I’m so excited thatScrubsis on the brink of a comeback, but I’m sure that in another universe, a revival wouldn’t even be necessary. The thought of aScrubsrevivalwarms my soul, as it’s easily my favorite sitcom of all time. Although the last run of episodes wasn’t quite up to scratch, I still routinely watch and enjoyall nine seasons ofScrubs.The changes to the formula ahead ofScrubsseason 9 resulted in a very different version of the showI’d grown to love. Still, I genuinely think it was a fascinating experiment.
Showrunner Bill Lawrence’s promise that he’s “definitely going to” make more episodes ofScrubsdoesn’t mean the project has been greenlit. It hasn’t. However, the confidence with which Lawrence talks about the sitcom’s comeback makes me confident that it’ll happen sooner rather than later.Scrubsseason 10 gives the show the chance to redeem itselfin the eyes of myself and so many other fans who don’t rank season 9 too highly when compared to the previous 8. Regardless, I find myself wondering what could have been ifScrubs: Med Schoolhad been permitted to flourish beyond its 13 episodes.
Scrubs Season 9 Could Have Been The Beginning Of Something Cool
The brief Med School era held promise
I found the softly rebootedScrubs: Med Schoolto be a little jarring right off the bat. Many elements were the same as the show’s main run, but the biggest changes were the sitcom’s new aesthetic and the gradual move away from focusing on the original cast, bringing a new batch of stars to the forefront.Scrubsseason 9 was originally intended as a spinoff, but ABC refused to market it as anything other than a direction continuation. If the studio had bought into the premise, I think the episodes could have kickstarted a creative idea.
Although Zach Braff’s John “JD” Dorian was present in many of theMed Schoolepisodes, he eventually departed inScrubsseason 9, episode 9, “Our Stuff Gets Real.”
Although Zach Braff’s John “JD” Dorian was present in many of theMed Schoolepisodes, he eventually departed inScrubsseason 9, episode 9, “Our Stuff Gets Real.” While other members of the original cast stuck around, there was no guarantee they’d have remained as part of the kind-of spinoff if it had continued beyond its lone season. What I think was more likely was thatScrubs: Med Schoolwould have become a sitcom equivalent of shows like ER. Actors could have come and gone through the years, but the show itself would have remained constant.
The concept of a hospital sitcom/procedural hybrid withScrubs' signature blend of zany comedy and heartbreaking drama is something I really wish had been allowed to develop.
I can’t think of another sitcom that follows this formula. Admittedly, the format traditionally relies heavily on familiarity with its stars and their characters, butMed Schoolstarted well by having old faces as well as new onesto try and cross that original bridge. The concept of a hospital sitcom/procedural hybrid withScrubs' signature blend of zany comedy and heartbreaking drama is something I really wish had been allowed to develop. Sure, it didn’t work inScrubsseason 9, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it couldn’t have found its footing as it went on.
Zach Braff’s character should have stepped away much sooner
There’s no denying thatScrubslives and breathes by its ensemble cast. The show wouldn’t have run for as long as it did without the amazing chemistry between its various actors - no matter how prominent they each were in the sitcom. That being said, it would also be naive to claim that Zach Braff wasn’t the sitcom’s leading man. As such, his departure was always going to be a huge blow.
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6.5/10
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4
9
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6.4/10
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6.3/10
While I didn’t want to see him leave - and I was aware he was going to beforeMed Schoolhad begun - I understood that the show’s new format needed to prove it could succeed without him. Unfortunately, it never really got that opportunity.Of the 13 episodes inScrubsseason 9, Braff appeared in 6 of them.If the eventual intention was to make a show that didn’t rely on members of the original cast, having the biggest one remain as such a prominent character for so long seems counterintuitive to me.
Braff’s Comeback Years Down The Line Could Have Been A Great Scrubs: Med School Storyline
JD’s comeback could have been something special
I understand why Braff was part of the transitionary period betweenScrubsseasons 8 and 9, but I also believe that, at most, a single episode would have sufficed.Bringing JD back toScrubsso soon after “My Finale” ruined his perfect ending, while also quietly hurting the potential future of theMed Schoolreboot. If the updated version ofScrubshad continued to be renewed through the years and become a TV standard like ER and other medical shows, Iwould have found Zach Braff’s eventual return so long after his departure to be incredibly rewarding.
I Was On The Official Scrubs Rewatch Podcast & It Resulted In A Mini Revival
Zach Braff and Donald Faison listened to my Scrubs pitch on Fake Doctors, Real Friends, and it caused the sitcom to come back to life in a new way.
The same would also be true of the other members of the originalScrubscast, or even stars who only debuted in season 9, like Kerry Bishé and Drew Suffin. As long as there was an ongoing-yet-ever-changing core of characters, the comings and goings of various personnel could have easily become part of the formula rather than a weakness to be constantly accounted for. Of course,Braff’s comeback would likely be the biggest event inMed School, but other characters like Turk, Dr. Cox, and Elliot leaving and coming back would have made a huge splash as well.
Scrubs: Med School’s Continuation Would Have Made A Revival Unnecessary
Bill Lawrence’s recent Scrubs season 10 plans wouldn’t have been required
Scrubs: Med Schoolcould conceivably have stood the test of timeif the concept had been received a little better. If so, it could still be on the air today. Alternatively, it could have only just ended. To use ER as an example again, it was on the air for 15 years. WithScrubsseason 9 ending 15 years ago, a finale to the experimental sitcom could have recently been broadcast if the firstMed Schoolepisodes had hit the ground running. If so, the idea of aScrubsseason 10 would have long been realized.
In reality,Scrubsseason 10 and beyond never happened, which is why it should be the next installment to come from the show.
In addition, I have no doubt said theoretical finale would have been so full of cameos from the show’s stars that a reunion would be surplus to requirements. In reality,Scrubsseason 10 and beyond never happened, which is why it should be the next installment to come from the show.I’d be shocked if the coming revival was anything like theMed Schoolepisodes- other than the return to the new Sacred Heart - so I’m expecting a resurgence of a far more recognizable version ofScrubsfrom the sitcom’s golden era.
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.
