Scrubs revival brings back the Janitor and Jordan as original cast returns
The new run of scrubs reunites much of the original ensemble at Sacred Heart and leans into the show’s old mix of daft gags and sharper emotional beats, while promising a nine-episode season that begins Wednesday, February 25 at 8 p. m. ET.
Bill Lawrence’s comeback and what he’s juggling
Bill Lawrence, described here as “on a tear, ” has returned to the world he helped define. He is the creator behind Ted Lasso and Shrinking and is days away from launching Rooster, the Steve Carell sitcom that HBO already sees as the anchor to its comedy output. Rather than build something new, Lawrence chose to revive Scrubs and bring the original cast back to Sacred Heart hospital.
Old characters, quick resets and a familiar tone
The revival wastes little time reestablishing familiar beats. Zach Braff’s J. D. is introduced deep into a new career as a concierge doctor, sipping tea while he delicately hands out erection pill prescriptions to wealthy, unruffled patients; a chance visit to Sacred Heart prompts him to remember what he left behind and, within 20 minutes of the first episode, he is back enmeshed as a senior member of the hospital staff. Sarah Chalke’s Elliot shakes out a set of old resentments in little over an hour of screen time, and Donald Faison’s Turk begins the first episode carrying a very serious set of new character traits that other shows could build an entire premise around, only to snap out of it in less time than it would take you to make a Pot Noodle.
Scrubs headed back to Sacred Heart with original guests
Two legacy figures are confirmed to return in guest spots: Neil Flynn will appear as Dr. Jan Itor in one Season 1 episode, and Christa Miller will reprise Jordan in one episode. Showrunner Aseem Batra—who had an early role as the “fun-size intern” Josephine—said in a Zoom interview that the Janitor still somehow wields power over J. D., and that Jordan’s storyline, tied to Dr. Cox, explores themes “we all deal with as we get older, ” which Batra suggested will deepen the dynamic between J. D. and Dr. Cox.
Cast scope: who’s back, who appears and who’s limited
Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison return as series regulars. Judy Reyes and John C. McGinley are set to appear in four and three episodes, respectively. Ken Jenkins, who played former chief of medicine Bob Kelso, was previously indicated by Braff not to appear in Season 1; Batra confirmed there had been a plan for a brief return but that it was pushed off, noting filming in Vancouver creates a little bit of a complication. The production still hopes to bring as many legacy cast members back as possible for at least a couple of episodes.
New faces, HR and the teaching-hospital angle
The revival refocuses on Scrubs as a teaching hospital, which requires an influx of new, younger doctors. As of the first four episodes, those newcomers are described as mostly one-trait characters with limited screen time, though there is room for evolution. Vanessa Bayer has a substantial new role as Sibby, an HR chief tasked with reining in the more noughties-tinged elements of the show; her character often feels airdropped in from a different, weirder program and is expected to become a standout presence.
Guest players and premiere details
Three additional guest stars join the season: Rachel Bilson will play Charlie, described as a “beautiful and elusive visitor at Sacred Heart”; Lisa Gilroy will appear as Lily, an angelic-looking harp player in the hospital lobby; and Andy Ridings will portray Wes, a pilot who delivers transplant organs. The new Scrubs premieres Wednesday, February 25 with back-to-back episodes kicking off at 8 p. m. ET on ABC.
The revival nods to what made the original distinctive—its Family Guy–style cutaway skits and some characters’ baroque cruelty—while updating mood and focus. The original run once carried an air of exasperation about the US healthcare system; further detail on that thread is unclear in the provided context.
After the February 25 premiere, the confirmed next milestone is the remainder of the inaugural nine-episode run and the scheduled guest appearances already announced for Season 1.
