[Editor’s note:  Rob comes to Team Hellions through a family connection.  Our interests are both similar and vastly different.  Rob is a voracious reader, watcher of a myriad of geeky shows, and can hold his own in any quest the DM throws at him.  He has also already proved himself to be an invaluable member of the Team.  Join Rob for weekly Netflix discussion and maybe we can get him to discuss what he’s reading, his thoughts on wrestling, or the controversial yet popular topic of ghosts.]

Comfort food is a staple of the American diet that has often been snubbed by many other countries.  While not only providing sustenance for the human condition, it provides rejuvenation for the human soul.   Whether its mac & cheese or fried chicken, these foods provide nostalgia that keep bringing us back to them.  There is another form of comfort food that we all consume in the form of various media.  These include movies, TV shows, video games, music, books, and even social media forms like Twitter and Facebook.  While not fulfilling the nutritional value the human body needs, they serve the soul its blend of comfort.

As I write this piece, one of my favorite comfort foods is playing in the background, streaming from Netflix.  While I have many different comfort foods on Netflix, the one that I keep coming back to is Scrubs.

Scrubs, for those that don’t know, was a television show that ran from 2001-2010 and followed the lives of various doctors around a hospital known as Sacred Heart.  It stars Zach Braff as Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian, a young attending physician.  Throughout the show, we follow J.D. as he grows up as a person, as a doctor, and are privy to the various fantasies that run through his head (and often times make the shows best moments).  His ultimate goal is to live up to his mentor’s expectations.  He is supported by a wonderful cast including Donald Faison of Clueless fame as Dr. Chris Turk, a young surgeon and J.D.’s best friend and Sarah Chalke (who took over as Becky for a couple of seasons on Roseanne) as Dr. Elliot Reed, another attending physician and a romantic interest for J.D. as well as your resident basket case.

Other notable mentions include Judy Reyes as Carla Espinosa, nurse, know-it-all and love interest to Turk; John C. McGinley as Dr. Perry Cox, the sarcasticly cynical doctor, aforementioned mentor and ultimate role model for J.D.  There is also Ken Jenkins cast as Bob Kelso, the even more cynical Chief of Medicine, and Neil Flynn, the Janitor of Sacred Heart who lives to make J.D.’s life a living hell at the hospital, but does it in cheesy and hoaky ways that make many great comedic moments on the show.

The one thing I have liked about Scrubs over all other medical shows, including ER and Grey’s Anatomy, is that it’s approachable on a human level.  Perhaps it could be due to my dislike for Patrick Dempsey (for further reference, watch Transformers: Dark of the Moon), but Scrubs is more down to earth, examining themes such as relationships (with friends, families, and romantic interests), death, and a deep and thorough examination of the self.  I highly recommend that you watch this show, it will keep you thoroughly entertained, at least for the first eight seasons.  Sorry it had to be said.  The ninth season, I have no clue where they were going with that.

Other notable comfort food mentions include Legend of the Seeker and various reality based paranormal programs.  Legend of the Seeker is based on Terry Goodkind’s “Sword of Truth” series and follows Richard Cypher, Khalan Amnell, and Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander in their adventures across the midlands in their quest to defeat Darken Rahl, the lands terrifying tyrant and later in season two The Keeper the “Lucifer” of Goodkind’s world, sworn ruler of the Underworld.  For those who have not read a Goodkind novel, this fantasy TV series is a great introduction to the characters of the “The Sword of Truth” series.  Unfortunately this show was canceled after two seasons, the main reason being the failure of the network it appeared on (which i was never quite sure which one it was on, the CW or whatever the CW becomes on the weekends) and the time slot it was shown on.  Sadly, if you’re trying to sell a show to people, Saturday at five in the evening is not the best time to air a great show such as this.  I HIGHLY recommend Legend of the Seeker and Goodkind’s “Sword of Truth” series.

The other notable mention is actually multiple mentions in the same genre.  As a paranormal investigator, from time to time I enjoy watching paranormal shows, and the Netflix instant queue is full of various supernatural goodies.  The first is Ghost Adventures. This show follows around Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin and their various investigations of notable paranormal hot spots.  I’ve never had the nicest words to say about these gentleman, mainly their incessant hollering during investigations is unprofessional.  But the reason that most of us keep tuning in is for the evidence.  They get some of the best evidence of any paranormal group out there today. Strangely enough they aren’t actually an official paranormal group.  Another notable show in this genre is Paranormal State.  This show follows around Ryan Buell and his group the Paranormal Research Society.  I’ve heard a lot of people bash this show, but it addresses issues that most paranormal shows don’t.  Issues such as the effect that these paranormal events are having on families and the possibility that the spirits themselves need help.  A revolutionary idea that I take to heart during my paranormal investigations.

I hope you all find solace in your comfort food.  Whether its the terribly adapted version of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, Grey’s Anatomy, or Doctor Who.  Or the comfort food show Man v. Food, which invariably is about comfort food, may they serve their purposes for you.