Summary
More guest stars move through the revolving door of Sacred Heart Hospital in "Scrubs'" fourth season, with results as uneven as the show itself. With last season's climactic end to J.D. (Zach Braff) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke)'s relationship resolved within two episodes, Heather Graham ("Boogie Nights") comes on board as a cheerful psychiatrist/love interest, and Julianna Margulies ("ER") as a cutthroat malpractice attorney/love interest. But the real love story of "Scrubs" has always been between J.D. and Turk (Donald Faison), a point that is poked fun at in the season opener, as the two joyously reunite after Turk's honeymoon with nurse Carla (Judy Reyes). Turk and Carla struggle to navigate newlywed life, made all the more complicated by J.D.'s drunken kiss with Carla. Meanwhile, at the hospital, it's Elliot who proves the more proficient doctor when she shares co-chief resident with J.D., and a few (though not enough) patient stories, including "Saturday Night Live" alum Molly Shannon as a chatterbox ambulance driver with a secret, Matthew Perry ("Friends") as an air traffic controller estranged from his dad (played by John Perry, his real father), and in the most bizarre bit of stunt casting, Colin Farrell ("Miami Vice") as an unintelligible Irishman (so, basically himself) and "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken as a singing cafeteria worker(!).
Some of "Scrubs'" special features this time around are ho-hum, including short vignettes on "The Mysterious Janitor" and more on J.D. and Dr. Cox. The only pleasant surprise is an audio commentary from Braff (who was absent from season three's commentaries and was ribbed in season two's disc for being too important shooting films to contribute), speaking on "My Last Chance," which he directed. Season Four is a letdown compared to the previous seasons' smooth navigation between belly laughs and heartache; here's hoping "Scrubs'" trademark hysterics get resuscitated for season five. "--Ellen A. Kim"