name for a pet dog.
- Hooch, the canine protagonist in the film "Turner & Hooch".
- Rin Tin Tin, a famous movie dog.
Coincidentally, Dr. Cox is called "Big Dog" multiple times during the episode by others and by himself.
Guest Stars[]
- Amy Smart as Jamie Moyer, the T.C.W.
- Rick Schroder as Paul Flowers
- Jonathan Conrad as Justin
- Melanie Rockwell as Mrs. Brady
- Joey Saravia as Ralphie
- Adam Harrington as Jack Moyer
- Masi Oka as Franklyn
- David Martel as Patient
- Paige Peterson as Shelly
- Adam Gobble as Little Justin (uncredited)
- Ernesto Trinidad as Leering Asian Orderly (uncredited)
Music[]
♫ List of music featured in Scrubs
- "Boy On TV" by Keren DeBerg
- "Come Around" by Rhett Miller (played during closing montage & JD's closing monologue)
- "Not Happy Now" by Treeball (replaces "Come Around" on streaming services)
Quotes[]
- “I don't think people are meant to be by themselves. That's why, if you actually find someone you care about it's important to let go of the little things. Even if you can't let go all the way. Because nothing sucks more than feeling all alone. No matter how many people are around.”— J.D.
- “Shut up, shut up, shut up and shut up! okay? Who are you people to give me advice about anything? All you do is just bitch about your relationships all day long! And you know what, glare all you want, big dog, okay, 'cause I'm not afraid of you. "Oh no, Jordan's only paying attention to the baby!" That must be so hard for Doctor Look at Me! Isn't it, Look at Me! And you two: what, you're arguing since you got engaged? Wow, you're probably the first couple that's ever done that ever! It can't be that you're just scared, is it? And you! You know what, let's just forget for one second that a month ago you told me you couldn't be in a relationship with anyone, because for me, it's actually fun to watch you sabotage your relationship from the outside, it really is. Honestly, the only thing that gives me comfort, you guys, is that while I'm sitting at home, staring at the ceiling, just wishing that I had someone to talk to, is knowing that none of you idiots realize how lucky you are!”— J.D.
Trivia[]
Production
- This is one few episodes that J.D. snaps, and one of the first that he actually stands up to Dr. Cox.
- J.D. intentionally breaks the fourth wall in this episode by looking directly into the camera in the closing scene.
- According to Bill Lawrence in the DVD commentary, it took Zach Braff roughly twenty tries to hit Neil Flynn in the face with a biscuit.
- The idea of a six-year old being breastfed was based on a person who Bill Lawrence knew in real life who breastfed her child until they were six.
- When Dr. Cox says "Apparently, as a form of social protest, he chewed on and subsequently swallowed a part of a Rolling Stones CD. I'll tell you what there, Ralphie. They sold out for good once they started doing Ford commercials, you know what I'm saying?" he is referencing the Rolling Stones having their music playing in Ford commercials, that began airing in January 2003.
Continuity
- Dr. Kelso tells the Janitor that somebody vomited in the third, fourth and fifth floor hallways. However, according to the set dressing signage, there appear to only four floors at Sacred Heart: the first floor is the lobby area, the second floor is the CCU, the third floor is pediatrics, and the fourth floor is the nurse's station and CCU. Perhaps Zach and Donald can clear this up on the podcast!
- Jamie Moyer (T.C.W.) appears in "My Finale", mentioning to J.D. that he never called her.
- This is the first episode (with the exception of episodes with the longer intro featuring Neil Flynn) in which the theme's banjo part could be heard.