My favorite TV comeback of 2026, INCLUDING Shrinking, INCLUDING Severance (I hope), INCLUDING Ted Lasso and INCLUDING ridiculous Christmas movies to come, is far and away…
(long dramatic pause, too long, YEARS long in fact)…
SCRUBS SEASON 10!
One time, years ago, when Erika and I were laughing about Scrubs at work (again), one of the veterinary technicians we worked with said to us, “Those aren’t your real friends you know.” Well, yeah, we know.
Erika and Baby Joy in 2009! “We’re gonna be friends forever…just like amoxicillin and clavulanic acid!” “Scrubs Season 6, Episode 6, “My Musical”
But also, it does feel a little bit like home. Like if we switched out the human patients for dog patients, it is a little bit our lives.
Erika and Baby Joy
Scrubs is my all time favorite show, and I have watched it on a continuous loop since it started.
So happy to see you again friends! (That is, actors who play characters we enjoy watching. We KNOW Andrea.)
ANYWAYS, when I moved to the newly renovated cat-free wing of the hospital, the change I made that I am the most proud of is The Ass Box.
The Ass Box!
“Do you get it?” I asked everyone. Only Sarah got it. I need you to watch old Scrubs reruns kids!
The Ass Box has nothing to do with Scrubs, which, while hilarious, can be wildly inappropriate. It is just the name I have borrowed, not the plot!
The name references a box at Sacred Heart Hospital that Dr. Turk assumed was the lost and found box. Laverne said, “There’s not a lost and found box. There’s an ass box.” (Scrubs Season 1, Episode 5, “My Two Dads”)
Now we say the name of our box in Laverne’s voice, which is hilarious to me every time.
When we bring the box into exam rooms with clients, I make sure there are enough gloves to cover the box’s name so as to maintain the illusion of professionalism, but now that you are reading this dear clients, I suppose that ship has sailed.
I don’t know about all this…
This cute little fake wicker box holds everything we need to express anal glands, and, no word of a lie, it has saved me HOURS in the past six months.
The Ass Box! My proudest accomplishment - It was, in fact, my best moment in medicine.
Every time I would express anal glands in the past, I would review the list of the four needed supplies in my head and gather them from the four corners the hospital. When a dog is nervous, you want him or her waiting on the exam table with their technician friend as short of time as possible. And I always felt badly about the time the anal gland expression materials scramble took.
We’re gonna do what now?
1 - Most importantly, you need gloves. I remember when I was a baby child in medicine, Dr. Rohrig would say that he did not always have time to grab gloves. Even at the time, that sounded fishy. (haha) PEOPLE THERE IS ALWAYS TIME FOR GLOVES.
2 - Lubricant
3 - Baby wipes
4 - Grooming spray
Also, a dog.
Also, do not smile. Thank you Dr. Krapfl! I use this tip every day!
Anyways, this cute little box with the hilarious (to Sarah and me) name has made my life easier, happier and more efficient.
REAL LIFE FRIENDS - just like my shows - once I love you, you are stuck with me :)
From the top - Erika now, Russ and Erika at Street Dogs, Erika and Baby Joy (I KNOW - I just want to show you again!) And Erika when she, Lu, Russ and the kids - Tiny Blue and Tiny Abby - supported my wild dream of walking Ebony, Noodle the Poodle and Baby Joy all around Omaha <3
And on a mostly unrelated note, I am so very happy Scrubs is back. I missed you friends <3