(S08E16) We're in the homestretch now, folks. Things are advancing in the world of Sacred Heart. And when characters who've been living more or less the same lives for eight years all of a sudden get new jobs, urges to return to old ones, or pangs to move away, you know a finale is a-comin'.

It's kind of too bad, since this season has been pretty satisfying for the most part. As Bill Lawrence and his crew have gotten down to basics, the show has gotten funnier, more personal, and more dramatic (when drama is called for). In fact, this has probably been the best season since season four, and it's good to see that the show still has hilarious episodes like this one still in them.

Oh, can I take a second to give ABC's online player some high praise? I missed the show last night (I taught a seminar in NYC), so I watched it online this morning. The player takes forever to load, but its full screen picture is fantastic! No jumps or skips, and, unlike some players, no blockiness even though it claims to be HD. It's almost as if I was watching it on my TV, and that's the way every online player should be. Wonder how ABC was finally able to get theirs to work (I remember how sucky the player was when it was introduced).

OK, my DVR's guide ruined the Sean surprise. Still, it was nice to see both Scott Foley and Elizabeth Banks back into the fold, though I can't imagine them dating each other (Sean was so perfect for Elliot... oh, well). It seems like that the antagonism he and J.D. had towards each other has increased over the years ("You said good!" "No one cares, Sean!"), but it makes sense. Good to see at least some sort of peace was reached, though, and as much as J.D. wanted to be "weiner cousins" (ewww), I'm glad to see Sean look at him like he was crazy.

Though there seems to be lots of "cuzes" around the hospital, no? Turk and an orderly, Snoop Dog doc and an older doc (Beardface? Didn't catch a close glimpse... anyway, it was with Laverne... at the same time. Yikes), and Janitor and Kelso. God knows how many "bajingo sisters" are floating around that hospital.

We end the episode with J.D. wanting to move closer to Kim and Sam. Knowing that the finale isn't going to be about J.D. and Elliot (Lawrence has talked about that a number of times), I'm curious to see if Eliot decides to go up there with him right away or decides to stay at Sacred Heart for awhile. But either way, it's the most mature decision the man has ever made. He wants to be a full-time dad, and he just can't do that from a distance. So, if it means being separated from loved ones (Turk, not Elliot), so be it.

So, Turk is now the cheif of surgery. Seems kinda young for the job. But even Bobbo admitted that Turkelton was the best all-around surgeon there, and everyone likes him, so why not? Even if it did take Carla leveraging her friendship with Cox to get him the job. Though, Cox has always had a special brand of hatred for "Gandhi," so maybe having her fight his battles for him isn't such a bad idea. Heck, I'd never be too proud to have Carla fighting for me; she generally wins.

More fun stuff:

• Minimal intern action this week, though I liked how Bobbo called Sunny "the foreign one."
• Bob wanting to go back to being an active physician was not a surprise; heck, I figured he'd go open his own practice as soon as he was "retired" by the hospital.
• Wow, Janitor really swung and missed with that "Chief" hat, no? He wanted it to be embarrassing, but Turk loved it. At least he made one for himself.
• No Ted this week. Other than that, all hands on deck.
• I just loved the scene in the cold open with Elliot's impulsive car sex. But I also like that she knows that the pervy bicyclist likes to take pictures and doesn't care. This is from the same person who can't be talked to through the door while she poops. What a strange, wonderful character Elliot is.
• Janitor threw out his raccoon blanket for Lady. How nice of him.