I’ve only really watched “Scrubs” on DVD. I never caught it on television broadcast, partly because I’ve got a relatively hectic life and can’t really block off any specific night and time. (My wife finally talked me into a DVR, which is slowly changing that, but I’m still not up on all the broadcast series.)

When I finally saw the first season of “Scrubs” on DVD, I was extremely impressed. In fact, I discovered it was one of the freshest, most innovative and funniest shows on television... er, or on DVD, that is.

Now I’m experiencing the show several years behind the rest of the viewing audience. In its sophomore season, “Scrubs” is dealing with some of the problems that other shows do in their second year. Consequently, it’s not as good as the first, but only by a smidge.

In this new season, the writers needed to find new directions for the characters. They were smart enough to take off in these directions early enough that it kept the show somewhat fresh. Learning from shows in the past like “Cheers” and “Moonlighting,” they realized that the sexual tension between J.D. (Zach Braff) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) wouldn’t be able to sustain a series, so they do go their separate ways.

This season was a little more comfortable than the first. The characters settled into their roles – especially those that are caricatures, like Dr. Kelso. And while John C. McGinley continued to be one of the best things on the show, he lost some of his warmth in dealing with J.D. He’s still a riot, but in delving deeper into his personality, we lost some edge.

Still, the second season of “Scrubs” remains one of the best sit-coms out there. It never hits a sophomore slump, and like dieting, a television show that maintains is actually ahead of the game. The show is a little more refined this time around. There’s less sound effects and whip-pans, while the characters are given a little more depth. What’s impressive is that the show was able to make these gains without falling apart or becoming too full of itself.

The popularity of the first season made it easier to score some guests stars, and there are some hilarious and touching episodes devoted to actors like Amy Smart, Rick Schroder and Heather Locklear. There are also some regular guests returning from the first season like Christa Miller as Dr. Cox’s ex, but unfortunately we won’t see Brendan Fraiser again until season three.

The three disc set comes with bonus features on each disc. About a half dozen shows include cast and crew commentary, featuring different members of the cast depending on the episode. There are an impressive slate of behind-the-scenes shorts that examine everything from John C. McGinley’s riffs to the music of the show.

Now in its fifth season with season three coming down the pike on DVD, I’m hoping to catch up with the show before it leaves the airwaves and put that DVR to good use.



Specifications: Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Full frame (1.33:1). English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.