Summary
TheScrubsshowrunner continues to assure fans that the medical sitcom will soon return, and his recent comments suggest the revival will correct the show’s final season, which concluded in 2010. Ofall nine seasons ofScrubs, the ninth ranks comfortably last, tainting the perfect ending that the previous season had offered the story. When the show returned for its final outing, it took on a very different form, with the cast and setting being almost completely reworked. Elements of the final season were good, but overall, it was a shadow of what the sitcom had been.
Every doctor inScrubsoffers something new to the formula, but not all were available to continue contributing as regularly as they once did for season 9. With the subtitle ofMed School,Scrubs' final season was a thinly-veiled rebootof the sitcom - although it wasn’t a hard reset. Zach Braff’s John “JD” Dorian appeared far less frequently and eventually vanished. Although other characters like Turk and Dr. Cox remained as mentors, the focus was instead on a new crop of medical interns as they began their journey. The showrunner wants to do this again, albeit to a lesser degree.
All 7 Scrubs Episodes Directed By Zach Braff, Ranked
Zach Braff directed some of the most memorable Scrubs episodes during his time on the show and is responsible for some of the most iconic moments.
Bill Lawrence’s Scrubs Revival Will Balance New Characters With The Original Cast
Scrubs seasons 8 & 9 will probably act as a loose framework
Lawrence’s stance on aScrubsrevivalremains resolute: “We’re definitely going to do it.” Although previous mentions ofScrubs' comeback have teased a movie, the showrunner seems intent on bringing the sitcom back in its original format. Speaking withLadBible, Lawrence confirmed, “I don’t want to do it as a movie, but I’m definitely open to doing a couple more years of that show.” He went on to say thathis desire is not just to catch up with the originalScrubscastbut also to introduce younger doctors, similar to how the final two seasons of the show did.
“It would not only be fun to see where the characters I used to love are now, but also to see what a young doctor nowadays looks like, as far as the kids coming in behind them, you know.”
Scrubsseason 9 wasn’t the only installment of the original run that brought younger doctors into the fold.Scrubsseason 8 also introduced fresh faces for the original cast to take under their wings.Lawrence struck a perfect balance in season 8but tipped the ratio in the wrong direction when he increased the number of new characters for theMed Schoolepisodes. Thankfully, it sounds as though the showrunner’s approach for theScrubsrevival will be more similar to season 8 than season 9.
It Wouldn’t Make Sense To Revive Scrubs Without The Original Cast Playing Huge Roles
The original Scrubs cast can’t take a back seat in the revival
Lawrence’s idea of creating new characters for theScrubsrevival is a good one, as it makes sense that many new medical professionals will have risen through the ranks since the show ended in 2010, but also that brand-new doctors and surgeons would be embarking on their careers. However, if the original cast members don’t have massive parts to play whenScrubscomes back, thenLawrence would simply be repeating the same mistakethat causedMed Schoolto crash and burn.
Hopefully, when theScrubsrevival draws to a close once more, it can give all the characters - new and old - a fitting ending.
Hopefully, when theScrubsrevival draws to a close once more, it can give all the characters - new and old - a fitting ending.Scrubsseason 8’s finale was the perfect way to bid farewell to the sitcom, with the deeply emotional montage of what JD’s future might hold still holding up to this day. WithScrubsseason 9 not getting the chance to match the quality of this conclusion, the revival can correct the error by giving the story an ending that’s at least equal to season 8’s last episode.
Every Song In Scrubs' Musical Episode, Ranked
The Scrubs musical episode contains several songs that have stood the test of time, but some of the numbers are inevitably better than others.
Some cast members didn’t return forScrubsseason 9, most notably,Judy Reyes’s Carla Espinosa never appeared in theMed Schoolrun. In addition,Neil Flynn’s Janitorwas in it just long enough to explain his future absence. With the show now being off the air for so many years, the time is right for every capable cast member to return and capitalize on the nostalgia that’ll inevitably be generated.
Why Interest In A Scrubs Revival Has Increased
The Scrubs rewatch podcast has been pivotal in putting the show back in the public eye
Compared with some of its contemporaries likeFriendsandHow I Met You Mother,Scrubsnever quite reached the same lofty heights of success as othersitcoms that aired in the 2000s. Paired with the fact thatScrubsseason 9’s ending was so disappointing - leading to its ensuing cancelation - there was a long period where there was never really a huge demand for the show to come back for another run. That all started to change in 2020, whenScrubsstars Zach Braff and Donald Faison began a rewatch podcastcalledFake Doctors, Real Friends.
After 10 years without any newScrubsmedia, the podcast allowed fans to reengage with the show in a new way, learning about behind-the-scenes stories from Braff and Faison as well as their perspective on the episodes.
After 10 years without any newScrubsmedia, the podcast allowed fans to reengage with the show in a new way, learning about behind-the-scenes stories from Braff and Faison as well as their perspective on the episodes. The hosts regularly brought stars, writers, and other creatives involved with the original show to also share their insights. Among these guests was Bill Lawrence, who appeared on the podcast semi-regularly and would often talk with the hosts about bringingScrubsback in some form. As a result,rumors started to swirl and the desire for moreScrubsintensified.
Fake Doctors, Real Friendshas now covered each episode ofScrubsin dedicated installments of the Podcast.
The Inevitable Scrubs Reunion Will Sadly Be Incomplete
The late Sam Lloyd will be unable to reprise his role as Ted
Most of the originalScrubscast is still working in the industry today, including the actors brought in for season 9. So, the reunion could feature the vast majority of stars from the sitcom’s original run. Unfortunately, there will be at least one actor who will be missing from the revival. Sam Lloyd, who played Ted in all nine seasons, passed away in 2020 at the age of 56.Ted was one of the bestScrubscharacters, so he will be a huge omission when Bill Lawrence manages to bring the show back.
All 13 Scrubs Characters Who Narrated Episodes Besides J.D. (& How They Compared)
The hit show Scrubs has featured alternative narrators besides J.D., exploring the inner thoughts and personalities of other beloved characters.
Ted’s absence could receive an alternative in-universe explanation for his absence, but that remains to be seen. However, another actor may not be part of the inevitable reunion, but not for the same reason as the late Sam Lloyd. Dr. Kelso actor, Ken Jenkins, hasn’t taken a role since 2019’sGirls Weekend. Pair this with the fact that by the time he’s called upon to reprise hisScrubsrole, he’ll likely be at least in his mid-eighties, andit could be that Jenkins simply wants to enjoy retirement, but hopefully, he opts to come back wheneverScrubsis revived.
Scrubs
Cast
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
