Scrubs: My Tuscaloosa Heart

Episode score 9.1 Superb

My Tuscaloosa Heart

  • 18.
  • Season: 1
  • Episode: 18
  • First Aired: 3/12/2002
  • Prod Code: S117
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EPISODE OVERVIEW

5 Reviews | 246 Votes

J.D. has a patient who's rude to him and the nurses and eventually dies from cancer. J.D. feels awful for not giving him his full attention and worries maybe he could have saved the guy if he was nicer to him.
Meanwhile, Elliot is convinced that Dr. Kelso is the one singing a song called "Tuscaloosa Heart" on a tape given to her by a patient who claims he went to college with Bob.
And Dr. Cox finds himself trapped in a love square: He's falling in love with Kristen Murphy, his intern, just as his ex-wife reappears demanding sex – and there's also his crush on Carla. Read full recap »

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CAST AND CREW

Writers:
Janae BakkenMark StegemannDebra Fordham
Director:
Lawrence Trilling
Stars:
Donald Faison (Dr. Christopher "Chris" Duncan Turk)
John C. McGinley (Dr. Percival "Perry" Cox)
Judy Reyes (Nurse Carla Espinosa)
Ken Jenkins (Dr. Robert "Bob" Kelso)
Sarah Chalke (Dr. Elliot Reid)
Zach Braff (Dr. John Michael "J.D." Dorian)
Recurring Role:
Christa Miller-Lawrence (Jordan Sullivan)
Cody Estes (Young J.D.)
Neil Flynn (Janitor)
Guest Star:
Jack Shearer (Aaron Simon)
Eric Saiet (Jerry Donovan)
Steven Shaw (Mr. Sloane)
Kelli Williams (Kristen Murphy)
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TRIVIA

  • In the scene where J.D. is asking Dr. Cox about Mr. Simon, Dr. Cox's raincoat is zipped down to his chest in one shot, then the camera switches to J.D., and in the next shot Dr. Cox's jacket is zipped all the way up. edit »
  • Turk claims that Dr. Kelso uses the word: "Bunny" in his lyrics because no-one writes love songs with the name: "Enid". However, there is a song by the Barenaked Ladies called "Enid". edit »
  • Featured Music:
    "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    "My Tuscaloosa Heart" by Ken Jenkins edit »
  • In the flashback where J.D. walks into his parents room at night while they're having sex, the "father" speaks and it's obvious that it's Dr. Cox doing the voice. edit »
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NOTES

  • Title Explanation: "My Tuscaloosa Heart" refers to the song Dr. Kelso supposedly wrote called "Tuscaloosa Heart". edit »
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QUOTES

  • J.D.'s Narration: I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm akay, I'm a kay. I'm a kay? What the hell does that mean? edit »
  • Dr. Cox: No, wait a minute - you don't have to go... you know, if... if you don't want to.
    Jordan: Oh my God, are you really that lonely?
    Dr. Cox: Kinda, yeah.
    Jordan: All right, I'll toss you a quickie, but no talking. edit »
  • Jordan: That was really great and all, but next time would you do me a favour and not look at me in the eye, it really gets in the way of what I come here to do.
    Dr. Cox: Then, for God's sake, stop turning around!
    Jordan: Oh, that's classy. edit »
  • Kristen: Moving furniture with that nurse you have a crush on. That's your "hundred percent"?
    Dr. Cox: No, no, no, no, the hundred percent actually came well after that. Look, her boyfriend was there the entire time, and if you want to know the truth, bailing on you is far and away the best thing that could have happened because it made me realise that I was sabotaging myself again. What, if you don't believe me, ask Jordan. Would you please tell her what I said to you right before you left this morning.
    Kristen: Left where?
    Dr. Cox: Uhh... um... uh...
    Kristen: You're unbelievable. edit »
  • Jordan: See, I told you when he saw us together he'd fold his arms and do the teeth thing.
    Kristen: You know, he did the same thing the first time I saw him naked.
    Jordan: No way, same here.
    Kristen: Really?
    Jordan: Yeah.
    Dr. Cox: Ohh-kay, this is beyond horrible.
    Jordan: Would you relax, Perry, I just came by for a board meeting and I wanted to meet the new lady in your life... and warn her.
    Kristen: Thank you.
    Jordan: You're welcome.
    Dr. Cox: Kristen... this is my emotional baggage. Baggage... Kristen. edit »
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ALLUSIONS

  • Tuscaloosa Heart
    The episode title is a reference to the song "Tuscaloosa Heart", which is played during the episode. edit »
  • Elvis: Dr. Kelso's sarcastic rant about his past life as a singer is an allusion to the life of Elvis, right down to "dying on the crapper." edit »

REVIEWS

See all reviews for this episode »
Show Score 9.2 superb
  • Show Statistics
  • 178 of 17,819 Rating Rank
  • 804 Reviews
  • 24,726 Tracked by
  • 17,978 Votes
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