AKA Mrs. Turkelton, played by the awesome Judy Reyes.

Carla's NBC Bio

I love the character of Carla and I think Reyes does a great job. She definetely looks as though she could handle some seriously emotional stuff and I was always a little peeved that the episode in which her mother dies wasn't more...impactful. Plus she's definetely the prettiest of all the girls.

I read an interview with John C. McGinley (it was linked to on the media thread, I believe) where he says he thinks that Judy Reyes might be the best actor on the show. I can buy that as a possibility, and definitely think she is the most underrated. I think she could handle more comedy than they give her (though I'm glad they don't venture too much into wacky for her, they can save that for people's fantasies) and would love to see her get some more emotional scenes. I do think she could handle that more DF, ZB, or SC.

The scene that really captivated me towards Judy Reyes being a superstar in acting was in the first season (arg, I can't remember the name of the ep) where JD and Carla decide to hang out for a day. But being a newbie and self-concious, JD brushed off her off in the hospital. The scene I'm actually talking about is when they're at the bus stop in the rain (rain + drama scenes = cool) and Carla just lays it out on JD and calls him straight on his ego and pride. The emotion that was there when Carla says those words, something like: "Admit you're better than me now or you'll lose my respect forever", still chilling to me.

Oh, I love that scene! It always amazes me that their friendship survives that episode, after JD admits that he thinks he's better. Terrific acting. I too wish Judy Reyes got more emotional scenes.

I absolutely love Carla, I think she's one of the greatest female characters around. Her attitude at the start of her relationship with Turk was really refreshing to me - how she made it clear that she was looking for the real deal, and managed to be sexy despite making Turk wait for sex. I love that she's quite an aspirational character in that she's strong and feisty and doing a great job, but she still has flaws (like her interfering) which keep her from being superior to all the other characters.

One of the triumphs of the first season. Reyes nails that moment. Gives me chills, too.

"I hate being the den-mother to you people. [sees disbelieving stares of JD, Elliot and Turk] Okay, I love it, but still: Why haven't you moved on?"

Carla's self-awareness, along with her flaws, keeps her honest and refreshing.

I agree, she's an awesome, but flawed, character. She's most likely the realistic character on the show. I do love when she gets a little wacky, though, like when she used to be known as the gossip junkie.

The episode you're all talking about where Reyes kicks ass is "My Nickname." "I'm a great nurse; you patronizing ass."

I agree that the scene in the rain between Carla & J.D. was terrific. Judy Reyes rocked the hell out of that scene.

John C. McGinley always has wonderful things to say about Judy. I remember in the commentary he did with Bill Lawrence for "His Story," they were watching the scene where Carla gives that long speech to Elliott about how she's treating Ricky Schroeder's character (Paul Flowers), but it was really about her indecision to marry Turk. Johnny C said that Judy acted the hell out of that scene and said that she's amazing, etc.

In the beginning of the first season, I didn't like Carla all that much. I thought she was annoying, and too opinionated and I thought the writers were going overboard in portraying her as the fiesty, doesn't take crap nurse. She grew on me as time went on, but it wasn't till about the 3rd season that I really started to like Carla as a character. Now I think she's awesome. I find her honest, caring, nurturing and strong, with a nice touch of the opinionated, nosey, know-it-all that I've come to love.

I agree, that scene is one of my favorite "Scrubs" moments in the history of the show. The line that really gets me is when she tells J.D., "Nine years and I never once felt bad about myself for what I do, not for one second... and then I met you."

I too didn't care as much for Carla as I did for the others when the show first started, primarily because she's never given as many opportunities to be funny as the others. She's grown on me tremendously though, and always nails whatever jokes she is given.

I don't know what my deal is right now, but that line you just posted Big Kahuna brought tears to my eyes. That scene is divine. I love going back to that first season and noticing how the writers introduced us to these characters, their good and bad with such subtlety and how the actors made them so real. Judy Reyes was stunning in that scene.

The other scene that I love love love Judy Reyes for (besides the "I'm a great nurse, you patronizing ass!" moment) is the scene where Bambi tries to give Carla some lip at the nurses' station, and Carla says "Are you trying to give me attitude, Bambi?" She tells him he's not a stock ethnic character and therefore is ill-equipped to give Attitude properly. Carla and Laverne then go into full-on Latina and Sassy Black Woman caricature mode, and it's a scream. To top it off, she turns to Laverne, and says, "Am I right, here, Laverne, or what?" and Laverne snaps back "Oh, child, please!"

Too. Damn. Funny. I love the way they skewer the stereotypes in that moment.

From last night's My Lucky Night repeat I find yet another Carla delivery of a line that's just gold:

After Turk says he switched Carla's spot to help Schmmity,
Carla: "Sure. Mm-hmm. I'm...I'm glad we could help Schmitty hit that!"

It's all in the delivery and the facial expressions.

My favorite Carla episode might be the one where J.D., Turk, and Elliot are left in charge overnight without an attending on the spot for the first time, and they're complaining about how they're the most unappreciated people in the hospital. At the end of the episode, we find out Carla traded shifts with another nurse so she could be there to support and encourage them, and they never even realize it. It's a subtle but poignant moment, because you realize she never will get the appreciation she deserves, even from her friends and fiance; but she's okay with that as long as the job gets done, because she doesn't have the ego and neediness that her doctor friends have.

My favorite Carla episode is the one where her mom dies. You see her behind the nurse station, and all she says is, 'My mom died.' But she looks so small, overwhelmed and afraid that you just want to hug her. Judy Reyes really sells that moment for me.

I loooove that episode. It was so sweet of her to do that for them. Carla is such a great character, and I love her and Turk together. And Reyes is such a great actress. On this show, I think all of the main characters (JD, Elliot, Turk, Dr. Cox, and Kelso, and of course, Carla) need to shine with comedy and drama, and they do, but I think Reyes is so flawless at handling them both. Some of her one-liners are great, but drama? Man, she makes you feel it. Outstanding.

I think what makes Reyes shine above the rest is subtlety and not just serious moments. Every one of the core actors has had moments to be subtle and has done nice work...but man, JR really just hits you with them. She's not as laugh out loud funny, as the character isn't written to be, but in a way, because of that, Judy Reyes has managed to stay entirely true to her character throughout the seasons, an area where I feel that ZB and SC have both struggled with from time to time because of the zany comedy.

I tear up everytime at the end of the episode where Carla has watched over the newbies all night.

I was thinking this thread is entirely too short and doesn't deserve to be hidden away on page 3. I know in the "My Lunch" thread we've been giving her some of the attention she deserves, but I thought I would resurrect this thread. It's kind of sad that the first word that comes to my head when I think of her is "underrated." We coo over everyone else and then, I remember, oh, what about Carla? Maybe it's because Judy is so good at her job. Maybe it's her character - since she's such a caretaker to everyone, it's like she doesn't have as much room to grow. We're all watching the wacky antics of the doctors and there's loving and loveable Carla just watching over them...

While her acting skills do hafe a great range, I have to say, my favorite line is when she and JD are talking about Rowdy. JD asks "does he smell like flowers?" she answers at first, angrily, and then descending very quickly into a softer voice, "THAT'S because I had him filled with potpourri." I just love it.

Carla is an absolutely fantastic character and is a victim of criminal underusage (I'm yet to see Season 5), who has shone from Day One. I love that she's so feisty yet tender and caring, her constant banter with Laverne is one of the highlights of the show for me.

I agree about the speech in the rain in "My Nickname". Reyes rocked in that whole episode, you could really feel for her. And I also love in "My Bed Banter and Beyond" where Carla is talking about how she was inspired to become a nurse. Her facial expressions are fantastic

Judy Reyes seems to be a really cool person, judging from the commentaries she's been in. She's a great actress, I think, she always hits things right, where as Sarah Chalke is often annoying when she's serious (she takes it too far alot), Judy always has this awesome balance. Sure, she doesn't have as many chances to be funny, but when she gets them she does really well.
I just wish she had some other work I could look at.

Also, in Season 5 she's looking totallly hot. I read that she's 38. I would've said like, 34. She's looking the best she ever has these days.

I agree - when I rank my favorite characters, I am always torn between my love for Janitor, Cox, and Carla. She, in more than three episodes, has said the line that made me tear up. She's subtle, understated, and so much more compelling than any other woman on this show.

Jumping on the Reyes Love Bandwagon. I think she's a terrific actress. The first time I saw My Nickname I bawled for hours. Okay, so just a couple of minutes, but wow. Her lines hit me right in the gut. Amazing, amazing scenes.

No one has mentioned this yet, but I love her relationship with Cox. I remember during season one, when he was in love with her, it really made a lot of sense to me. She has the strength to take all his crap but at the same time she's more caring than Jordan. Still one of my favorite quotes:

Cox: Wow, you look great.
Carla: You're not messing with me, are you?
Cox: No, but I'd like to.

Anyway, I love their scenes together. I love in the first season when they were bantering while her mother lay in the hospital bed with a broken leg and I love it when they're both worried that they're too old in My Friend The Doctor. But I think my absolute favorite is when she ran out of her wedding reception and he went and found her and gave her a pep talk and then kissed her nose. That was the most adorable thing ever. They keep walking each other through all these great moments (her wedding, him getting older, her having children) and I think they probably wouldn't be so sane without each other.

I totally agree. The Cox/Carla relationship is my favourite of all the pairings. I love the episode when Cox goes too far and blames Carla for not stopping him and they realise they have to work on their friendship and at the end it shows them playing pool together. I love how as Cox says "actually Carla totally gets me"

I love this bit from "My Catalyst" season three

Dr. Cox: You know, Carla, I gotta say your--your makeup today does not in any way make you look like a desperate bowling alley prostitute.

Carla: What's with the sweet talk?

Dr. Cox: Oh, maybe Kevin being here is making me regress. I mean, you realize that back when I was a resident, I was a kind lad.

Carla: You get out

The best part is the other half of that quote: "which is why I've been systematically trying to drive her away."

I love the season one episode where he's trying to impress her with his sexy bod:

Cox: The fact of the matter is you could pretty much bounce a damn quarter off my butt, you know, if you... if you wanted.
Carla: ... I don't have any change.

Carla's awesome.

Aw, hell yeah. And I love how quickly she can cut through Cox's BS, and is one those genius people his therapist talked about in "His Story", who he actually listens too. Like in "My Fruit Cups", when she predicts him getting back with Jordan (even before Jordan herself comes back):


She can give as good as she gets, which he respects.

I love Carla and Dr. Cox's friendship, but I wasn't a fan of their love triangle with the medical student (Kristen?) in Season 1. There was already more than enough unrequited love between J.D. and Elliot. I'm glad the writers felt the same way and quickly abandoned this awkward storyline.

On another note, Judy Reyes cracked me up with her "He did!" line after Turk describes the surgeon eating his own face. It's not that funny in print, but her delivery was hilarious.

Don't get me wrong, I love the character of Carla and Judy Reyes as an actress, but she was way over the top this season. I think it was the way she was written, but something just was off this season.

She was great in the early seasons though.

Judy Reyes is quoted in the new US Weekly in the Loose Talk section:

"I don't know if I'm more surprised by this [award] or the fact that Jessica Simpson is a Latina." On a tan and dark-tressed Simpson at the NCLR American Latino Media Arts Awards, Scrubs' Judy Reyes

Hee.

One of my favourite Judy Reyes moments which I haven't seen mentioned yet: in season 1 when she thinks Turk is going to break up with her (when he's actually going to tell her he's in love with her). She tells him to just do it so she can go home, and the look on her face is perfect - she's clearly devastated but trying to hold it together and be tough. Marvellous stuff.

This is obviously an unpopular opinion here, but I really don't like Carla. I think she's a vital part of the show and plays well as the "glue" that sticks the rest of the cast together, but I don't find her funny and I've noticed that she adds very little enjoyment to my viewing. I don't blame Reyes for this at all; I think she's a fine actor. I actually blame my dislike for the character solely on the writers. Carla's role as the feisty and sassy Latina is shoved down my throat so damn much. She doesn't tolerate men's crap, I GET IT. I got it the time before, and the time before that...and the time before that...and that... I just think the writers overdo this image too much; so much that I think Carla could very easily be perceived as nothing more than a stereotype if it weren't for Reye's portrayal of her.

Excellent point, spendcigarette. Are there any women on this show that aren't either bitches or pushovers? (Well, I wouldn't call Laverne a bitch, but she definitely falls into Sassy, Big & Beautiful territory...again, stereotypical.)

I think the Carla character gets a pass (at least from me) for the "stereotypical" sassy Latina woman role because of how goofy and funny she can be sometimes. Also, whenever Turk or someone else gets to call her crap, she fully acknowledges it with a good amount of humility.

She'll never be the "*snaps fingers* Nuh-Ah girlfriend" character that lesser comedy shows will do with a Latina woman.

Plus, in "Her Story II" they had Carla admit that she played up her Latina roots to guilt the other characters into doing what she wanted. I think that kind of self-awareness is definitely subverting the stereotype.

It's an interesting point about the women being sassy/bitchy/strong vs. pushovers. While I can see how it would irk some people, that's why I like this show - that the women are more assertive than they are passive.

When you look at main female characters and the way they deal with life's situations, they either have to be strong, or weak. It seems like only impermanent characters cover the middleground, probably because they don't have the big storylines. You might have someone over-the-top like Jordan, or you might just have someone like Season 3 Elliot who just isn't going to take crap anymore. Molly Clock seemed to deal with things in an assertive way without being overbearing (I think they wanted her to be more permanent).

spentcigarette, ITA. Even though I can't imagine Scrubs without her, I find her to be the weakest link, comedy-wise. Even though hers isn't meant to be outlandish like JD and Elliot, or monologue-ish like Cox I find her on the show to be overbearing, with her "sass" shoved down our throats. Judy Reyes is a great actress (i.e. the "Admit you think you're better than me, or you'll lose my respect forver" rain scene with ZB) however, she just doesn't endear me to Carla the way I do to the others.

Does anyone know if Reyes is pregnant in real life? Also, have we found out if the baby is a boy or a girl?? I missed the last episode and I am on pins and needles here!

I'm almost positive she is not pregnant in real life, she's currently doing an off-Broadway play.

We haven't found out yet if the baby is a boy or girl.

Check out "Oz" where she appeared in several episodes as the wife of a prison guard and/or Season 2 of "The Sopranos" where she played (shudder shudder) Paulie's girlfriend.

Anyway, I think she did especially strong work this past season and would be thrilled to see her land an Emmy nomination.

For me, Carla is essential to the show since she's effectively the straight person in the show. My theory is that for a comedy to work, especially one filled with zaniness, you need a person outside the zaniness to react to all that. Among other reasons, Will and Grace went downhill once Will stopped being the 'straight man' on the show.

It's pretty much a coin toss on any given day whether Carla or Turk is my favorite character. I think Judy and Donald both do amazing jobs, far underrated by the critics and press.

No! If she reads this (or her assistant does) get well soon Judy!

And I will not admit I browse People's website, I found the link on Defamer.

Holy crap, a fractured pelvis? Poor girl! That's terrible. Get well soon, Judy!

I'm surprised she even went to work. You'd think someone would be in too much pain to even move after breaking something in their body.

Maybe an arm I can see, but doesn't a fractured pelvis hurt if you do anything requiring more movement than blinking? I'm in awe at the amount of dedication it would take to work after that sort of injury.

I have to say I'm disappointed in Carla after "My Musical." I know staying home/going back to work is a woman's choice...blah, blah, blah. But after all we had to listen to about how bad she wanted a baby, she can't stand to be with it for a year? Apparently, really wanting a baby means hanging out with it for 6 weeks then handing it off to someone else to raise. It just seemed out of character to me. I know they need her to work at the hospital for the show's sake, since the show is about Sacred Heart, but still...

I see it as 2 things:

1 - She's still nervous about relapsing into PPD, and possibly being a threat to the baby, so she figures work is a good way to shift her focus and avoid obsessing over the baby.

2 - It's a smart move by the show's writers to not make this season BABY-BABY-BABY thing a big shark-jumping deal. Out of sight, out of mind. Although I like seeing Mocha Cub.

Awww this thread needs some love.



ITA. I go back on forth on my opinion of Carla but I truly do believe she is an essential part of the show and I especially appreciated her presence and words of wisdom to JD and Elliott (who I wanted to bitchslap) in the most recent episode. She grounds some of the "crazy" for me, and I've grown to love the Turks (although years ago part of me was curious about the Dr. Cox/Carla relationship).

And I know this is really old news, but Judy Reyes was absolutely phenomenal in "My Long Goodbye". She absolutely blew me away, and nailed that last scene.

I like Carla, and I love how she's written. On any other show, she'd be Sensible Miss Perfect, which is all right for a while but gets really old really fast. Instead, Carla has her own flaws (control freak issues, can't make a joke to save her life) and Judy Reyes brings a lot of depth, vulnerability, and humor to the character.




I love this moment because it just shows that on Scrubs, no one is safe from making a fool of themselves from time to time or being told off. I love that Bill Lawrence makes it so no one is safe from looking silly, at least from time to time.