Scrubs is back on ABC tonight to start its 965th season. (Or is it just its ninth?) A lot has happened in the near decade since it first blew our minds with its snarky, rapid-fire dialogue, its hilariously random fantasy sequences, and its dexterous melding of comedy and pathos. Actually, what’s mostly happened is that a lot of shows came along and did all that stuff, too, and Scrubs lost a bit of its mojo. But you have to admire a show that has soldiered on through countless timeslot changes and even a network change from NBC to ABC last year, through good ratings, bad, and worse. I’d watch just to support that spirit of survival in an uncertain TV world. But if that’s not enough to get you to tune in, you might also like the new Scrubs — based on my pre-screening of the first two episodes as the center of action transfers from Sacred Heart to med school — if …
… you prefer your Zach Braff in small doses. Our erstwhile hero J.D. is around a lot for the first two eps teaching alongside buddy Turk (Donald Faison). But he isn’t signed on for the full season this time around, as the main authority figures — if you can ever call Turk an authority figure — are J.D.’s bestie and his grouchy mentor, Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley).
… you prefer your Zach Braff in sweaters. He’s way into the professor wardrobe. See also: blazers with elbow patches.
… you like your Elliot (Sarah Chalke) in really small doses and the Janitor (Neil Flynn) invisible. I don’t, but they’ve moved on, sadly. (Spoilers ahead.) Thus Elliot shows up only briefly (and pregnant!) to canoodle with hubby J.D. And the Janitor quits (offscreen) to presumably raise a quirky family in the Midwest with Patricia Heaton.
… you always wished J.D. were a girl. You could knock new narrator Lucy (Kerry Bishe) for being a naive, idealistic airhead — or you could realize she’s really just a female version of Scrubs‘ guiding voice through its first eight seasons. And she and J.D. have a nice mentoring moment (made only slightly awkward by his coming across a nude cell-phone photo of her).
… you enjoy the high-cheekboned work of the Franco family. Trust me, you do. And James’ little bro Dave plays a great entitled douchebag med student. With, of course, an intimate connection to that naked cell phone pic.
What do you think PopWatchers? Can you muster up some excitement for Scrubs‘ ninth season? Or are you checking out of Sacred Heart with the Janitor?
Photo Credit: Richard Cartwright/ABC
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Yes, I can’t wait for tonight. While it’s unrealistic and improbable that this new take will reach the highs of the best seasons, it will certainly be funnier and more entertaining than the usual sh!tcoms polluting the airwaves.
No Zach Braff makes the new Scrubs a winner!
since i was never completely into the original scrubs, but always enjoyed when i watched, i’m gonna give the new one a shot. it actually sounds a bit promising.
I love scrubs. I loved the series finale last spring.
I am excited for this new season, new characters, and a little insight into the life of our favorite characters after the season finale. I know there are many who want this show to die, but this past season was great – I look forward to more!
I hate that the show is coming back in this new incarnation. Last year’s finale was just about as perfect an ending as a TV show can have. Enough already. Know when to let go.
Love Scrubs but scared they’re beating a dead horse. This totally ruins a great should’ve been series finale of a few months ago. I will give it a chance out of loyalty though.
I’m excited to check it out. I watched Scrubs here and there and never really followed it but now that Tuesdays is a dead spot for me it gives me something to watch.
The Scrubs finale was probably the greatest TV series finale I have ever seen. They shoulda at least changed the name for this “new” show.
Bill Lawrence wanted to call this new incarnation Scrubs: Med, but ABC wouldn’t let him.
Enjoyed the original enough to give 2.0 a shot.
No Ted?! Oh man!
No mention of Carla?
I’m sorry, but if you don’t have Braff then you don’t have scrubs. Elliot’s not even in the new episodes, only a small appearance? I’m excited but nervous at the sametime!!!
I’m also a huge Scrubs fan…I’ve missed it over the summer (and no reruns on here to tide me over). Jennifer, great description of the essence of what made Scrubs great. I’m going to treat the new show as After MASH and hope for better results. i.e. I don’t consider this to actually be Scrubs — it’s a spin-off that happens to share the same name. I’m looking forward to it!
eh i’m in the camp that felt the show should have ended with the perfect finale it had last year, but after hearing bill lawrence’s reasoning behind bringing it back (that the crew would have jobs) is hard to argue against.
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“that finale was awesome let it be.”
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“yeah but if i bring it back 200 people don’t go unemployed or have to find new jobs.”
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“uh. but the finale was awesome.”
I don’t know. I hated the last season. The finale was amazing, but I just could not get over my complete hatred over J.D. and Elliott getting together because I always thought they were a terrible pair and Bill Lawrence said himself that he didn’t like them together and there were so many episodes dedicated to their will-they-won’t-they that each time ended in it’s-not-going-to-work, so why is this time different? Even though the show’s going to be different and essentially J.D. and Elliott-less, I can’t summon the will to watch it.