Carla Espinosa
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Carla Espinosa, RN is a fictional character in the American
comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...
''
Scrubs Scrub(s) may refer to: * Scrub, low shrub and grass characteristic of scrubland * Scrubs (clothing), worn by medical staff * ''Scrubs'' (TV series), an American television program * Scrubs (occupation), also called "scrub tech," "scrub nurse," ...
'', portrayed by
Judy Reyes Judy Reyes (born November 5, 1967) is an American actress, model, and producer, best known for her roles as Carla Espinosa on the NBC/American Broadcasting Company, ABC medical comedy series ''Scrubs (TV series), Scrubs'' (2001–2009), as Zoila ...
, who appeared on the series from October 2001 to May 2009. Carla appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except three Season 8 episodes, "My Happy Place", "My Cookie Pants", and "My Full Moon". She worked as the head
nurse Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...
at Sacred Heart Hospital, in which the main action of the show takes place. Judy Reyes was a regular cast member for the first eight seasons, and is the only original cast member not to return for season nine, though her character was still mentioned. According to
Donald Faison Donald Adeosun Faison (; born June 22, 1974) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his leading role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC/ NBC comedy-drama '' Scrubs'' (2001–2010), and a supporting role as Murray in both the film '' Cluel ...
, who plays Carla's husband
Christopher Turk Christopher Duncan Turk, M.D., commonly referred to by his last name "Turk", is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama '' Scrubs'', played by Donald Faison. Turk appeared in every episode of the series except three season 8 episodes, ...
, Carla becomes a stay-at-home mother following the birth of their second daughter, explaining the character's absence from season nine.


Profile

Judy Reyes describes her character as "sassy, no nonsense". Reyes relied on her sister, a real-life licensed nurse, as an inspiration for character, and to address technical questions Reyes had about nursing and medicine. After watching an episode, Reyes' sister commented, "You stole my character!", referring to Reyes emulating her personality."Scrubs - Judy Reyes Keeps Talking"
YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
. June 5, 2009. Retrieved April 15, 2013.


Family life

Carla was born in the
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...
but moved to
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
while still a child. All her family is from the
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...
, despite Turk's frequent and incorrect assertions that she is
Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
or Puerto Rican. It is revealed in Season 5 that she is 36 years old. It is also revealed in the episode " His Story" that Carla's father ran out on the family when Carla was a child. Carla starts dating
Christopher Turk Christopher Duncan Turk, M.D., commonly referred to by his last name "Turk", is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama '' Scrubs'', played by Donald Faison. Turk appeared in every episode of the series except three season 8 episodes, ...
(
Donald Faison Donald Adeosun Faison (; born June 22, 1974) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his leading role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC/ NBC comedy-drama '' Scrubs'' (2001–2010), and a supporting role as Murray in both the film '' Cluel ...
) in the show's second episode, "
My Mentor The first season of the American comedy television series ''Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on October 2, 2001 and concluded on May 21, 2002 and consists of 24 episodes. ''Scrubs'' was created by Bill Lawrence who wrote the pilot as well as three oth ...
". They remain together for the entire run of the show. Carla marries Turk in the season finale of season 3, "
My Best Friend's Wedding ''My Best Friend's Wedding'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by P.J. Hogan from a screenplay by Ronald Bass who also produced. The film stars Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Rupert Everett. ''My Best Friend' ...
". She and Turk go through a trial separation in season 4 after Carla discovers that Turk is still talking to his ex-girlfriend without telling her he is married. The situation gets worse when she and J.D. share a drunken kiss. Following some couples' therapy and some frank discussions with Turk and J.D., however, the couple reunites. Despite these issues, Judy Reyes believes the characters were made for each other, and set an example for other couples on the show to emulate. Soon after reconciliation, they start trying to have a child. Initially, they are unsuccessful, but she finally gets
pregnant Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring gestation, gestates inside a woman's uterus. A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Conception (biology), Conception usually occurs ...
toward the end of the season after several episodes are spent on Turk and Carla worrying about their respective fertility. Carla gives birth to a girl, whom they name Isabella, in the episode "
My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby The sixth season of the American comedy television series '' Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on November 30, 2006 and concluded on May 17, 2007 and consists of 22 episodes. The series moved to Thursdays at 9:00 pm as a part of NBC's Comedy Night Done ...
". J.D. becomes the godfather of the child. In "
My Coffee The sixth season of the American comedy television series ''Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on November 30, 2006 and concluded on May 17, 2007 and consists of 22 episodes. The series moved to Thursdays at 9:00 pm as a part of NBC's Comedy Night Done R ...
" when J.D. enters the room that Carla's in with Isabella in her arms, she points to him and says "Isabella, this is the man you will be competing with for your father's love." In " My House", it is revealed that she suffers from
post-partum depression Postpartum depression (PPD), also called perinatal depression, is a mood disorder which may be experienced by pregnant or postpartum women. Symptoms include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability, and extreme cha ...
. She spends most of the following episode in
denial Denial, in colloquial English usage, has at least three meanings: * the assertion that any particular statement or allegation, whose truth is uncertain, is not true; * the refusal of a request; and * the assertion that a true statement is fal ...
about the condition, but finally gets help after a frank discussion with
Jordan Sullivan The following is a list of characters from the NBC/ABC American comedy-drama '' Scrubs''. Character appearance summary ;Legend : = Main cast (credited) : = Recurring cast (4+) : = Guest cast (1–3) Main characters John Michael Dorian ( ...
, who had also suffered from the condition. Carla announces that she is pregnant for the second time in " My Absence". She has two sisters and a brother named Marco ( Freddy Rodriguez) who hates Turk, and who for years pretended he was unable to speak
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...
in front of Carla. Her mother, who also hates Turk, dies in the episode " My Drama Queen".


Relationships with other characters


J.D.

Carla affectionately nicknames J.D. "Bambi" in season 1, and the nickname sticks. She claims that of all the interns she has worked with, J.D. is the only one whose approval she actually cares about, to the extent that she feigns an interest in
black-and-white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white to produce a range of achromatic brightnesses of grey. It is also known as greyscale in technical settings. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, ...
photography Photography is the visual arts, art, application, and practice of creating images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is empl ...
so he would think she is intelligent. She is highly protective of J.D.; when Dr. Cox (
John C. McGinley John Christopher McGinley (born August 3, 1959) is an American actor. His best known roles include Perry Cox in '' Scrubs'', Bob Slydell in ''Office Space'', Captain Hendrix in '' The Rock'', Sergeant Red O'Neill in Oliver Stone's ''Platoon,'' ...
) tears into him in " My Nickname", she is quick to come to his defense and tell off the senior doctor. Unfortunately this leads Cox to publicly embarrass J.D. again, which in turn leads J.D. to blow up at Carla. This results in a heated (albeit brief) fight between the two. Carla and J.D. are close friends; he even gossips with her "like one of the girls". They even use
Mardi Gras Mardi Gras (, ; also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the final day of Carnival (also known as Shrovetide or Fastelavn); it thus falls on the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. is French for "Fat Tuesday", referring to it being ...
beads to signify their friendship and trust shared, almost like a friendship heart necklace. Once J.D. and Carla share a drunken kiss, which leads to some tension between each other and Turk, though this is resolved soon afterward. In the
series finale A series finale is the final installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. It may also refer to a final theatrical sequel, the last part of a television miniseries, the last installment of a literary series, ...
, a flashforward scene suggests that Carla and J.D. will be friends long into the future, and that Carla and Turk's daughter, Isabella, will get engaged to J.D.'s son Sam.


Elliot

Early in the series, Carla doesn't feel particularly close to
Elliot Reid Elliot Reid-Dorian, M.D. is a fictional character played by Sarah Chalke in the American comedy-drama ''Scrubs''. She appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons, except for two Season 8 episodes, " My Last Words" and " My Lawyer's ...
(
Sarah Chalke Sarah Louise Christine Chalke (; born August 27, 1976) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her starring roles as the second Becky Conner in the ABC sitcom ''Roseanne'' (1993–1997), Elliot Reid in the NBC/ABC medical comedy series '' Sc ...
) but they later become best friends. Series creator Bill Lawrence has said on
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...
commentaries that this mirrored Reyes' and Chalke's real-life relationship. Though they are close, their relationship is not without friction; Carla sometimes resents Elliot's neurotic perfectionism and (unintended) condescension about her family background. Elliot in turn is often annoyed by Carla's bossiness. In " My Lucky Charm", the two get into a vicious "
catfight Catfight (also girl fight) is a term for an altercation between two women, often characterized as involving scratching, shoving, slapping, choking, punching, kicking, wrestling, biting, spitting, hair-pulling, and shirt-shredding. It can also be ...
" (much to the delight of the male employees) over what had started as a disagreement over plans of theirs that were flaked on by both Carla and Elliot. Elliot is a bridesmaid at Carla and Turk's wedding. Before the ceremony, Carla says that she feels closer to Elliot than she does to her own sisters. In "
My Cold Shower The sixth season of the American comedy television series ''Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on November 30, 2006 and concluded on May 17, 2007 and consists of 22 episodes. The series moved to Thursdays at 9:00 pm as a part of NBC's Comedy Night Done R ...
", she fantasizes (along with all the other main characters) about marrying Elliot and comments that life would be simpler if she did.


Dr. Cox

Dr. Perry Cox has always had a soft spot for Carla, as she is not afraid to stand up to him. Cox claims that Carla is the only one who 'gets him' and is often very protective of her. During the first season, it is revealed that Dr. Cox has feelings for Carla, but since she is with Turk, he does nothing about it. Before Carla started going out with Turk, she and Cox went on a date together that did not end as he would have liked, but nevertheless strengthened their friendship. Even though Cox detests Turk, he admits that the two of them belong together. When Carla confesses how fearful she is of being a parent, Cox tells her that he knows she'll be a terrific mother. Carla is godmother to Dr. Cox and Jordan's daughter, Jennifer Dylan.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Espinosa, Carla Scrubs (TV series) characters American female characters in television Fictional American nurses Fictional characters from Chicago Fictional Dominican Republic people Fictional immigrants to the United States Television characters introduced in 2001