The beloved medical comedyScrubs is set to return, bringing back its iconic characters, Dr John Dorian and Dr Christopher Turk, for a revival that promises both nostalgic hijinks and a dose of reality. While the duo might still attempt their signature piggyback rides through Sacred Heart Hospital, nearly two decades have passed since their last on-screen antics, and time, it seems, has left its mark.
Turk, now a father of four, grapples with sciatica, while Dorian finds himself reaching for reading glasses – clear indicators that the youthful exuberance of their intern days has given way to the realities of middle age.
The new series, whose first two episodes premiere back-to-back on Wednesday on ABC and stream next day on Hulu, sees the one-time interns step into the role of mentors, guiding a fresh cohort of rookie doctors.
Sarah Chalke, who plays Dr Elliot Reid, reflected on this evolution: "We were new and we were scared as interns and scared in this new element of medicine and insecure and unsure of what we were doing. So to get to come back, we really have grown and really become great leaders and great teachers."
Creator Bill Lawrence, who has returned for the revival, explained the impetus behind revisiting the characters: "They’re still 12 years old every time they’re together, but they’re also still both leading very big, responsible adult lives. It just felt like it was time to revisit the old gang."
The cast acknowledges that later seasons of the original run veered into overly cartoonish territory, with Zach Braff, who plays Dr. Dorian, noting that Lawrence’s aim was to "sort of ground it again and start back with the based-in-reality thing that we had in the first couple years of the show. We still have a mix of drama and comedy, but reset to based completely in reality."
Perhaps the most significant shift reflects broader societal changes, particularly concerning the character of Dr. Perry Cox. John C. McGinley’s head of medicine, once known for his stone-faced rage and fiery contempt towards interns, finds his old methods obsolete in 2026.
"I can’t work them crazy hours or even abuse them anymore," Cox laments in the revival, referring to the new interns as "fragile little Christmas ornaments." One new intern even tells him: "You’re giving mean football coach vibes."
Lawrence, anticipating the relaunch, consulted medical residents to understand how hospitals and medicine had evolved. He was told unequivocally that "Dr. Cox would be fired immediately nowadays," leading to the introduction of Vanessa Bayer’s HR officer, quick to suggest sensitivity training.
The revival also addresses the narrative challenge posed by the original series’ neat conclusion. The end of Season 8, considered the true finale by many fans, saw J.D. achieve all his fantasies – marrying Elliot, having children, and maintaining his friendship with Turk.
However, Lawrence explains, this idyllic ending had to be "jettisoned" for the 2026 iteration. "We knew from the start that we couldn’t live in a world that all of his fantasies had come true," he stated, adding: "Life throws you some blows and throws you to some victories.
You drift from people you care about. Sometimes your world gets smaller. Sometimes things get harder and there still have to be mountains to overcome. So we really wanted to thematically show that journey of what the second stage of life looks like."
At the heart of Scrubs has always been the enduring bromance between JD and Turk, a bond that extends beyond the screen. This central relationship takes on new resonance in the revival, particularly amidst contemporary discussions surrounding male loneliness and friendship.
Zach Braff noted: "It’s a half hour comedy, but it takes head on the idea of the joy that you can still find in being silly and having love in your life that isn’t just your romantic love — the joy and love you have with your friends as a man in 2026."
Donald Faison, who portrays Turk, echoed this sentiment: "I value my friendship. I don’t have many of them, but he's the one friendship that I do have that I know I can count on, at least right now. Maybe in 10 years, he might change his mind on how he feels about me." Braff jokingly responded: "We’ll see how you behave."
Lawrence, whose other current projects include Shrinking and Ted Lasso, often explores male friendships in his work, a theme he attributes to his upbringing. "I started very young writing about friendships and, maybe on some level, the wish fulfillment of how personal I truly hoped they could be," he reflected. "I crave those friendships and I craved that mentorship so I maybe write about them too much."
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