Strike could cancel planned 'Scrubs' finale - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 11-04-2007, 10:01 PM

Nothing has been easy or conventional about the NBC comedy "Scrubs," which has been bounced around the network's schedule for most of its seven-year run and was on the verge of cancellation the past two years before landing an 11th hour renewal.

Now, the show's chance to go out on its own terms is being jeopardized by the WGA strike, which could leave the final six installments of the underrated comedy's 18-episode last season in indefinite limbo.

"On a personal level, yeah, it would be nice to finish work on 'Scrubs' the way I wanted to," creator-executive producer Bill Lawrence said. "That it looks like it's not happening is certainly disappointing, I can't lie. But it's also not the end of the world. The last thing anybody wants to hear right now is some idiot saying, 'Hey, I worked really hard on my show, I want to end it the way I want to end it!' It's hard to care right now about any legacy."

Lawrence hasn't done much in the way of stockpiling "Scrubs" episodes in anticipation of a writers walkout. There are two scripts written and ready to shoot, "and with a single-camera show, once a script is locked, you have no real rewrites," he said. That will take "Scrubs" up through Episode 12, six episodes short of the ending Lawrence had envisioned for the show.

Still, giving "Scrubs" a proper sendoff is low on Lawrence's priority list at the moment.

"What I care about more than anything right now is getting this thing settled so it's either a short strike or no strike," he said on Friday. "Right now, I fear that a lot of the writers have no real clue just how tough this is going to be. I'd imagine things will get very grim sometime after Christmas."

Lawrence is quick to point out it's not himself he worries about but his crew and some of his writers.

"I've kind of won the lottery in having a few shows that went to syndication in both 'Scrubs' and 'Spin City,' so anything I say about my own sacrifice would drip with selfishness. This is such a bigger deal for the guys who work below the line and largely live hand-to-mouth and the younger writers who can't go without a paycheck for very long. I'm just a lucky SOB, no matter what happens to my show from here."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...d3286a361b70cc

JulieSomoski · 11-04-2007, 10:13 PM

I'm guessing today's meeting didn't go over too well, then. Looks like the strike is happening, and it looks to be staying if they're already thinking about Scrubs being affected. It would really suck for this show not to end the way we'd all like, and this season, but if we have to wait (even if they have to air new episodes in like July) I'll still watch.

friendsfan77 · 11-04-2007, 10:42 PM

I wish there were a better way around this; it is just wrong for the possibility for a show that's been on this long and it wind up not have a real ending.

Carrie · 11-05-2007, 09:09 PM

This is so disappointing. I hope something is worked out. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens at the end of the show. Hopefully the remaining episodes can be aired later in the year or added as part of a season 7 dvd set.

gotsmart · 11-08-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrie

This is so disappointing. I hope something is worked out. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens at the end of the show. Hopefully the remaining episodes can be aired later in the year or added as part of a season 7 dvd set.

I don't think that is even a possibility b/c this episodes will probably not even be shot if the strike continues.

11-04-2007, 10:01 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Strike could cancel planned 'Scrubs' finale Nothing has been easy or conventional about the NBC comedy "Scrubs," which has been bounced around the network's schedule for most of its seven-year run and was on the verge of cancellation the past two years before landing an 11th hour renewal. Now, the show's chance to go out on its own terms is being jeopardized by the WGA strike, which could leave the final six installments of the underrated comedy's 18-episode last season in indefinite limbo. "On a personal level, yeah, it would be nice to finish work on 'Scrubs' the way I wanted to," creator-executive producer Bill Lawrence said. "That it looks like it's not happening is certainly disappointing, I can't lie. But it's also not the end of the world. The last thing anybody wants to hear right now is some idiot saying, 'Hey, I worked really hard on my show, I want to end it the way I want to end it!' It's hard to care right now about any legacy." Lawrence hasn't done much in the way of stockpiling "Scrubs" episodes in anticipation of a writers walkout. There are two scripts written and ready to shoot, "and with a single-camera show, once a script is locked, you have no real rewrites," he said. That will take "Scrubs" up through Episode 12, six episodes short of the ending Lawrence had envisioned for the show. Still, giving "Scrubs" a proper sendoff is low on Lawrence's priority list at the moment. "What I care about more than anything right now is getting this thing settled so it's either a short strike or no strike," he said on Friday. "Right now, I fear that a lot of the writers have no real clue just how tough this is going to be. I'd imagine things will get very grim sometime after Christmas." Lawrence is quick to point out it's not himself he worries about but his crew and some of his writers. "I've kind of won the lottery in having a few shows that went to syndication in both 'Scrubs' and 'Spin City,' so anything I say about my own sacrifice would drip with selfishness. This is such a bigger deal for the guys who work below the line and largely live hand-to-mouth and the younger writers who can't go without a paycheck for very long. I'm just a lucky SOB, no matter what happens to my show from here." http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...d3286a361b70cc
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11-04-2007, 10:13 PM	#2
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I'm guessing today's meeting didn't go over too well, then. Looks like the strike is happening, and it looks to be staying if they're already thinking about Scrubs being affected. It would really suck for this show not to end the way we'd all like, and this season, but if we have to wait (even if they have to air new episodes in like July) I'll still watch.
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11-05-2007, 09:09 PM	#4
Carrie Dreamin' of Jeannie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Cocoa Beach Posts: 1,768	This is so disappointing. I hope something is worked out. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens at the end of the show. Hopefully the remaining episodes can be aired later in the year or added as part of a season 7 dvd set.
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11-04-2007, 10:42 PM	#3
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	I wish there were a better way around this; it is just wrong for the possibility for a show that's been on this long and it wind up not have a real ending.