The cult medical comedy returns to television 15 years after its end
'Scrubs' was on the air for nine seasons and now the same actors are back
Who remembers the interns, fifteen years later? The creators of Scrubs do. This medical series starring four resident doctors returns now, three decades after it ended, to reunite the viewer with characters who are now established doctors but still work at the Sacred Heart Hospital. Disney+ hosts this revival starting this Wednesday. Created by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios, the series, which premiered in October 2001, had nine seasons and 182 episodes aired until now, and captivated millions of viewers with its original, slightly eccentric, and self-aware comedy style. After the success of this unconventional sitcom, Lawrence produced Cougar Town, Bad Monkey, Shrinking, and the acclaimed Ted Lasso.
The main actors are maintained in the new installment: John Dorian (Zach Braff), Turk (Donald Faison), Elliot (Sarah Chalke), and Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes). The passage of time is noticeable, so the viewer will no longer find those doctors who were just starting out at the hospital: JD has become head of medicine, Turk is the head of surgery, Elliot has a senior position, and they are all professors. The students have become masters.
The essence of the series, however, remains alive. We will hear JD's off narrations again, and Turk will still dance through the hallways. The show has also not forgotten JD's mythical mentor, Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley), who will appear in a recurring role and to whom all these years have not made him lose his customs when it comes to teaching the profession to interns, with rages and shouts. Another character who reappears is the janitor (Neil Flynn), that mysterious seven-foot-tall man who from the first episodes dedicated himself to making the protagonist's life impossible but who, despite everything, won the hearts of many. On the other hand, there are characters who do not participate in this new life of the series, such as Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), who retired from acting years ago, or the hospital's lawyer, Ted Buckland (Sam Lloyd), who died of a brain tumor in 2020.
Fans of the series should also know that the characters and their relationships have evolved drastically. One of the most significant changes is that JD and Elliot, who ended the eighth season as a couple, are now separated. This turn in the relationship of two of the main characters led to hours of debate between the screenwriters and the creator of the series. The showrunner Aseem Batra explains that at first he didn't like it. He thought: "But they are JD and Elliot!". But after thinking about it for a while, he conceded: "Yes, you're right. We can get a lot more out of them not being together. It also fits with the authenticity of life and how things end." The other most beloved couple of the series, Turk and Carla, are still married and have four children.
As a curiosity, the original Sacred Heart building where the first eight seasons were filmed was demolished in 2011. The season that will premiere was filmed on various sets in Vancouver, where the creative and production team have worked hard to make the recreations of the old hospital as accurate as possible, and it seems they have succeeded. Judy Reyes, who is having a sweet moment with her role in the acclaimed High potential, said it was almost "unsettling" how well the new sets matched the old ones.
The tenth season will release the first two episodes simultaneously this Wednesday, March 25, on Disney+, while the remaining seven will be released weekly every Wednesday. The first nine seasons, for those who want to catch up or rewatch them, are available on the same platform.
What have the protagonists done during these years?
Zach Braff has dedicated himself to both acting and directing, focusing more recently on films than on series. The most notable roles he has performed are in French girl, Wish i was here, and Cheaper by the dozen. Regarding directing, among his titles are A good person and Going in style, both productions starring Morgan Freeman. Sarah Chalke has stood out for her voice acting for eight seasons of the character Beth Smith, a mother in the acclaimed Rick & Morty. On the other hand, she has also participated as a protagonist in the Netflix series Firefly Lane and in the film Playdate. Donald Faison has worked in the world of sitcoms over the years, with leading roles in series such as The Exes and Extended family. On the big screen, he has also participated in installments such as Skyline and The perfect match. Finally, Judy Reyes has also worked in both formats. In terms of television series, she stands out in High potential, Devious maids, and Claws, and in films, her performance in Birth/rebirth.