I don't think they've ever mentioned where Scrubs takes place. Maybe it's supposed to be like Springfield on The Simpsons. AnyHospital, USA.

http://scrubs.mopnt.com/

From this website under FAQ I got this:


Many people have asked where exactly Scrubs is supposed to take place. The unofficial answer is: wherever you want! Aside from minor environmental clues, the producers have gone to great lengths to keep Sacred Heart's location a mystery.

I swear I've heard them say Chicago before.....I don't know what episode though

they have not gone to great lengths as far as I know. it is a hospital that is no longer in business - North Hollywood Medical Center in Century City.

Here is a great link to someone who got to be an extra in the show, he made a whole webpage about it, it is actually a good read.

North Hollywood Medical Center in Century City

Sorry, here is the link

www.justbecauseican.com/scrubs/

Originally posted by tennis4you
they have not gone to great lengths as far as I know. it is a hospital that is no longer in business - North Hollywood Medical Center in Century City.

Here is a great link to someone who got to be an extra in the show, he made a whole webpage about it, it is actually a good read.

North Hollywood Medical Center in Century City

That is a cool story.
I had read that they filmed there.
They do not try to hide where they film.

But, they do not identify the location of the hospital in the show.
No city is ever mentioned.

I do remember thinking something about California after one episode- though I don't know why.

oooooooooooooo, I see... Sorry about that! I am clueless too, kinda like the Simpsons. :) I have seen every episode about 3-4 times, I will have to look out for it now.

I do believe I have the answer to the question posted here. Let's look at some of the information we have:
Occassionaly, the characters are seen wearing coats, hats, and mittens. This effectively rules out California, I would say.
Second, Elliot makes several references to Connecticut, and even though she could have travelled across country to work, I don't think she would have.
Third, J.D.'s brother mentions a bumper pool tournament further "upstate" and is wearing a shirt that says "NYC" during that episode.
Carla is from Chicago, her "homeland."
On their own, these pieces of info don't really point anywhere, but put them all together and we're looking at somewhere in New England, probably in New York state. The only problem is that there is no snow on the ground, even at Christmas. This is uncommon, but not impossible, in the places I'm talking about.
Remember, where the show is shot is ultimately irrelevant when trying to determine where it actually takes place.
Anyone got anything else? I'd like to hear it.

Well, I would say that you looked deeper into it than most of us. I will keep my eye peeled for clues as well and see what I come up with.

Another tid bit...

I just watched an episode from Season 1 where Turk sits on a bench to eat lunch and Dr. Kelso also likes that bench and they fight over it. Kelso says he has eaten lunch at that bench every day for 30 some years. (or 20 some) Every day? Sounds like warmer weather to me.

Since Sean works at Sea World, woudn't it have to take place in either Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio? Just a guess.....

Great catch on the Sea World. I can't believe I missed that.

In "My Journey," we see that Elliot has to take a train to get to the Sea World where Sean works, so it could be a good ways away.

But that definitely puts it near one of those cities.

in season 3, ep 20 (not sure on the name, but its the one w/full body scans), JD talks about a story where they went to watch michael jordan play basketball. turk says they drove 500 miles, which means it might be 500 miles from chicago.

one could argue that they went to a game where chicago played an "away" game, which could really make the 500 miles mean nothing. but with turk wearing all that red stuff, makes me think its a home game, but it doesn't necessarily mean that though

I'm guessing it takes place in Sacramento, because in "My Malpractice Decision" Turk gets a new phone number (916)CALL-TUR[K] 916 is in Sacramento, and I'd like to think if Turk got a cell phone, he'd get it in the local area.

Sacramento is middle of California, and a decent distance from Sea World in SD, but I can imagine Eliot taking a train from Sacramento down to SD to see Sean.

Re: the 500 miles they drove to "see Michael Jordan," it probably was an away game I suppose.