"Scrubs" My Lunch (TV Episode 2006) Poster

(TV Series)

(2006)

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10/10
The best episode of season five is a prime example of what makes Scrubs so good!
acrosswateragain3 June 2006
This episode may hands down be the best Scrubs episode of season five. As it starts, the dialouge is fast-paced and funny, full of double-takes and clever lines. This includes some classic exchanges between Dr. Cox and J.D., a couple great Dr. Cox monolouges, and what may be the best story line The Todd has ever been involved in. Director John Michel and Writer Tad Quill (who also wrote the great season five episode "My Five Stages") deserve a lot of the credit for the quickness within this episode. However, what also makes "My Lunch" so great is that it manages to work in some excellent dramatic scenes, another factor in what makes "Scrubs" so special. In the final scene of the show, John C. McGinley delivers a performance so raw and full of pain that is further proof that his lack of an Emmy or Golden Globe nomination to this point is a crime. "My Lunch" is everything "Scrubs" should be.
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10/10
Makes me cry every time
abdel41121 November 2006
Before this episode, my favorite episode of Scrubs was the episode with Michael J. Fox's first guest appearance. I thought that there was no way a prime time television show could produce such a powerful dramatic scene during a comedy.

Man, was I ever wrong.

McGinley's performance in this episode is just stellar. Every word is toned perfectly, his chops are first class, and every ounce of his final performance is so loaded with pain and guilt that I can't help but cry every time I see it.

I must have seen this episode a dozen times. Before this, the only performance that ever made me cry was Matt Damon and Robin Williams' "Not your fault" scene from Good Will Hunting. That's the level of power that this episode brings to television.
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10/10
Scrubs
goldshine2213 April 2007
In any television programme it is extremely hard to make the audience laugh or vice versa make them emotionally touched but when a TV programme can do both them it must be something special.

This episode of scrubs I would argue to be one of the greatest episodes of a sitcom to ever be aired. I watched it and weeped. It was chilling to hear the emotional song of the Fray to the frightening realistic actions of the doctors trying desperate to save there patients. Dr Cox I feel is one of the greatest actors on the TV screen to see how much he cares for those patients whilst he is desperately doing anything possible to save them is heart wrenching and the guilt he is overcome with is unbearable to watch. You cannot describe this episode in a review as it is impossible to do so. Words can not describe the emotians you will be overcome with in that episode.

A comedy which makes you cry...you don't get that everyday.
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10/10
Such an amazing performance on everyone's part.
bookishfreak0517 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This was definitely one of my favorite episodes. Throughout the series, I was wondering when you would get to see Dr. Cox's true emotions. When something bad happens, he usually reacts with sarcasm and lashes out. You always see him take the reins and take charge of the situation. Now, you see a different side to Dr. Cox. You see his vulnerability. His humanity. McGinley definitely locked in to it, and gave an amazing performance, especially in the last sequence. When that last patient died and he let out the anger and sadness he felt, even Carla looked frightened. When his eyes met J.D's that's when I cried. It takes a lot for an actor to convey true emotion just using their eyes. They looked sad, angry, guilty and ultimately...confused. I think that Braff also gave the best performance I had ever seen. For once, he wasn't off in la-la-land, he was a serious doctor, and it was great to see that.
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10/10
Emmy Worthy
cj-12323 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Historically, hospital related dramas were always able to infuse comedy when things were too heavy to the viewers. The same in reverse isn't always an easy transition. I can't begin to think of how many hospital related comedy movies failed miserably to invoke heart wrenching moments. The few "deep moments" are typically so light in nature that the viewer can't empathize and the moment comes off as a kindergarten lesson of sorts.

Writer Tad Quill again lends his pen in achieving comedy with such a dark twist. He took a character ( Nicole Sullivan ) from a previous episode who already has a seasoned comedic persona with a dark twist - and pinned the hopes of salvation to her. Even the disease was somewhat silly - but it's effects are so devastating.

John C. McGinley's performance was nothing if not Emmy worthy. His range as an actor was put to the test. How can you go through the whole gamut of emotion and personality - and still make it believable? John C. McGinley did it and left viewers with a heavy heart. Braff shines again as well as one of the young " Super-Actors,"

Quiet kudos to the whole cast and crew... thanks for the ride.
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10/10
What makes this show rise above the rest.
tu_bac29 December 2006
Once again Scrubs manages to choke me up in multiple ways and how, if not when, I least expect it. Perhaps the most haunting part of this episode is how the director infuses the piano étude immediately after Perry's meltdown, using a song from "They Fray" entitled "How to Save a Life." How has John C McGinley yet to be even nominated for an Emmy? His acting is the strongest aspect of one of the finest shows in recent television. I laugh and I tear up repeatedly.

The only downside to watching this episode is deciding if I was more moved by this episode or "My Mistake" from Season 3. Right now it's a toss-up.
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10/10
John C. McGinnley's Performance
info-486410 February 2007
McGinnley's character Dr. Cox goes through a 180 degree transformation in "My Lunch." Throughout the history of Scrubs, Dr. Cox has consistently been a static character, especially when compared to JD, Turk, Carla, and Elliot, who develop in each episode, making their characters static. He is abrasive, brash and hard to deal with. He has a God complex and knows that he is the best at Sacred Heart. And this never changes. For those who have seen All in the Family, you know that Edith Bunker is static; she is always subservient to Archie. In one particular episode, when Archie forges he signature, she steps outside of her box and becomes irate at Archie. The viewer is taken aback when Edith stands up for her self and becomes "someone else." The writers of Scrubs do the same thing with Cox, who becomes less God-like and is allowed to suffer.

McGinnley's performance allows this episode to rank among the greatest on Television's history.

(This was written on the fly and may not be grammatically correct in some instances.)
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10/10
best episode
willfishgirlz20 January 2007
this episode was the best ever, every time i watch it it just hits me harder and harder. dr. cox's performance is the best. this episode makes me want to go out and buy every season of scrubs there is. truly a great episode. even brings a tear to the eye. scrubs has become one of my favorite shows on t.v.. i also like how it starts out with THE TODD. it's hilarious how they bring him in and out through the whole show. this episode also shows how you can make a difference in someone's life. after this episode it really got me thinking of what kind of impact i have on people. everyone should start to think what kind of impact they have on other people's lives. this episode also has twist and turns throughout it. who else would of expected rabies? no one. it definitely caught me off guard.
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10/10
The best episode of what is the best show currently on television
Wehmer14 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I will start by saying that I am a little bit biased in favour of Scrubs. Mainly because each of the amazingly well-written episodes can make me laugh to the point of hysterics, an instant mood booster. However, there are a few episodes that move past the typical ideas of a comedy series. This is one such episode.

Featuring incredible acting, foremost by Zach Braff and John C. McGinley, this episode goes from hilarity (The Todd being embroiled in the best sub-plot of the season) to sadness (JD believing he could have done more to have saved an apparent overdose patient) so quickly that it feels like a constant roller-coaster ride of emotion. Seeing the transformation of Dr. Cox, the attending who treats his patients as best he can while attempting to stay as emotionally distant from them is possible, to what becomes of him in the final minutes is monumental and is a turning point for his character. We get to see a side of Dr. Cox that we have only caught glimpses of in previous episodes.

This episode made such an impact on me that I rewatched it not once, but twice in the one sitting. The truly moving acting of McGinley, the emotional build-up, the role reversal of key characters and the excellent implementation of songs ("How to Save a Life" by The Fray is used superbly) combine to make this episode by far my favourite. Is this episode the pinnacle of the show, the greatest height that the show could possibly reach? Quite possibly. It would take an episode of unparalleled quality to do so.

  • Wehmer
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10/10
Reminds us of how Scrubs relates to us on an emotional level as well as being a comedy
TouchRainbow24 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I've got to say, the last scene with the track 'how to save a life' was perfect.

It emotionally captured me into the scene, making me feel angry and upset. The performance by McGinley (Dr. Cox) was amazing. Very powerful and a big contrast to the character he usually is like.

Not only does McGinley show his sensitivity at the end, but also gives time and advice to JD in the middle- again, because this is a contrast to his character, its touching to watch.

The best parts: How Dr. Cox lets JD help him emotionally on the couch. How he was about to eat lunch bought by JD. How we all thought that he was going to be OK, because of JD's talk. And than how it flips around where Dr. Cox goes into a more serious state than before.

The final scene includes JD, Carla and Dr. Cox. All three played an amazing role. Even though Carla didn't say anything in the final scene, her strong character where she would usually uplift someone stays quiet. She is also upset- and really scared that she can't do anything for Dr. Cox. Her innocent and sad face while Dr. Cox loses the patient and performs a powerful and superb role immensely adds to the 'sad' emotional theme.

For those who have seen this, you know what I mean when I say, you can't describe that scene in a comment.

Nicely done- my best episode.
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10/10
Episode 05.20 - "My Lunch"
dotwatts-543-20107316 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
***Warning: This review contains spoilers. If you wish to view this episode with no preconceptions, I would advise you cease reading here. Otherwise, you are welcome to read on.*** Well, I hope the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Screen Actors Guild are proud of themselves. Somewhere in the world, John C. McGinley holds aloft his statuettes from each of these organisations and...oh wait a minute. He doesn't. Why? Because for Scrubs' nine-season, 182-episode, almost nine-year duration, Mr. McGinley - a fine actor to say the least - was neglected and overlooked in every major television awards ceremony. He was not even shortlisted for the Emmy, the Golden Globe, the SAG.

With regards to entertainment award ceremonies, this is an atrocity of epic proportions. A testament to the scope of this atrocity is McGinley's powerhouse performance in "My Lunch" - an episode that, also, showcases "Scrubs" at its pinnacle and proves once and for all what great towering feats it can accomplish in a mere twenty to thirty minutes.

"My Lunch" begins as a standard "Scrubs" instalment, where we expect very little of significance to occur. Of course, it is entertaining - the exchanges between protagonists J.D. (played by the ever endearing Zach Braff) and Doctor Cox (McGinley) are extremely well-played and the Todd (Robert Maschio) is involved in an ingenious subplot and one of the greatest B-stories "Scrubs" has ever included. The return of Nicole Sullivan as Jill Tracy - an exceptionally annoying patient of seasons past - is rather comical, with J.D.'s efforts to avoid her in a supermarket being done with farcial flair. Then we're dealt a curve ball when Miss Tracy is admitted to hospital in a comatose state. Cocaine is found in her system and due to her history of depression, J.D. presumes it to be suicide and blames himself because he had not taken the time to properly listen to her.

Established at the beginning of the episode were three patients who required organ transplants. The late Jill Tracy was a prime candidate and consent was given for her organs to be transplanted into the patients. Dr. Cox is overjoyed at his success but notices J.D. not sharing in the joy of the other doctors. When asked, J.D. admits to feeling responsible for Jill Tracy's death, which prompts Dr. Cox to take J.D. to lunch and assure him that he cannot blame himself for deaths that were not his fault. He succeeds in lifting J.D.'s spirits - but upon their return to the hospital, they are dealt another curve ball when they are told that Jill Tracy died of rabies, not a cocaine overdose, and that all of the transplant patients are infected. What follows is a beautifully played sequence of events in which the transplant patients die off, one by one. The death of the third and final transplant patient is what tips Dr. Cox over the edge and sees him break down, his grief and frustration flooding from him in a beautifully played few moments of drama that ends in him simply walking away, his spirit broken, his bravado and swagger washed away in a torrent of anguish and pain. He is wearied and tired and not sure if he can go on - and the destroying events that have preceded this leave us not sure if he can go on either, knowing that the spark within him has died and not knowing if it can be revived.

John McGinley's performance, particularly in those final moments, was powerhouse. He was electrifying. The anguish is etched into his face; the grief pronounced in his words. McGinley shows us that the boundaries he has set himself as a comedy actor he can exceed in show-stopping fashion as a dramatic actor. The other cast are also exceptional. Zach Braff plays J.D. brilliantly as he attempts to assure Dr. Cox that he made the right decisions in spite of the consequences, by reiterating the very words Dr. Cox had spoke to him earlier. But he failed miserably. Even Judy Reyes' Carla cannot bring herself to bring Dr. Cox back from the brink, stunned into silence by his outpour of grief (beautifully played by Judy Reyes, who conveys her character's sadness in mere seconds using no dialogue, only subtle facial expressions).

Tad Quill's script was structured so brilliantly, in that he manipulates us into believing we are viewing a standard instalment, before interweaving the plot lines in a way that tears us from our comfort zone and thrusts us headfirst into this whirlpool of agony and despair, the sort that can dominate a doctor's every waking moment.

Medicine can be a platform for both comedy and drama and has been so in the past. But not since "MASH" has a medical series blended the two genres seamlessly, with skill and nuance. At turns, "Scrubs" will command the viewer to laugh at the misfortunes of its characters when their own foibles and idiosyncrasies have orchestrated them. But when grave errors are made that bring a character down this low, it is poignant and heartbreaking.

No comedy-drama could match "Scrubs" when it was on. Very few had matched it before and none have matched it since.

*****
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7/10
Hopefully pre transplant procedure checks have been updated!
mrwb7729 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Bit of a crazy episode with the Todd varying between straight, gay and bi.

Amazingly the transplant story is based on a real case. Definitely the fault of transplant regulations, not the doctors! You'd hope it's something that is now checked more throughly!

I found the more serious tone of the episode a bit weird as scrubs is so light hearted usually. More like an ER episode.

Enjoyed it anyway.
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10/10
Best use of a song
meganashley-0633821 November 2020
I always forget that they used The Frays how to save a life in this episode. I know that song is supposed to be greys anatomys quintessential song but sorry I think scrubs used it so much better in this episode.
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10/10
A must see!!!
kleenexsoft11 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This ranks among the top 2 episodes of I have ever seen.

I think it is a vital episode because it determines the mood of the remainder of the season and possibly some of the next. It is extremely important as far as character development goes,and you can't help but to empathize with the characters.

So much happens in this episode that I was not watching the show merely for the laughs, but also because I was genuinely interested in how the Dr Cox character would overcome the challenge he was facing.

Not only does this episode raise questions on the resiliency of the human spirit, but for it gives Dr Coz an air of vulnerability that I had never seen previously.
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10/10
A breath away from perfection
jkommeren28 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This episode starts off the way a good Scrubs episode does: Good laughs, depth and the usual Cox speeches.

But then something totally unexpected happens: Dr. Cox, the seemingly unbreakable guy, breaks. The way this is done is simply brilliant; first you'll get the narration of JD telling us he will be fine in the end (thanks to him). Still John manages to display the things going through his mind, without saying a word or pulling his usual way too obvious faces. The difference is HUGE, yet still "Coxican", and only by keeping his character static until this very moment could this have made such a great impact on the viewer, and give him the suspicion something really is wrong.

Then the beeper goes off, reality starts (and the brilliant song to go with it), and Dr.Cox crashes and burns. In no way have I ever been so stunned again and again. This is a legendary episode. It is a shame that at the very ending, when Zach is saying his final line ("the minute you go out that door .."), it becomes obvious that Zach just could not match the perfection and intensity that John had displayed for the past couple of seconds. But really, there could have been no other actor to do this.

Must watch for anyone who owns a TV, for maximum impact be sure to watch episode 19 before this one.

It really is a shame such things can only be done once in a series.

10/10
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10/10
Amazing
ikhaatpoepzak11 February 2022
I watch this episode from time to time just to remind me how incredible it is. It has been almost 16 years since I saw it first, but I'm still watching it. Together with my screwup, this is the best episode of scrubs. John C. McGinley is amazing and it amazes me he wasn't rewarded for his performance.
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10/10
How To Save A Life.....
shaunnnnn-874-23576921 March 2021
That is all..... exceptional episode. Dr. Cox runs the show.
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10/10
brilliant episode
ianbeddoes5 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
this was a brilliant episode of scrubs because it starts as a comedy but near the end it got serious and wot good acting from John C. McGinley and Zach Braff plus the song how to save a life made it serious it also brought tears to my eyes best scrubs ever for me also ave got to say again good acting from John C.McGinley he was brilliant all the way though this episode and at the end he was crying and i am going to buy this seasons box set and hopefully this episode will be on it cause it one of my favourite episode of scrubs this was the best episode for many reasons i will tell you now go on you tube to see the ending of this episode cause i just did and it made me cry again and it is also telling you a lesson make a derision even if its good or bad cause you have friends to back you up like Zach Braff did for John C.McGinley and if i were a doctor i would have done the same because he had to make a choice
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9/10
An amazing episode
markq-756547 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is so amazing, after JD feels guilty over a patient death. He starts to go down a bad path of self pity. But Dr.Cox helps him out of it by having lunch with him and giving him a speech. So after that JD makes out alright. Then Dr.Cox using the organs of a dead patient to other patients who needed it. But what did they not know was that the dead patient had rabies. So all the other patients die due to it. So Dr.Cox goes on a rage rampage and leaves the hospital feeling guilty. It was such a great moment that really made you feel Dr.Cox's anger and sadness. It was one of the best episodes of scrubs
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10/10
Oh Come on! Come On! God! God! GOD!!
ikshulnew29 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The words and the emotion and sheer pain behind them send a chill through your spine as your body shakes with the tears you just can't control. What hits harder is the source of these gut wrenching words is none other than your usually overconfident atheist/agnostic Dr Cox. This episode keeps on giving you hope and amazing comedic sequences, only to snatch them right away from you the next second. And after a while you simply can't believe that things can get even worse, that you will feel more pain, when the episode gets the darkest. Its true, pain is the most sublime emotion that connects us. This episode is a shining example to that. It is my favourite episode of televesion ever. John C McGinley's performance in the final minutes might just be the most gut wrenching pain-filled, guilt laden epic portrayal ever. And you can't help but cry. Every time you watch this.
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