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"My Extra Mile" is the fifteenth episode of Scrubs' fifth season. J.D. encourages his colleagues to go the extra mile with their patients and his dedication is put to the test. Turk is under a lot of stress when he finds his ranking as a surgeon, as the twelve surgical residents are competing for three attending spots.

Synopsis[]

5x15-Dr. Cox tries to get J.D

J.D. announce that he will shave his hair soon.

J.D

J.D. and his girlfriend Tamara

While Keith is trying to play with a Jew's harp that Elliot just gave him as a present, J.D. uses him as girl bait. Later at the hospital, J.D. encourages his colleagues to go the extra mile with their patients. This infuriates Dr. Cox, who believes that doctors’ only responsibility to their patients is to cure them. He may be right, as "going the extra mile" forces J.D. to confront the possibility of shaving his head to show solidarity with a patient undergoing chemotherapy, a move that would lose J.D. his new, hair-loving girlfriend Tamara. In the end, J.D.'s realized he wouldn't be able to enjoy the simple things in life if he were to stop going the extra mile for his patients, so he shaves his head and returns to the hospital. J.D.'s extra mile theory even rubs off on Dr. Cox.

5x15-Mr

Carla meets Mr. Prick aka Turk

Meanwhile, a doctor suggests that Turk and Carla's inability to conceive may be stress-related. Turk is definitely under stress; worrying about his job security after learning that he is only the fourth most skilled surgical resident. However, Dr. Wen assures Turk that his willingness to go the extra mile with patients has made him a shoo-in for the job.

5x15-Carla and Janitor find patient

Carla and Janitor find their patient having a smoke.

Carla, after stating the doctors do not know their patients without charts, loses Mr. Summer. She and the Janitor work together to find him, and discovers him on the roof after deducing he was having a hard time quitting smoking. Tired and stressed, she and Turk continue to try and make a baby.

Recurring Themes[]

Fantasies[]

5x15-Guy with Kitten in his Mouth

A patient has a cat stuck in his mouth - or the cat is trapped in a man

Sometimes you've got to go the extra mile with patients. That's what makes me such a special doctor.J.D.

That and your amazing ability to switch back and forth, seamlessly, between male and female genitalia.Dr. Cox
  • Following this phrase, J.D. attempts to visualize the idea of swapping male and female genitalia back and forth, only to be pulled back to reality by Dr. Cox before the fantasy can be shown to the audience.
  • Doctors don't know about their patients without the use of charts, even when the symptoms are obvious, such as a patient having a kitten stuck in his mouth.

Flashbacks[]

  • Carla gives Turk an ultimatum: If she doesn't get pregnant after their next sex session, then no sex until
    5x15-Monster Truck

    J.D. parks a monster truck

    Turk steals a baby for her.
  • J.D. goes the extra mile by trying to park a patient's monster truck.
  • J.D.'s girlfriend says that she wouldn't be with him if it wasn't for his hair and she can't think of anything else attractive about him

Janitor story[]

5x15-Tie choosing

Janitor has difficulty choosing one of Kelso's ties

While Carla is checking on a patient, the Janitor distracts her by asking her advice on a choice of ties. Carla asks about the occasion, and he says he's using them to wipe up gunk, having obtained them from Dr. Kelso's tie rack. In the meantime, the patient has bailed from his bed. Since Dr. Kelso takes a special interest in him, being a relative of one of the trustees of the hospital, Carla has to trace him and get him back to his bed, before Kelso notices anything. Janitor gets Turk in trouble with the other surgical residents by ripping off the head of his costume, assuming that the patient was the man in the costume. The Janitor tells a story of a human head he once put in his locker over the weekend, finding it there the next work day with some rats. He then kicked the head from the hospital roof, and it was heading straight for Kelso in his convertible in the parking lot, but then a hawk flew by and snatched it out of the air. He later admits to Carla that he was making that story up. Finally, they find the patient on the hospital roof, where he has gone to have a smoke.

Episode Running Gags[]

5x15-Kelly Ripa

Elliot Kelly Ripas J.D.

  • People keep 'Kelly Ripa'ing J.D, first Dr. Cox, then Elliot.
  • Turk also thinks Dr. Wen is Kelly Ripa'ing him, when he tells him he has a job.

Guest Stars[]

5x15-Dr

Charles Chun as Dr. Phillip Wen

  • Charles Chun as Dr. Phillip Wen
  • Juanita Jennings as Dr. Marston
  • Maria Menounos as Tamara
  • Wes Robinson as Jake
  • Traber Burns as Mr. Russell
  • Mary Kate Schellhardt as Carol
  • James Curreri as Larry
  • David St. James as Mr. Sommers
  • Greg Allen Johnson as Older Gentleman
  • Keith Western as Dr. Ricky

Music[]

  • "Episodes" by PELA
  • "Someone" by Tammany Hall NYC

Trivia[]

  • The song "Someone" by Tammany Hall NYC is also used in the close to the episode "My Friend the Doctor". (Season Three)
  • J.D. doesn't want to go bald, at the fear of losing a girl whose only interest in him has to do with his hair, but it is mentioned in "My Half-Acre" that he has "J.D. wigs", which are exactly like his signature hairstyle.
  • The Janitor wears a cup claiming he's hit there a lot. He was hit in the crotch by a young child in "My Own Personal Jesus", possibly causing this paranoia.
  • When Dr. Kelso is given a lollipop, it is mostly pink and red. When the last bite is shown, the lollipop is a mix of red, yellow and green.
  • When Carla talks with Dr. Kelso a nurse can be seen through the door way skipping.
  • Although Todd is listed as Todd Quinlan on the list of Surgical Residents Rankings, the person below him is identified as Bill "Figsack" Figarella, a surgical resident mentioned in previous seasons.
  • Bonnie Chang, a surgical resident portrayed by Lela Lee (but not seen since "My Big Mouth"), is also listed on the surgical rankings, and her last name is revealed to be "Chang".
  • The surgeons are competing for 3 attending positions, but in My Day At the Races, it's mentioned that there are 4 spots.
5x15-Surgical List

The surgical list

  • The list ranking the best surgeons includes only four characters. The rest is crew of the show.
5. Ken Whittingham is the director of the episode.
6. John Ornelas is the assistant property master.
7. Mark Stegemann is a producer, but also writer of the episode.
8. John Inwood is a recurring director and cinematographer for the series.
9. Elizabeth Newman is a producer.
10. Franklyn Guttbutter is supposed to be Franklyn Gottbetter, an assistant director.


Images[]


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