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Where Do You Think We Are?: Ten Illustrated Essays About Scrubs
Ten Illustrated Essays About Scrubs
90 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2020
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914 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 26, 2020
I honestly cannot believe that Shea Serrano published this collection of essays on Scrubs while I was already in the midst of my first Scrubs rewatch since high school. No piece of media has ever fallen so perfectly into my hands when I was the most ready to accept it (possible exception being The Gunners right after I had my brain destroyed by It: Chapter Two).
This is 4.5 stars rounded down, and the only reason I did that is because Shea is deeply and offensively wrong about his ranking of the songs in My Musical. He also tends to be a little too forgiving of Elliot, and I could have used an essay that reckoned with her a little bit, since during this rewatch she is the character I most often look at and think, “Oh no... do I /hate/ you?”
That being said, I wept my way through this, because Shea Serrano has the most uncanny ability to speak directly through the page to the reader as if you are just siting and having a drink with him. Also, I love Scrubs, and all he has to do with this PDF is go, “That part, right?” and I’m on the floor. I feel so grateful to him for writing this.
This is 4.5 stars rounded down, and the only reason I did that is because Shea is deeply and offensively wrong about his ranking of the songs in My Musical. He also tends to be a little too forgiving of Elliot, and I could have used an essay that reckoned with her a little bit, since during this rewatch she is the character I most often look at and think, “Oh no... do I /hate/ you?”
That being said, I wept my way through this, because Shea Serrano has the most uncanny ability to speak directly through the page to the reader as if you are just siting and having a drink with him. Also, I love Scrubs, and all he has to do with this PDF is go, “That part, right?” and I’m on the floor. I feel so grateful to him for writing this.
September 18, 2023
I love Shea Serrano and I love Scrubs (both the TV show and the TLC song) so this was an obvious must read for me. Shea’s such a freaking talented writer. He can bounce between hilarious to sincere like it’s nothing. Which is probably why he wrote about Scrubs, one of the best silly/serious sitcoms ever.
Shea often includes a variation of “what famous _____ would you want at your dinner table” or something like that. I think Shea has clinched his seat at my famous people dinner table.
Shea often includes a variation of “what famous _____ would you want at your dinner table” or something like that. I think Shea has clinched his seat at my famous people dinner table.
April 3, 2020
Fun and in-depth essays if you love scrubs!
September 20, 2020
Fun must read for any Scrubs fan. Quick (it’s a 90 page PDF) and very enjoyable.
July 17, 2020
I grabbed this PDF because I recommended the Scrubs rewatch podcast to my colleagues at work, and one of them (who's never seen Scrubs) recommended this book to me as he'd seen it on Twitter. This review is dedicated to him.
I enjoyed this book, but just to be super clear for anyone who's thinking about buying it: it's touted as a book about Scrubs and it's not really a book about Scrubs. There are so many asides, so many digressions, and so many long-winded illustrations that have way more to do with basketball than they do with Scrubs. And the author knows this (case in point: the thing gets so disjointed that at one point the author actually has to put a line of bold type that says "OKAY, START READING HERE. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SCRUBS AGAIN" just to give you a place to skip to, which he clearly knows most people will want to do). One essay is literally just a list of YouTube videos related to Scrubs and things he wants to point out about them, and one is literally just an email thread argument between he and his wife. 😂 I think this is really more of a book about the author, Shea Serrano, and various things that his Scrubs-related observations can tell you about him. Not an uninteresting read! Not at all. But for a short book to be so off-topic so much of the time, it leaves little in the real substance department where Scrubs is concerned. But what did I expect? Philosophical discussions about the deeper meaning behind symbolism at Sacred Heart? A searing character investigation of Dr. Jan Itor and the psychological toll his malpractice took on his patients? A sweet reflection on season 9's finer points, as even though I don't like it as much as the other seasons, I still think it's a great show when you evaluate it on its own when you compare it to other shows that were on at the time rather than comparing it to the other seasons of Scrubs?
So that being said (the fact that this book is barely even about Scrubs), I still thought it had a lot of heart, a lot of honesty, and a lot of chutzpah. I smiled and nodded a lot while reading it. And I sure as heck can tell that Mr. Serrano is just as much of a head-over-heels, frothing-at-the-mouth rabid fan of Scrubs as I am. And I respect that.
I enjoyed this book, but just to be super clear for anyone who's thinking about buying it: it's touted as a book about Scrubs and it's not really a book about Scrubs. There are so many asides, so many digressions, and so many long-winded illustrations that have way more to do with basketball than they do with Scrubs. And the author knows this (case in point: the thing gets so disjointed that at one point the author actually has to put a line of bold type that says "OKAY, START READING HERE. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SCRUBS AGAIN" just to give you a place to skip to, which he clearly knows most people will want to do). One essay is literally just a list of YouTube videos related to Scrubs and things he wants to point out about them, and one is literally just an email thread argument between he and his wife. 😂 I think this is really more of a book about the author, Shea Serrano, and various things that his Scrubs-related observations can tell you about him. Not an uninteresting read! Not at all. But for a short book to be so off-topic so much of the time, it leaves little in the real substance department where Scrubs is concerned. But what did I expect? Philosophical discussions about the deeper meaning behind symbolism at Sacred Heart? A searing character investigation of Dr. Jan Itor and the psychological toll his malpractice took on his patients? A sweet reflection on season 9's finer points, as even though I don't like it as much as the other seasons, I still think it's a great show when you evaluate it on its own when you compare it to other shows that were on at the time rather than comparing it to the other seasons of Scrubs?
So that being said (the fact that this book is barely even about Scrubs), I still thought it had a lot of heart, a lot of honesty, and a lot of chutzpah. I smiled and nodded a lot while reading it. And I sure as heck can tell that Mr. Serrano is just as much of a head-over-heels, frothing-at-the-mouth rabid fan of Scrubs as I am. And I respect that.
November 28, 2020
I’ve wanted to read this collection of essays since hearing about it on the Scrubs rewatch podcast. It was on sale for Black Friday so I finally bought myself a copy. Shea cleverly analyses what makes Scrubs so special. Definitely one for fans of the show. Even just reading about the “where do you think we are?” line felt like a punch to the gut.
March 25, 2020
A rainy day delight.
March 26, 2020
Shea is a beautiful human being, and Scrubs is one of the best TV shows ever made. It all comes together beautifully in this collection of essays, if you care even a little bit about either you have to read it! Highly recommended.
March 9, 2022
Any fans of scrubs or anyone who has a slight interest in insight on scrubs should seriously consider reading these essays.
July 12, 2020
Scrubs is one of my favourite shows of all time and Shea writes about it in the manner of a genuine fan. If you like your Dr Cox rants or a huge Dr Acula fan, this is for you!!
October 3, 2021
I bought this book because it was promoted on the "Fake Doctors, Real Friends" podcast. It sounded great and I was looking forward to reading.
Unfortunately, I found it a bitter disappointment -- and an expensive one as I paid US$20 for it (and I'm not in the US).
Why didn't I like it? For me, the content has little to no substance. Good grief, one of the essays -- "My Dinner", where he picks fictional doctors to share a table at a fictional dinner -- is only very peripherally about Scrubs. If I buy a book that says it's about Scrubs, I kind of expect it to be about Scrubs.
I didn't read all of it; the disappointment was too great.
Now, let's be fair. This is MY reaction. It won't necessarily be yours. There's a lot of glowing reviews on Goodreads so it might work great for you. And it's beautifully laid out, and the illustrations are good.
It just really did not work for me.
Unfortunately, I found it a bitter disappointment -- and an expensive one as I paid US$20 for it (and I'm not in the US).
Why didn't I like it? For me, the content has little to no substance. Good grief, one of the essays -- "My Dinner", where he picks fictional doctors to share a table at a fictional dinner -- is only very peripherally about Scrubs. If I buy a book that says it's about Scrubs, I kind of expect it to be about Scrubs.
I didn't read all of it; the disappointment was too great.
Now, let's be fair. This is MY reaction. It won't necessarily be yours. There's a lot of glowing reviews on Goodreads so it might work great for you. And it's beautifully laid out, and the illustrations are good.
It just really did not work for me.
July 11, 2020
Loved Scrubs, didn't think this PDF did a great job of justifying how great the show is. It mostly came across to me as a bunch of random thoughts Shea has about the show. Didn't think it was organized well and I thought that the observations and thoughts he had about the show were mostly surface value and didn't dig that deep. My favorite part of the book was actually hearing his wife, Larami, in their email exchange in the last essay. I think I'd rather read a book she wrote about Scrubs. She seemed to have some interesting things to say.
December 27, 2020
If you've never watched Scrubs then this is not the read for you (spoilers!), but my recommendation would be to watch all 8 seasons 😉 and then read this, because I'm going to bet it puts all your thoughts and feelings together in a way that will make you feel all the feels!
I love love Scrubs. It is EASILY in my top 5 shows of all-time (not season 9 - we don't talk about that), probably top 3 if I'm being honest. I own all the seasons, and I bought/was gifted most of them as a broke ass college student, that's how much I love it. Scrubs is by far the most accurate portrayal of what it is actually like working in a hospital; I speak from experience.
This book talks about all the things I love about the show and does it (mostly) with humor. I laughed alot, I cried a little, and now I have this incredible urge to both binge Scrubs and purchase more from this author, because I re-he-heally appreciated all the easter-egg nuggets Shea dropped in there. 😂 Heck, I even read the thank-yous which I virtually never do because even those were funny!
I love love Scrubs. It is EASILY in my top 5 shows of all-time (not season 9 - we don't talk about that), probably top 3 if I'm being honest. I own all the seasons, and I bought/was gifted most of them as a broke ass college student, that's how much I love it. Scrubs is by far the most accurate portrayal of what it is actually like working in a hospital; I speak from experience.
This book talks about all the things I love about the show and does it (mostly) with humor. I laughed alot, I cried a little, and now I have this incredible urge to both binge Scrubs and purchase more from this author, because I re-he-heally appreciated all the easter-egg nuggets Shea dropped in there. 😂 Heck, I even read the thank-yous which I virtually never do because even those were funny!
July 13, 2020
Serrano is a good writer, I just don't get why media essays like this exist. There's barely any substance to it. The essays are casual and playful, not especially deep nor striving to be. Which would be fine if it didn't feel like the essays were actively resisting digging deeper. Basically the point of every essay is "I like this show because it made me feel feelings and is funny," which... like. Okay. Sure, I feel that way too. I feel like anybody who watches Scrubs and has spoken to another fan at least once already understands that, and so why would I want to read an essay collection about it?
It's oversaturated with anecdotes that barely cohere to the content and just feel like padding (though I do like some of his personal stories). The energetic writing style is funny until it's overused and becomes grating. It reminds me of Dan Ozzi, only Ozzi knows when to stop and get into the substance.
I expected more, was all. I don't need it to engage with critical theory or anything, but something a bit more than fan gushing. Comparisons with other shows, connections to media at large, breakdown of tropes, deep dive character analyses, criticism of its more problematic aspects (he briefly mentions the blackface and calls out The Todd, but no mention of the grossly transphobic jokes? really?), that sort of thing.
It's oversaturated with anecdotes that barely cohere to the content and just feel like padding (though I do like some of his personal stories). The energetic writing style is funny until it's overused and becomes grating. It reminds me of Dan Ozzi, only Ozzi knows when to stop and get into the substance.
I expected more, was all. I don't need it to engage with critical theory or anything, but something a bit more than fan gushing. Comparisons with other shows, connections to media at large, breakdown of tropes, deep dive character analyses, criticism of its more problematic aspects (he briefly mentions the blackface and calls out The Todd, but no mention of the grossly transphobic jokes? really?), that sort of thing.
July 3, 2020
Shea Serrano’s writing makes me wanna write essays for leisure.
I’m on Scrubs overload and loving it. I watched Scrubs in its entirety once (a decade ago). I’m rewatching it now, while listening to a podcast hosted by Zach Braff and Donald Faison where they also rewatch the show(which Shea has been a guest on), and I’m reading this compilation of essays. This has led Scrubs to overflow into my dreams at night. Haha.
This collection of essays is absolutely incredible. Shea is a super fan and it comes through in his writing. There is so much charisma. I loved every portion of this, but the part where Shea and Larami have email exchanges about JD is my favorite.
Such a fun read! Also, the illustrations are SO good!
I’m on Scrubs overload and loving it. I watched Scrubs in its entirety once (a decade ago). I’m rewatching it now, while listening to a podcast hosted by Zach Braff and Donald Faison where they also rewatch the show(which Shea has been a guest on), and I’m reading this compilation of essays. This has led Scrubs to overflow into my dreams at night. Haha.
This collection of essays is absolutely incredible. Shea is a super fan and it comes through in his writing. There is so much charisma. I loved every portion of this, but the part where Shea and Larami have email exchanges about JD is my favorite.
Such a fun read! Also, the illustrations are SO good!
December 29, 2020
the leveled up version of developing your entire teenage personality around the jokes in cracked dot com articles about movies you've never seen is paying $15 to support an independent writer you like who wrote 10 essays about a show you've never watched, right?
(i genuinely really liked this! -1⭐ because there were like 2 essays with some glaring typos/formatting errors that lowkey made me think i somehow downloaded an incomplete version of the .pdf. but +1⭐ right back because i ended up googling where i could watch scrubs like 2 essays into the book and i am now, in fact, watching scrubs for the first time as i write this) (thanks for the heads up about the episode where i liked being able to emotionally prepare myself for being devastated)
(i genuinely really liked this! -1⭐ because there were like 2 essays with some glaring typos/formatting errors that lowkey made me think i somehow downloaded an incomplete version of the .pdf. but +1⭐ right back because i ended up googling where i could watch scrubs like 2 essays into the book and i am now, in fact, watching scrubs for the first time as i write this) (thanks for the heads up about the episode where i liked being able to emotionally prepare myself for being devastated)
March 10, 2021
the essay about laverne’s death took me to a place i am uncomfortable in but needed to be. shea’s insights and quips about one of my all-time favorite shows are, at their best, as enjoyable as the show itself. shea’s writing is insightful and digestible, his charisma shows in his writing, and reading these essays gives you the feeling of having a conversation with a best friend.
i needed this collection of essays even if i didn’t know it, and shea’s unique brand of writing and absolutely perfect use of footnotes was a great way for me to explore the emotional boundaries that Scrubs forced me to experience.
i needed this collection of essays even if i didn’t know it, and shea’s unique brand of writing and absolutely perfect use of footnotes was a great way for me to explore the emotional boundaries that Scrubs forced me to experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2020
Another banger from Serrano! I have read most (if not all of) Serrano's books and collections of essays. His latest collection, on the TV show Scrubs, is fantastic. I read one of the free essays on The Ringer to preview which prompted me to purchase the entire PDF. If you liked Scrubs and Serrano's other words, you won't be disappointed.
My only wish is that it came in book form rather than a PDF. I'll pay the money!
My only wish is that it came in book form rather than a PDF. I'll pay the money!
December 11, 2021
Shea Serrano has fast become one of my favorite essayists.
My first encounter with his work was an interview on the Scrubs podcast, Fake Doctors, Real Friends, where he promoted this book of ten essays about one of my favorite sitcoms of all time. So, once I remembered to order it from his site, I devoured it in a matter of days. His insights, his attention to even little details, are almost as moving as the show itself. Well worth the money spent.
My first encounter with his work was an interview on the Scrubs podcast, Fake Doctors, Real Friends, where he promoted this book of ten essays about one of my favorite sitcoms of all time. So, once I remembered to order it from his site, I devoured it in a matter of days. His insights, his attention to even little details, are almost as moving as the show itself. Well worth the money spent.
March 26, 2020
Really enjoyed it and he thoughtfulness of the essays. Just wish there was more! I feel like there was more to dive into and write about, especially room to go more in depth about Elliot since I feel like her character wasn’t given as much attention as the other main ones. But overall a great and quick read if you’re a fan of scrubs!
May 2, 2020
Another set of fantastic essays by Shea Serrano! As a fan of the show Scrubs, this is absolutely a must-read. He touches on so many of the aspects of the show that make it great, namely its ability to meld comedy and heartfelt emotion. And in so doing he does the same himself, particularly with the chapters about Carla/Laverne and the chapter for which the collection is named.
October 18, 2023
She’s Serrano’s essays about films and television make me feels the way when reading them the same way Scrubs made me feel while watching it: comfortable, joyful, and sad. His writing about Scrubs perfectly mirrors the same style of Scrubs while also invoking the same emotions the show does. Great read for big fans of the show!
March 29, 2020
Another brilliantly hilarious and insightful look by Shea into a piece of TV history that I truly cherish. I’m excited to begin my umpteenth rewatch of the series. 2021 is the 20th anniversary of its debut. How is that possible? Shea is the man.
April 11, 2020
Sat down to read maybe one essay, ended up reading the whole thing. Fair warning: I cried multiple times while reading these, which, given how often I cry watching Scrubs, shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did.
April 15, 2020
I really like Shea’s writing style and I love scrubs so I had to get this. It’s enjoyable and a light read during a time where that’s hard to find. Worth checking out if you like scrubs or Shea’s previous books
July 10, 2020
Must read for any Scrubs fans. The author writes like a buddy talking to you in a bar which makes for a very easy read. The way he describes his favorite Scrubs moments could have been directly from my brain.
March 23, 2020
Much like Scrubs itself this was funny and beautiful and sad and moving. Shea is the absolute best.
April 9, 2020
A perfect and hilarious read for anyone who watched Scrubs.
June 27, 2020
This was so good. I LOVE SCRUBS.
June 29, 2020
Really easy read, and a good testament to one of the best shows ever made.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews