(S07E10) So next week, according to NBC, is the "Scrubs finale," which means that only 11 episodes will have aired for what was going to be the show's last season. Epguides.com lists a 12th episode, but I'm guessing it either never got made or it'll be saved for the eighth season on ABC.

Anyway, tonight was definitely an episode full of transitions. Kelso's on the golf course. Cox is the interim chief of medicine ("Chief Dr. Cox," as he orders everyone to call him). Carla wants another baby, especially now that Turk's a Uniball. Ted's got some confidence for once, and is challenging the authority of the Janitor. And J.D. and Elliot are starting to look more and more like a couple, especially when they're cooing over little Sam Dorian.

The show's been getting good lately, which worries me a bit. Why? Well, because of something Alan Sepinwall mentioned last week that's been rolling around in my head this whole time: when the writers knew that the show was approaching the end, they buckled down and cranked out good episodes with plenty of character development. But now that the finish line has been extended, will this string of good episodes give way to a bunch that are marking time?

I certainly hope not, because I'd love to see more episodes like this one. Yes, this one was a bit more slapsticky and absurd than normal (and that's saying a lot for Scrubs), but most of it worked. From the PA announcer that sat in the break room just to massage Cox's ego, to the wacky interplay between Cox, J.D., Jordan, the Janitor, and Turk as they all solve their individual problems, the episode had a very Python-ish feel. But it was well-executed, so it doesn't much matter.

So, it's Turk that wants the prosthetic testicle, not Carla. Makes sense. Man needs to feel whole, know what I mean? That "Ball Mart / Hand Warmer" fantasy of J.D.'s started well, but lasted far too long, something he acknowledged right before we smashed into the opening theme: "I've gotta stop with the long fantasies. they're never worth it." The rest of the episode was quite meta, with J.D. acknowledging how he uses other people's problems and solutions to help him in his own life, pretty much every week. Meta isn't something this show does a lot of, so it's surprising to see it whenever it happens. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. In this week's case, the show's batting only .500 in the meta-joke department.

I think we're finding out how Ken Jenkins is going to stay connected to the show, via fantasy sequences and the Plomox suit. Ah, Plomox ... remember all those conferences / vacations Kelso took that were paid for by Plomox's manufacturer? Wonder if he's going to get embroiled in that mess at some point.

More fun stuff:

• It's great to see Ted get some balls, from refusing to get Cox coffee to the Brain Trust / Brain Bunch revolt. Wonder if his fate will be the same as that last janitor that was the victim of Janitor's palace coup...
• Wonder why we haven't seen Jordan a lot lately. It's been good to see Jordan playing off Perry and everyone else for the last few weeks. Hopefully, we'll see her more next season.
• The gag that J.D. and Elliot pulled was basic, but funny. It was good to see the two of them bonding, though. It's almost as if they're maturing into a real couple that will just eventually hook up naturally, as opposed to just getting together at the end, like Ross and Rachel did on Friends.
• J.D. told Turk that it "takes a lot of ball" to stand up to Carla. Heh. I love one testicle jokes.
• When the hell did Ted start working at Sacred Heart? I'd imagine it was in the '80s, though his vest and hair suggested otherwise.
• J.D. expresses sincere best wishes towards the Coxes during of little J.D.'s shunt removal, and Jordan and Cox still want him to stop talking. Cold ... but funny. "I've tried for seven years ... can't be done."
• Is it me or are both Sarah Chalke and Judy Reyes getting even better looking as they get older?

So next week's "finale" seems to have a medieval fantasy sequence, a tough patient, Kelso saying that J.D. and Elliot are suspended (is Kelso back?) and other fun stuff. Since it wasn't meant as a finale, there will be a lot of loose ends, but they'll be picked up in the fall. All I want is for next week -- and next year -- to be funny. Is that too much to ask?