Season 5, Episode 3 - My Day at the Races
January 10, 2006

Turk and Carla are quickly losing patience with J.D. living with them. Elliot is in need of a roommate because her fellowship suddenly ended when a cure was found for the disease she was researching and the landlord has raised the rent on her apartment. Turk suggests that J.D. and Elliot become roommates again, but both of them pooh-pooh the idea and Elliot is still trying to work on her relationship with Jake (Josh Randall). J.D. is also worried because he's about to turn 30 and he hasn't accomplished nearly as much as he thought he would at this point.

Cox invites him to participate in a triathlon with him, Doug and Ted. Never mind that he hasn't trained at all, J.D. goes full speed ahead. The first event is swimming in the freezing ocean and J.D. doesn't have a wet suit. He finishes the race, barely. He runs into Elliot, who needs to talk. She doesn't know how to fix her relationship with Jake, but she doesn't want to let him go. J.D. tells her that he's not right for her and that deep down, she knows it. She later gets the courage to break it off with Jake.

Turk's patient, Melissa Mathis, wants him to perform her appendectomy under hypnosis instead of anesthesia. Carla urges him to use the hypnosis technique, while Dr. Cox argues strongly against it. Carla is offended and upset when Turk chooses to take Dr. Cox's side over hers, his wife. But Turk changes his mind when he realizes that he needs to do something unconventional to insure that he gets one of the 4 intern slots that Kelso will be assigning later on.

The hypnosis surgery draws a lot of press coverage, making Turk even more nervous. Turk almost backs out of doing the surgery, but Carla forces him to do it. Initially, the surgery goes well, until Melissa lets out a scream halfway through the procedure. Despite that, Kelso calls the attempt at something different a success.