Actor Zack Braff is to hang up his Scrubs and quit the TV medical comedy.

Show creator Bill Lawrence has confirmed the upcoming season of Scrubs will be Braff's last.

And Lawrence hints that Braff's final show could mark the end of the series: "The end of the show will be about J.D. (Braff's character) leaving the hospital."

But Lawrence also insists, "You can't kill this show."

I think when he leaves the show will be done. I actually thought last season was the last season.

I think the show should end if Braff leaves the show. He is the lead.

But, ABC probably paid a lot of money to bring the show to thier network, so if the show does well in the ratings, they will probably want to keep it around for more that one season.

I am in shock over this news

he's a very big star. it waas bound to happen.

Here's more on Braff's exit:

If "Scrubs" has life beyond the 2008-09 season, it will probably have to live without Zach Braff.

The new-to-ABC comedy series is at this point only guaranteed to air this season, its eighth overall. But ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson has made no secret that he'd like to keep "Scrubs" around if it does well, and Wednesday at the TCA press tour, creator Bill Lawrence said he's open to the idea as well.

"I think it's Zach's last year on the show," Lawrence says. But that doesn't necessarily mean that would be it for the series.

"When I created this show, Steve McPherson [was] president of the studio," Lawrence explains. "... He was really supportive when I pitched it as this show possibly being like 'ER' as a comedy, with some revolving cast members and, you know, putting new blood in."

To that end, Aziz Ansari ("Human Giant"), Betsy Beutler ("The Black Donnellys") and Eliza Coupe ("I Think I Love My Wife") have joined the cast as new interns at Sacred Heart. The long-serving regular cast is all back as well -- even the retired Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), who is still collecting his free-muffins-for-life reward at the hospital coffee stand.

Lawrence says the regulars would all be welcomed back should "Scrubs" get picked up beyond the coming season (it's scheduled to debut on ABC in early 2009). Both he and Braff acknowledge, though, that the end of the road is near for Braff's character, J.D.

"The sense is that we thought we were ending, and then thanks to [McPherson], this has been a bonus, amazing year. We're having a blast doing this," Braff says. "My sense is this is my last year. If the show does continue like he's saying, like an 'ER' kind of thing, I would love to come back and visit and definitely direct some -- and do craft service if they need some help."

Lawrence also says that J.D. will get a proper sendoff: "If this show pulls a legitimate number and people like yourselves still find it creatively viable, I think there's a chance it will go forward. We're making the shows now, so we're certainly going to film the last one like it's young Zach Braff's exit and make a big deal out of it."

It would be so wierd to watch the show without Zach in it. I hope that if the show does continue into season 9 that it will feature new characters, because seeing the rest of the cast without Zach would feel wrong.

Am I the only one who thinks Zach resembles Ray Romano? :lol:

It would be so wierd to watch the show without Zach in it. I hope that if the show does continue into season 9 that it will feature new characters, because seeing the rest of the cast without Zach would feel wrong.

I agree.

Plus, the show reliews heavily on Braff's narration and JD's "fantasy" bits.

I know in the past they have let other cast members do that during an episode, but are they going to hand that job over to someone else, like Turk or Elliot?

I think the show should end if Braff leaves the show. He is the lead.

But, ABC probably paid a lot of money to bring the show to thier network, so if the show does well in the ratings, they will probably want to keep it around for more that one season.


Why don't they just spinoff the show unto another character? I mean no Zach Braff on Scrubs, is like no Ted Danson on Cheers. IMO

Why don't they just spinoff the show unto another character? I mean no Zach Braff on Scrubs, is like no Ted Danson on Cheers. IMO

You mean like spinning off Jordan into her own show? That'd be the 'Frasier' equivalent, I think.

I'm not a huge fan but I do tune in from time to time. If Braff leaves, they should def. end it! For those of you 7th Heaven fans, don't forget how bad the show was in its final year!

That would be like Friends without Matthew Perry or David Schimmer or How I Met Your Mother without Josh Radnor.

If the show does end though, I hope Sarah Chalke becomes a regular on HIMYM!

Well there is the possibility of the show continuing but with an all new, young cast of interns (which I think is the idea that Bill Lawrence will pan out).

If the show continues it would be better if it was without the original cast. I think we've seen them all come full circle in the 7 years and it is time for their story to end.