The doctors are back in. Fifteen years after its original run concluded, the beloved medical comedy Scrubs returns to ABC on February 25th with a two-episode premiere, bringing back Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke to the halls of Sacred Heart Hospital.
A newly released trailer for the revival series reveals that J.D. And Turk, portrayed by Braff and Faison respectively, are once again navigating the chaotic world of medicine, this time alongside a fresh class of interns. The trailer, set to Britney Spears’ “Gimme More,” showcases the signature blend of slapstick humor and heartfelt moments that defined the original series. However, the new interns appear to be particularly accident-prone, with scenes depicting mishaps such as unsteady hands during procedures and accidental arterial nicks.
Joining Braff, Faison, and Chalke are original cast members Judy Reyes and John C. McGinley, reprising their roles as Carla and Dr. Perry Cox in guest appearances. The revival as well introduces a new ensemble of actors, including Vanessa Bayer, Joel Kim Booster, Ava Bunn, Jacob Dudman, David Gridley, Phill Lewis, Robert Maschio, X Mayo, Layla Mohammadi, Amanda Morrow, and Michael James Scott.
The return of Scrubs has been years in the making. Creator Bill Lawrence previously expressed regret over the direction of the show’s ninth season, which he felt functioned more as a spin-off than a continuation of the original series. Braff echoed this sentiment last year, telling Esquire that many fans consider the ninth season non-canonical. Lawrence had hoped to title the spin-off Scrubs: Med School.
Braff, who hosted a Scrubs rewatch podcast beginning in 2020, described the decision to revive the series as “a no-brainer.” He noted that logistical challenges, including aligning the schedules of cast and crew and navigating contractual obligations with Warner Bros., delayed the project for years. “I thought we might do a little miniseries kind of thing, like Psych has done,” Braff said. “I never imagined it was going to be like, ‘No, you’re back at 8 p.m. Prime time on ABC, with Hulu the next day.’ That shocked all of us.”
The Scrubs revival joins a growing trend of sitcom reboots and revivals in recent years. Shows like Fuller House, Roseanne/The Conners, Will and Grace, Night Court, and Girl Meets World have all seen renewed life on television, with varying degrees of success. Other revivals, such as Mad About You, Murphy Brown, and BH90210, were short-lived. The revival of King of the Hill has taken a unique approach, allowing time to pass within the show’s universe, while Beavis and Butt-head utilized a time-travel narrative to bring the characters into the present day.
The first season of the Scrubs revival will premiere February 25 on ABC and will be available for streaming the following day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
