Scrubs' Best Guest Stars, Ranked

"Scrubs" is a sitcom unlike any other. It's got some elements of a workplace comedy like "The Office," the strange, screwball fantasy skits of "Ally McBeal," and something entirely different that makes it stand above other dramedies, courtesy of the talent behind the camera — creator Bill Lawrence and his team of writers — and a stellar cast in front of it, including Zach Braff, John C. McGinley, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke. One thing the show almost always nailed was its weaving in of interesting characters and guest stars from all levels of fame.

It's difficult to narrow down the best of the best guest stars on "Scrubs," though we should give honorable mentions to surly patient Mr. Bragin (Alan Ruck), talkative-yet-tragic EMT Denise Lemmon (Molly Shannon), thrifty hypochondriac Harvey Corman (Richard Kind), and outrageously rude pediatrician Dr. David Norris (Christopher Meloni). But there are some performances that were not only comedically on point, but which also provided the series' main cast with ample opportunities for character growth and a good stretch of their dramatic acting chops.

Seasons 1 and 2 saw some of the show's best single-episode guest stars and Sean Hayes is no exception. In Season 1, Episode 7 ("My Super Ego"), Hayes features as Nick Murdoch — another medical intern who has begun to edge out J.D. as the most promising talent in the pack. J.D. spends the episode coming to terms with this, as Nick gets chosen by Dr. Cox for a research paper, becomes Dr. Kelso's (Ken Jenkins) new favorite, and forges ahead with the treatment of an ailing 7-year-old boy, Peter, despite constant setbacks. Just as J.D. realizes that Nick is too nice to hate and decides to fall in line behind him, Nick breaks down.

J.D. and Elliot (Chalke) find Nick after he learns that, once again, Peter hasn't responded to his course of treatment. Nick tells J.D. and Elliot: "There's nothing I can do. Nothing works. Now his parents want to talk to me. What am I supposed to tell them? 'Peter lived a good, long 7 years?'" Hayes gives a great performance as someone who just can't deal with the dark side of being a doctor, and it's an important episode for J.D. and audiences to see that even the strongest and most competent people can struggle sometimes.

Jill Tracy, a recurring Sacred Heart patient throughout the show, suffers a downward trajectory on "Scrubs." When we first meet Jill in Season 1, Episode 10 ("My Nickname"), she appears to be thriving — she has a bunch of friends, a demanding career, and a bright personality. Eventually, Elliot, who sees a lot of herself in her patient, realizes that Jill is overwhelmed and needs to slow down, or else she'll really hurt herself. When Jill returns in Season 1, Episode 22 ("My Occurrence"), it seems like she's taken Elliot's advice to heart and has quit her job and gotten engaged.

However, when we next see Jill in Season 3, her life is a mess. She's been dumped by her fiancé, is living in a pit, and has no job. By the end of the episode, J.D. and Dr. Cox realize that Jill is sick because she attempted to take her own life. Nicole Sullivan portrays Jill with a manic energy that is easily readable as something that can help and absolutely cause a crash and burn. Her performance as Jill showcases both her comedic skills and dramatic chops.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

How cool is it that "Scrubs" got Dick Van Dyke to guest star? Despite the fact that Van Dyke was already in his late 70s when he appeared on the show, he still has a fantastic dance sequence in which we learn that his character, Dr. Townshend, is beloved by everyone in the hospital (and that the actor is still almost as spry as he was in "Mary Poppins"). At first, it seems like Dr. Townshend will be particularly important to J.D.'s story, as J.D. starts Season 2, Episode 14 ("My Brother, My Keeper") with a rotation onto the veteran doctor's service, but it's Dr. Townshend's role as a foil for Dr. Kelso that becomes the emotional punch of the episode.

Despite being a favorite of all in the hospital, it soon becomes clear to J.D. that Dr. Townshend is still using medical procedures and treatments that have become obsolete. When J.D. explains to Dr. Kelso that Dr. Townshend forced him to perform one of those outdated procedures, Dr. Kelso is angry at first, but soon realizes that his friend isn't keeping up. Dr. Kelso himself has to attend countless conferences to stay up to speed, and Dr. Townshend explains that he just "doesn't have the energy for all of that stuff." Dr. Kelso unfortunately has to let Dr. Townshend go.

Even though Elliot talks a lot about her past lovers, family, and friends throughout "Scrubs," she is very rarely the one to bring a new face into the Sacred Heart community. However, we do meet her parents a few times, played by Lane Davies and Markie Post (they're pretty much always played for laughs when they actually show up). That's why it's so enjoyable to see Keri Russell star as Elliot's college friend, Melody O'Harra, in two episodes of Season 6. Melody is everything that Elliot wasn't in college — confident, outgoing, and tons of fun, and she's remained much the same. J.D. finds himself jealous of the time Elliot makes to hang out with Melody while she's in town. After Keith Dudemeister (Travis Schuldt) proposes to Elliot, J.D. makes desperate attempts to hook up with Melody.

Melody barely gives J.D. the time of day and when she confronts him about his persistence, J.D. realizes how devastated he is by Elliot's engagement. Bonus points to Russell and the show for reuniting her with fellow "Felicity" alum Donald Faison, who have fun chemistry when they're on screen together.

Dr. Cox reveals an emotional side we don't often see when he's visited by Paige in Season 5 — the only other time we do is at the arrival of his best friend (and Jordan's brother) Ben, played by Brendan Fraser. In Season 1, Episode 22 ("My Occurrence"), Ben comes to the hospital for some stitches and jokes around with his best bud. There are some great laughs, especially when Ben tells Jordan that he was forced to choose between her and Dr. Cox after the divorce, to which Jordan replies, "I'm your sister!" Ben is zany and outgoing, unlike Dr. Cox, except for their mutual propensity to always commit to the bit.

J.D. soon discovers that Ben has leukemia, which crushes everyone, particularly Dr. Cox. In the following episode, he works up the courage to support Ben through his treatment and his hesitance in being there is one of the first times J.D. understands that Dr. Cox isn't a perfect doctor or mentor. Ben's full emotional impact doesn't come until Season 3, Episode 14 "My Screw Up"), however, when he returns to the hospital for Jack's first birthday party and to have his first appointment since entering remission. We see Ben spend most of the episode following Dr. Cox around the hospital, and it's chilling to discover at the end of the show that Ben has died, and Dr. Cox has been hallucinating all of the encounters as a result of his shock and grief.

Speaking of Dr. Kim Briggs, Elizabeth Banks is another excellent, long-term guest star who is introduced at the end of Season 5. J.D. is initially infatuated with the charming Sacred Heart urologist and it's not hard for viewers to fall for her as well. Banks weaves herself into the fabric and energy of the show effortlessly — Kim is one of J.D.'s only love interests that is able to keep up with his fast-paced and zany energy, as well as Turk's friendly ribbing, Carla's authoritative sarcasm, and Elliot's shrill monologues and still dish out her own gags (she's especially good at charming, backhanded compliments).

Kim becomes much more than a love interest for J.D. when she discovers that she's pregnant with their child. Despite the fact that they've only just started dating, J.D. and Kim decide to keep the baby and soon commit to a long-distance relationship. It inevitably fails, mostly because Kim literally lies to J.D. about having a miscarriage only to run into him at a medical conference just months later, but J.D. can't forget her as he has done with past girlfriends. Their relationship doesn't last, but they amicably co-parent, and J.D.'s growth is evident in his ability to be friendly with an ex-girlfriend; something he'd only been able to accomplish with Elliot in the past, and that took a lot of work.

Tom Cavanagh's turn as Dan Dorian is probably one of the best parts of "Scrubs." Viewers first meet Dan in Season 2, Episode 6 ("My Big Brother") when he visits his little brother, J.D., on his way to deliver a car cross-country. J.D.'s dynamic with Dan is similar to his dynamic with his father. Dan is a fratty, over-confident, rude man who peaked in high school, while J.D. is the sensitive, intelligent little brother that Dan never treated well. It's intriguing to watch the characters interact, and it's easy to imagine what their childhood was like. Dan visits his brother many times throughout the show and he has the most interesting character growth outside of the main cast.

J.D. spends a lot of time throughout the show both nurturing his brother's ego and telling him the cold hard truth about his life, and ultimately it is J.D.'s encouragement that forces Dan to get his life together by the end of the show. Dan's best moments, though, are those where he quietly comes through for J.D. It is Dan who convinces Dr. Cox to prevent J.D. from losing his kind heart to the morbid reality of being a doctor, and Dan (along with Dr. Cox) ultimately finds a way to support J.D. through the death of their father despite his own struggle.