Summary
With theScrubsshowrunner resolute in his goal to bring back the medical sitcom, there’s an obstacle the show’s revival needs to overcome if it’s going to avoid one of the biggest problems with the original run’s final season.Creator Bill Lawrence has stated, “We’re definitely going to do it"when asked byLadBibleifScrubsis still planning a comeback after its 2010 cancelation. While he seems committed to the idea of bringingScrubsback to screens, it won’t be without its challenges. Specifically, there’s a huge change that’s taken place offscreen that will need to be accounted for.
Bill Lawrence has been the mastermind behind many great shows sinceScrubsended, includingTed LassoandShrinking. He could easily leaveScrubsinactive due to all the success he’s had in recent years, but the showrunner’s passion for the show and his desire to revive it is evident. The final run of episodes provided a subpar ending toall nine seasons ofScrubsafter the finale of the penultimate season featured a much more fitting conclusion. Softly rebooted asScrubs: Med School, season 9 was hurt by the same thing that threatens to impact the sitcom’s imminent return.
Every Doctor In Scrubs, Ranked By Skill
The Doctors in Scrubs aren’t all equal, but their varying skill sets can place the characters in ranking order of how effective they are at their job.
Scrubs' Original Sacred Heart Set Was Knocked Down In 2011
The Scrubs revival won’t be able to return to the show’s old stomping grounds
Scrubsseasons 1-8 were primarily shot at North Hollywood Medical Centerin California. The building was an active hospital until the late 90s, when it ceased to operate as a medical facility. Not long after,Scrubsbegan production, with the pilot airing in 2001. Zach Braff and Donald Faison have revealed on theirScrubsrewatch podcast,Fake Doctors, Real Friends, that many of the sets in the show were contained within the hospital, including Turk and JD’s apartment.
Unfortunately, the building was demolished in 2011, and will therefore be unavailable as a shooting location for theScrubsrevival.
Unfortunately, the building was demolished in 2011, and will therefore be unavailable as a shooting location for theScrubsrevival.The iconic hospital wasn’t just used to shootScrubs, but also appeared in other shows before it was knocked down. It was used as a set for sitcoms such asMalcolm in the MiddleandThe Office, but also served as a shooting location for non-sitcoms likeCharmedandParenthood.
Scrubs Season 9’s New Hospital Just Wasn’t The Same
Scrubs: Med School lacked the authenticity of a real medical facility
Using North Hollywood Medical Center astheScrubsset for seasons 1-8 added a level of charmand authenticity not often found in other sitcoms. It provided a 360º environment in which the story could unfold. Not only that, but it added a sense of comfort and familiarity, knowing generally where characters might be at any given time.Scrubsseason 9 not being shot in a real hospital meant theMed Schoolrun lost all of these advantages. The episodes were shot on purpose-built sets instead, which looked good but lacked the magic of the original hospital.
The North Hollywood Medical Center wasn’t destroyed until the year afterScrubsseason 9 had concluded, and the show had been canceled.
The North Hollywood Medical Center wasn’t destroyed until the year afterScrubsseason 9 had concluded, and the show had been canceled. So, while it could technically have been shot there, it was clear thatBill Lawrence wanted theMed Schoolepisodes to feel like a fresh start. If the soft reboot was poorly received - which it largely was - then moving away from the old hospital offered a greater chance of leaving the legacy of the first eight seasons untarnished. Of course, it’s also possible that the building was scheduled for demolition and was therefore unavailable.
Given that the new Sacred Heart was brand new withinScrubsseason 9 canon, the show’s revival will likely return heavily to this location.
Scrubs' Comeback Could Still Include Scenes In The Old Sacred Heart Hospital
Flashbacks could allow the original Scrubs cast to return to Sacred Heart
The old hospital may have been reduced to rubble, but that doesn’t mean theScrubsrevival can’t revisit the show’s past. However, the originalSacred Heart was even torn down within the world of the show, so it can’t appear in the show’s present. What can be achieved is building sets to replicate parts of the old hospital to accommodate flashback scenes, which would be a great piece of fan service if it could be achieved convincingly.
The alternative is admittedly a little more of a high-tech solution, but it comes down to the fact thatScrubsis owned by Disney.
Whilethere is also the potential obstacle of the originalScrubscast being over a decade olderthan they were when they last graced the halls of the old Sacred Heart, it’s an issue that’s easily solved in one of two ways. The first option is to simply ignore the fact the actors have aged. The original show did this all the time and just had the actors play their younger selves in flashback sequences.
Scrubs Showrunner’s Revival Plan Will Fix The Biggest Problem With The Show’s Divisive Final Season
Bill Lawrence has explained how he will approach Scrubs' inevitable comeback, and his plan will hopefully avoid the final season’s biggest error.
The alternative is admittedly a little more of a high-tech solution, but it comes down to the fact thatScrubsis owned by Disney. The studio has proven on many occasions that its projects have access to excellent de-aging technology, as displayed in variousStar WarsandMarvelmovies and TV shows. If Lawrence wanted to double down on recreating glimpses of his sitcom’s heyday, this could be an avenue to explore. On the other hand, it could be a bit too high-concept for a show likeScrubs.
Scrubs
Cast
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
