View Full Version : ABC in Negotiations to Bring Back 'Scrubs' with Potentially New Cast


Brian Damage
04-27-2009, 11:34 PM
The doctors might still be in.

ABC is in talks to renew the veteran comedy "Scrubs" for a ninth season with some or all of the original cast members coming back full or part-time.

The network is going over the proposed budget for next season with series producer ABC Studios.

"Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence, busy editing his ABC/ABC Studios comedy pilot "Cougar Town," is said to be deeply involved in the renewal talks as well as in the discussions with the cast, who don't have deals beyond the show's current eighth season.

Last summer, Lawrence and ABC chief Stephen McPherson indicated that they were looking into a way to keep "Scrubs" going with new cast members, a la NBC's revolving-door medical drama "ER." This season, the show integrated a new crop of interns.

Additionally, talks are under way with the original cast members about ways to bring them back, possibly as recurrings, as in the case of Zach Braff, who had said this was probably his last year on the show, as well as Donald Faison, John C. McGinley and Neil Flynn, who are co-starring on pilots.

For Faison, McGinley and Flynn, "Scrubs" is in second position to ABC's "The Law," CBS' "Back" and ABC's "The Middle," respectively, which means they can at most be recurring on "Scrubs" if their pilots go to series.

And Lawrence, of course, could be pulling double duty if his Courteney Cox starrer "Cougar Town" goes and "Scrubs" gets renewed.

In its debut season on ABC after seven years on NBC, "Scrubs" has been a modest performer at 8 p.m. Wednesday. But it has helped launch new comedy "Better Off Ted," with both series enjoying critical praise, strong support at the network and talk about possibly extending the pairing into next season.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i6832227f5a72401ece0e164b47a8c75c

Scoobiedoo30
04-28-2009, 11:14 AM
I hope Scrubs comes back

ryan423
04-28-2009, 08:07 PM
I hope not! Don't kill something good! Let the show end while it's still a great show with the entire cast.

Adamantium
05-09-2009, 10:35 AM
I hope the show ends this season. However, I must admit I'm curious to see what a ninth season would be like. So I'd watch it, but I think it's pointless to go on. I'm fine with one cast change or two, but when it's half the cast, I say end it with some dignity.

TJL
05-09-2009, 02:39 PM
I'm going to play my cynic card here.

Of course ABC wants to continue Scrubs with or without a new cast.
More Scrubs episodes means more episodes to sell into syndication, which means more money for the company that owns the show.

And that company is....ABC.

;)

ryan423
05-09-2009, 09:01 PM
That was the perfect finale. I usually hate series finales but that was fantastic on Wednesday. I wasn't left hanging on anything. We knew where everyone was going.

If the whole cast is back for season 9, I'll be back...if not, I won't be!

TJL
05-10-2009, 04:45 AM
The finale was very good.

Let it go ABC. It won't be the same without the original cast.

Chocoholic
05-11-2009, 11:38 AM
I've always been a big fan, but please let the show die already.

Raisingdad2004
05-11-2009, 11:54 AM
I'm going to play my cynic card here.

Of course ABC wants to continue Scrubs with or without a new cast.
More Scrubs episodes means more episodes to sell into syndication, which means more money for the company that owns the show.

And that company is....ABC.

;)
Very true. That was the reason ABC took it, I think. Its ratings haven't been great for ABC, and weren't for its last season on NBC. It's got to be syndication money, DVD money, etc.

I hope they let it die. It's not been good for a couple of years, although this season improved, and how can a show about these characters (it was never really about the hospital, was it?) get a new cast and work? It can't. I don't know what the new cast would look like, but none of those new interns seemed like worthwhile characters.

TJL
05-11-2009, 06:46 PM
I hope they let it die. It's not been good for a couple of years, although this season improved, and how can a show about these characters (it was never really about the hospital, was it?) get a new cast and work? It can't. I don't know what the new cast would look like, but none of those new interns seemed like worthwhile characters.

You can tell that they really pushed the new intern characters early in this new season, moving the original cast to the background. I remember one episode Turk and Elliot were the only regular cast members!
I guess someone was hoping the new kids would catch on and the show would be passed on to them.

willjarmon84
05-12-2009, 08:55 AM
I liked this season my friend got me into Scrubs during its last year on NBC and syndication it'll be cool if they did a 9th season with the original cast but if they use the new folks season 9 will be it and it won't be that funny

Chocolate Moose
05-12-2009, 11:01 AM
I'd give it a chance. I DO like the characters other than the star. I wouldn't count on it, though.