A reboot of the beloved medical sitcom Scrubs is reportedly in early development at ABC, with series creator Bill Lawrence leading the project. According to Variety, Lawrence is working on this new iteration under 20th Television, a division of Disney. The original Scrubs series was produced by ABC Studios, now integrated into 20th Television after a Disney restructuring.
Bill Lawrence’s Role in the Reboot
Though Bill Lawrence remains under an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, he is collaborating with his former studio partners for this Scrubs revival. However, sources confirm that Lawrence will not serve as showrunner if the reboot moves forward as a series. At this stage, no cast members or additional deals have been confirmed.
The Legacy of Scrubs
Scrubs originally premiered on NBC in 2001, running for seven seasons before shifting to ABC for its final two seasons from 2009 to 2010. The single-camera comedy followed the lives of medical staff at Sacred Heart Hospital, including interns, doctors, nurses, and the quirky Janitor.
The star-studded cast featured Zach Braff (J.D.), Donald Faison (Turk), Sarah Chalke (Elliot), Judy Reyes (Carla), Ken Jenkins (Dr. Kelso), John C. McGinley (Dr. Cox), and Neil Flynn (the Janitor). The show gained praise for its unique blend of humor and heartfelt moments, with standout cutaway sequences tied to J.D.’s vivid daydreams. Narrated by Braff’s character, Scrubs became a critical darling, receiving 17 Emmy nominations over nine seasons.
A Reboot Fans Have Been Waiting For
Even after its finale, Scrubs has maintained a loyal fan base. The series’ enduring popularity was bolstered in 2020 when Braff and Faison launched their rewatch podcast, Fake Doctors, Real Friends. In a recent interview, Braff expressed enthusiasm for a potential reboot:
“The idea of getting back together with my friends and doing like 10 or 12 episodes of maybe one or two seasons, and just laughing with everyone? That sounds like a dream,” he said.
Bill Lawrence has also teased the possibility of a revival, joking in an earlier interview with Variety that conversations about Scrubs became a way to divert attention from questions about the future of his hit series Ted Lasso.
What We Know So Far
While the reboot is in its infancy, fans of Scrubs are already buzzing with excitement over the possibility of revisiting Sacred Heart Hospital. With its blend of humor, heartfelt storytelling, and a talented ensemble cast, the potential reboot aims to recapture the magic of the original series.
