My Identity Crisis
Encyclopedia
"My Identity Crisis" is the fourth episode of season seven and 143rd episode of the American sitcom Scrubs
. It aired on November 15, 2007 on NBC
.
wakes up from a nightmare about J.D.
and Turk
killing her. She later explains to them that the dream was only weird to her because it was in English and not Spanish. Carla then becomes scared she is losing her heritage and that she won't be able to pass it down to her daughter.
After J.D. calls Nurse Shirley "Lavernegan" (Laverne-again), because he claims that she looks like Laverne, the Janitor
discovers that J.D. only uses nicknames for people in the hospital whose names he doesn't actually know. He challenges J.D. to learn everyone's real name in the hospital, otherwise J.D. will have to take over as the Janitor for a day. If J.D. wins, the Janitor will do his own job for a day (the joke being that the Janitor never does his job). J.D evens asks him if he still remembers how to do his job, receiving a hesitant, "It's been a while, but I think I can do it."
Dr. Cox's family is away, and he realizes that he is lonely without them. To deal with his loneliness he comes in on his day off and helps J.D. learn everyone's name. J.D. finally learns everyone's name in the hospital, but loses the bet because he does not know the Janitor's name (and neither does anybody else in the hospital). The episode ends with J.D. mopping a floor and expressing the same cynical attitude the Janitor has:
JD: "It's like the ammonia's seeping into my brain, making me violent and angry and hateful."
Janitor: "Yeah, that's how it starts."
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
. It aired on November 15, 2007 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
Plot
CarlaCarla Espinosa
Carla Espinosa, RN is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama Scrubs, portrayed by Judy Reyes.Carla has appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except three Season 8 episodes, "My Happy Place", "My Cookie Pants" and "My Full Moon"...
wakes up from a nightmare about J.D.
John Dorian
John Michael "J.D." Dorian, M.D. is a fictional character on the American comedy-drama Scrubs, played by Zach Braff. He is the narrator and main character of the series. He provides voice-over to the series which fills the roles of his internal thoughts and an overall narration in the show, often...
and Turk
Christopher Turk
Christopher Duncan Turk, M.D., is a fictional character played by Donald Faison on the American comedy-drama Scrubs. Turk has appeared in every episode except three Season 8 episodes, "My Saving Grace", "My New Role" and "My Lawyer's in Love". Donald Faison is the only original cast member,...
killing her. She later explains to them that the dream was only weird to her because it was in English and not Spanish. Carla then becomes scared she is losing her heritage and that she won't be able to pass it down to her daughter.
After J.D. calls Nurse Shirley "Lavernegan" (Laverne-again), because he claims that she looks like Laverne, the Janitor
Janitor (Scrubs)
The Janitor is a fictional character, played by actor Neil Flynn in the American comedy-drama Scrubs.Neil Flynn was originally billed as a recurring guest star throughout Season 1, although he appeared in all 24 episodes of that season. He was promoted to a series regular beginning with Season 2...
discovers that J.D. only uses nicknames for people in the hospital whose names he doesn't actually know. He challenges J.D. to learn everyone's real name in the hospital, otherwise J.D. will have to take over as the Janitor for a day. If J.D. wins, the Janitor will do his own job for a day (the joke being that the Janitor never does his job). J.D evens asks him if he still remembers how to do his job, receiving a hesitant, "It's been a while, but I think I can do it."
Dr. Cox's family is away, and he realizes that he is lonely without them. To deal with his loneliness he comes in on his day off and helps J.D. learn everyone's name. J.D. finally learns everyone's name in the hospital, but loses the bet because he does not know the Janitor's name (and neither does anybody else in the hospital). The episode ends with J.D. mopping a floor and expressing the same cynical attitude the Janitor has:
JD: "It's like the ammonia's seeping into my brain, making me violent and angry and hateful."
Janitor: "Yeah, that's how it starts."
Cultural references
- Aloma WrightAloma WrightAloma Wright is an American actress. She was born in New York and raised in California.- Career :Wright was cast as Laverne Roberts for Scrubs. After six seasons, her character was killed off in My Long Goodbye. She returned in season seven playing a new character, Nurse Shirley...
's character's name is revealed in this episode to be Shirley. Combined with her former character's name Laverne, it references the television show Laverne and Shirley. - J.D.'s dancing fantasy is a parody of the movie Risky BusinessRisky BusinessRisky Business is a 1983 American teen comedy-drama film written by Paul Brickman in his directorial debut. It stars Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay. The hit film launched Cruise to stardom.-Plot:...
- Turk has a conversation about whether or not he is related to George Washington CarverGeorge Washington CarverGeorge Washington Carver , was an American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. The exact day and year of his birth are unknown; he is believed to have been born into slavery in Missouri in January 1864....
. Donald FaisonDonald FaisonDonald Adeosun Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC comedy-drama Scrubs and as Murray in the film Clueless and the subsequent television series of the same name.Faison has also co-starred in the films Remember the Titans ,...
voiced Carver's clone on Clone HighClone HighClone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....
, an animated show by Scrubs creator Bill LawrenceBill Lawrence (producer)William Van Duzer Lawrence IV is an American screenwriter, producer, and director best known as the creator of Scrubs and co-creator of Cougar Town. Lawrence is married to the actress Christa Miller whom he cast in both television series; they have three children together...
.
Continuity
- Colonel Doctor's name is revealed to be Coleman Slawski. This also reveals that full name of Lloyd the Former Delivery Guy Now Turned Ambulance driver, Colonel Doctor's son, is Lloyd Slawski.
- This episode reveals that Dr. Cox is a ScorpioScorpio-Technology:* Scorpio , Roman artillery invented in 50 BC* Scorpio ROV, a class of submersible remotely operated vehicle, including the Scorpio II and Super Scorpio operated by the US and UK navies* Mahindra Scorpio, an Indian SUV...
, making his birthday somewhere between October 24 and November 22. - At the end Turk is seen learning SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, which he has mastered by the episode "My Bad TooMy Bad Too"My Bad Too" is the seventh episode of season seven and the 146th episode of the American sitcom Scrubs. It aired on April 10, 2008, as the first episode to air after the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.-Plot:...
". - Dr. Cox claims to be a registered independent, despite having said he "[freaks out] over... all registered independents" in "My Lips Are Sealed."
Music
- "Who Are YouWho Are You (song)"Who Are You", composed by Pete Townshend, is the title track on The Who's 1978 release, Who Are You, the last album released before drummer Keith Moon's death in September 1978. It was released as a double-A sided single with the John Entwistle composition "Had Enough", also featured on the album...
" by The WhoThe WhoThe Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
(performed by The Blanks/Ted's BandThe BlanksThe Blanks are an a cappella group. Most notably, they appeared in the TV series Scrubs in a recurring guest role, under various names such as Ted's Band and The Worthless Peons...
) - "Opportunity" by Pete Murray