Scrubs Reboot Brings Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke Back as ABC Launches Scrubs Season 10

Mo. Basuony

Published: February 26, 2026 6:36 AM ET

Scrubs

The long-dormant hospital comedy is officially back on the air. The Scrubs reboot premiered on ABC on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET with a two-episode debut, reuniting core originals while positioning Scrubs season 10 as both a continuation and a reset for longtime fans and new viewers.

Scrubs Reboot Premiere Details on ABC

ABC rolled out Scrubs season 10 as a prime-time event, leaning on familiarity while introducing fresh faces around Sacred Heart’s returning veterans. The opening night format matters: two episodes up front, then a weekly release cadence that keeps the revival in regular conversation rather than burning off quickly.

For audiences in the UK, Canada, and Australia, the key early question has been timing and access. ABC’s U.S. broadcast is fixed in ET; international availability varies by market and can differ from the U.S. schedule, with some territories getting next-day access and others waiting for local distribution windows.

Scrubs Cast: Who’s Back at Sacred Heart

The Scrubs cast reunion centers on the trio most associated with the original show’s emotional core and comedic rhythm: Zach Braff as J.D., Sarah Chalke as Elliot, and Donald Faison as Turk. Scrubs season 10 also brings back multiple familiar characters in ongoing or recurring capacity, including John C. McGinley as Dr. Cox and Judy Reyes as Carla, alongside other returning faces tied closely to Sacred Heart’s day-to-day chaos.

That mix is the revival’s defining creative bet: the Scrubs reboot wants the comfort of the original ensemble, but not so much that the show can’t pivot into new hospital storylines that reflect how medicine, relationships, and workplace culture have changed since the series last ran.

Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke at the Center of Scrubs Season 10

Scrubs season 10 is built around a classic premise: J.D. stepping back into the world that shaped him, only to find it doesn’t freeze in time. Zach Braff’s J.D. is framed as older and more self-aware, but still prone to overthinking, fantasy spirals, and the kind of earnestness that made the character polarizing and beloved in equal measure.

Sarah Chalke’s Elliot returns with sharper edges and greater authority in her professional life, while the show explores how adult realities can complicate the “happily ever after” many viewers held onto from the original run’s emotional peaks. The Scrubs reboot uses that tension to generate comedy, but it also leans into the franchise’s trademark sincerity when the jokes stop.

Scrubs Season 10 Story Choices Stir Early Reactions

Early episodes make clear that Scrubs season 10 isn’t treating the past as untouchable. The revival acknowledges that time passed, people changed, and not every relationship lands where fans imagined it might. That approach has driven much of the immediate chatter: some viewers want the comfort-food version of Scrubs, while others prefer a revival that risks uncomfortable turns if they feel truthful.

The creative tone is also slightly recalibrated. Scrubs was famous for surreal gags and abrupt pivots into heartfelt, gut-punch endings. The Scrubs reboot keeps the comedy front and center, but it’s more measured in how it deploys the show’s goofiest impulses, saving the biggest swings for moments where they serve character and story rather than pure nostalgia.

What To Know Next About the Scrubs Reboot

Scrubs season 10 premiered Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC with two episodes on opening night.
Season length: Nine episodes total for this revival run.
Core Scrubs cast returning: Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison in central roles, with additional familiar characters appearing throughout.
Release pattern after premiere: Weekly episodes following the two-episode launch.

As the initial week settles, the biggest test for Scrubs season 10 will be staying emotionally sharp without leaning too heavily on memory. If the Scrubs reboot can balance old chemistry with new stakes, it has a real chance to become more than a reunion—an active, ongoing chapter that plays for both laughs and the kind of poignancy that made Scrubs endure.