In discussing his new, "perfect" cell phone number on a recent "Scrubs" episode, surgeon Chris Turk (Donald Faison) remarked that "If you call Turk, you get Turk."

Turns out that's true in real life as well. Or at least it usually is, anyway.

Fans and curious TV critics who dial Turk's phone number, 916-CALL-TURK, get a taped message from Faison, in character, thanking them for calling and encouraging them to keep watching "Scrubs." "I couldn't get to the phone right now, but you've called Turk," the message says. "And that's a great thing, I'll tell you that much."

The show's cast is having some fun with the number too. One caller who dialed the number last week found himself listening to a live voice on the other end: "You've called Turk, Dr. Kelso speaking."

Flustered by this turn of events, the caller mumbled something about having the wrong number and hung up as Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) chuckled.

Turk's message also notes that "Scrubs" is moving from 8:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays in the near future and sometimes includes other updates.

Turk's number is at least the second real phone number to be included in a prime-time TV episode this season, instead of the fake 555 numbers usually used in TV and movies. Earlier this season, Luke (Scott Patterson) left his cell number, 860-294-1986, on a message for Lorelai (Lauren Graham) in a "Gilmore Girls" episode.

The number leads to a message urging support for a new children's facility at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital.