Although the pendingScrubsrevival will likely pay established characters a great deal of attention, the sitcom’s comeback is also a great chance to flesh out those who barely appeared in the original run - and there’s someone in particular to whom this could be incredibly relevant. Hopefully,everyScrubsdoctorwill return for season 10 - or at least the main ones and some of the more prominent side characters, like Dr. Mickhead and Dr. Zeltzer. However,all nine seasons ofScrubswere about so much more than medicine, socountless other characters didn’t work at Sacred Heart.
TheScrubsrevivalis still waiting for the green light, although those involved in the sitcom’s original run have spoken very promisingly about the show’s imminent return. One of the biggest obstacles so far has been showrunner Bill Lawrence working heavily with Apple TV+ in recent years, andScrubsis a Disney-owned property. Thankfully,Lawrence has confirmed a deal to allow him to make moreScrubsis “so very close.“As such,JD and company may be coming back sooner than might be expected.
JD’s Mom Would Be A Brilliant Addition To The Scrubs Revival Cast
Barbara Dorian has been in just one flashback and never in a present-day Scrubs scene
JD’s life beforeScrubsisn’t covered very muchin the sitcom’s story. Although there are occasional flashbacks and visits from certain members of his family, there’s one key figure who never appears. JD’s mother, Babara Dorian, is barely mentioned and is only briefly heard speaking to her son in a flashback sequence. The introduction of John Ritter as JD’s father in 2002 resulted in a brilliant episode, so it stands to reason that JD’s mom coming into the story would be just as compelling - as well as presenting plenty of opportunities for laughs and heartfelt moments.
John Ritter played Sam Dorian inScrubsseason 1, episode 19, “My Old Man.” The character was respectfully written out of the show when Ritter passed away in 2003.
Towards the end ofScrubs' original run, JD hit two massive milestones. Not only did he become a father twice -once with Elizabeth Banks' Kim Briggs, and once with Sarah Chalke’s Elliot Reid - but he also married Elliot. So, it would make sense that JD and his mom would have reconnected. Althoughthere’s a lot left unknown about Barbara at present, it’s not unreasonable to assume that she would want to be a part of her grandchildren’s lives. So, the perfect framework already exists forScrubsto bring her properly into the fold if and when the revival happens.
The Absence Of JD’s Mom Made Him Something Of An Outlier
Other Scrubs characters have storylines with their respective mothers
Many of the main characters had their mothers appear on the show. Turk, Elliot, and Carla all had storylines that involved direct interaction with their mothers, which puts JD in the minority among his peers.There were certainly plenty of opportunities for Barbara to be involved, as she is mentioned and even contacted by JD on several occasions - butScrubsalways made the coy decision to never show the interaction itself.
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Loose details have been teased about Scrubs season 10’s story, but the sitcom’s history can be used to make reasonable assumptions about its future.
Barbara Dorian was never a particularly glaring absencefrom JD’s onscreen antics, and the fact she had since divorced his father certainly explained why they didn’t come as a pair when John Ritter made his loneScrubsappearance. However, it’s still interesting to note that Zach Braff’s character is in the minority when it comes to never sharing a scene with his mother, while other characters got their chances to do so.
There’s Already A Perfect Actress To Play Barabra Dorian In Scrubs Season 10
Katey Sagal has already played the wife of a John Ritter sitcom character
Casting JD’s mother may seem like a Herculean task, but there’s actually someone who would be brilliant in the role not just for her acting talents, but also for her connection to the man who played the father of Braff’sScrubscharacter.John Ritter appeared opposite Katey Sagal in 31 episodes of the sitcom8 Simple Rules…for Dating My Teenage Daughter, with the pair playing husband and wife until Ritter passed away ahead of season 2, episode 4. While8 Simple Rulescontinued for a while without its leading man, it was canceled after season 3.
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Scrubs is known for switching between distinct moods very quickly, and one style of episode has proven far more successful than the others.
Ritter and Sagal had great chemistryin the show, and although they wouldn’t be able to work together inScrubsseason 10, it’s nice to think of them once more enjoying marital bliss at some point in the show’s history. Plus, Sagal would just be genuinely brilliant in the role of JD’s mom. While there may be those who would call for the return of Margaret Easley - the actress who briefly played/voiced Barbara Dorian in a flashback, Easley is only a few years younger than Braff, so a return to her smallScrubsrole wouldn’t make any sense.
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.
