Written by series creator Bill Lawrence and directed by Michael Spiller, it originally aired on ABC, on December 1, 2009.
Set around 18 months after the eighth season's finale, it is the first episode of Scrubs following the show's ninth season revamp, and marks the introduction of the show's new medical school setting while introducing several new main characters to the cast, with most of the previous main characters returning only to be featured in supportive or guest starring roles.
The episode begins by introducing the changes made to the show; the former Sacred Heart Hospital has been torn down and a new one has been built on the campus of Winston University Medical School.
Meanwhile, three new medical students are introduced: Lucy Bennett, a self-conscious loner keen to make new friends; Cole Aaronson, an arrogant rich kid whose father funded the new hospital, and Drew Suffin, a 30-something med school dropout trying again after a decade away.
Cox responds by saying he will instead focus all of his enmity at Drew, henceforth demanding high results from him and ordering him to wear a paper "#1" sign everywhere he goes.
[2] Newsday agreed, saying "a change of scenery has done Scrubs a world of good... the new students are funny", before praising the performances of John C. McGinley and Donald Faison.
[3] TV Guide wrote that the show "has lost none of its endearing ability to mix earnest sentiment with sardonic gag-centric humor.
USA Today, however, called the new season "a deadly, deal-driven mistake that takes a network that has made great sitcom strides forward one unfortunate step back.