Scrubs: 5 Ways JD Made For The Perfect Protagonist (& 5 Reasons It Should Have Been Turk)
Scrubs is a wonderful sitcom, and it toed the line perfectly between wacky comedy and serious drama. The show is often held above its contemporaries for a variety of reasons. The humor comes from a wide variety of angles, including wordplay, visual jokes, and JD's unique imagination. It also plays much like an episodic hospital drama, only with large doses of humor and fantasy elements. Finally, it was reportedly one of the most medically-accurate shows on television - despite being a sitcom.
At the heart of the story is J.D., and while he makes for a great protagonist, one can't help but wonder how the show would have played out if Turk was the main character.
10 J.D.: His Imagination
One of the things elevating Scrubs above its contemporaries is JD's dream sequences. JD's imagination serves as a major focal point of each episode, as much of the humor is derived from what J.D. imagines and the wacky, surreal visuals that said imagination conjures. No other sitcom, and certainly no other medical drama, was doing something like it at the time. The imagination sequences help give Scrubs its unique personality, and without them (say, if Turk was the main character), then Scrubs simply wouldn't be Scrubs.
9 Turk: Relationship With Carla
Like many sitcoms, Scrubs stars a slew of women who serve as potential love interests for JD. It adds variety to the show, and watching JD interact with the different women is always entertaining. If Turk was the central character, then Scrubs would be a very different show. Turk and Carla hold steady throughout the show (mostly), with each supporting and loving the other in equal measure. If Turk was the protagonist, Scrubs would have been more of a relationship drama, and that is certainly not a bad thing.
8 J.D.: Physician
JD's job as a physician serves as a perfect entry point for Scrubs and the audience. The job allows JD to cycle through characters/patients, and it allows the writers to get creative. Some patients have cancer, some have rare diseases, some die, some live, and some are even hypochondriacs with nothing wrong. The variety helps keep Scrubs fresh and exciting, and it also allows JD to react to different situations with different emotions.
7 Turk: Surgeon
The fact that Turk's patients are unconscious would not allow for the exciting and emotional interactions that JD is given with his. With that said, Turk's role as a surgeon would have also proven very exciting and emotional if it was the focal point of the show.
By its very nature, surgical work proves more dramatic and "exciting" than JD's work as a physician, and it could make for very unpredictable and emotional viewing. The variety is also there, as sick and injured people need surgery for a wide variety of reasons.
6 J.D.: He's More Emotional
Scrubs is often noted for its dramatic elements, and most of the drama stems from JD's interactions with his patients. JD is a very emotional and open person, and he is able to openly express feelings of regret, sadness, and loss. Scenes involving JD can range from hilarious to touching to deeply tragic - often all in the same scene. On the other hand, Turk is far more closed off. He doesn't often express emotion or feelings, and even when he does, they are relatively muted. With Turk as protagonist, the show would lose much of its heart.
5 Turk: Alpha Male
Turk is not an emotional person. He likes to be seen as the "alpha male", and many jokes are made about his masculinity and JD's lack thereof. Turk's status as 'top dog' is often seen within the hospital itself, as Turk often expresses leadership qualities, proves very competitive with his fellow surgeons, and often jokes with his buddies at work. If Turk was protagonist, Scrubs would be far more in keeping with a "buddy comedy", and it could have made for some interesting viewing.
4 J.D.: He's Wackier
Luckily, Scrubs is perfect as it is. And that is in large part due to JD's wacky hijinks. JD makes for the perfect likable protagonist - not only because he is more expressive and open, but because his personality is more in keeping with traditional sitcom values.
He stumbles and makes pratfalls, he's often horrible with women, he's awkward, he's louder and goofier, and in many respects, he's dumber - in short, funny traits often seen in a sitcom. By comparison, Turk is more reserved, more closed off, more stable in his love life, and arguably smarter. In other words, more boring.
3 Turk: His Faith
It's made quite clear that Turk is a devout Catholic, and sometimes his religion clashes with his job as a surgeon. Unfortunately, the show didn't explore this theme to its greatest potential. Only one episode was devoted to Turk's crisis of faith owing to the often hopeless and remorseless nature of the hospital, and it made for a fantastic episode. With Turk as protagonist, the show could have delved into this interesting theme even further.
2 J.D.: Cox
Of course, Scrubs would be nothing without Dr. Cox. Audiences are often given glimpses into Cox's life through JD, as the two work together as physicians. As Cox is a physician and Turk is a surgeon, the show would have much less Cox if Turk was the primary focus, and that would not be a good thing. Yes, Cox and Turk still interact on a regular basis, and they even serve as alpha male rivals. But Scrubs just wouldn't be same without hearing Cox's endless supply of girl names for JD.
1 Turk: Health Problems
Like Turk's religion and crisis of faith, his health problems could have also proved an interesting theme to explore. Turk is diagnosed with diabetes, and while not the most serious condition, the struggle he faces could have made for some very interesting viewing. It's also established that Turk is more of a hypochondriac than JD, which is evident when he goes to the hospital over a simple stomach ache - the result of eating too many all-you-can-eat steaks. His being a hypochondriac and a diabetic could have made for some great storylines.
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