The Beginning of the End for 'Scrubs'

[Brian Damage]

ABC has the most-lauded new half-hour comedy of the year with "Modern Family," but the network's returning shows haven't fared so well.

"Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted" have been struggling on Tuesday nights, and the network plans to double them up next month.

ABC will air two episodes of each series on Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, and on Friday, Jan. 1, it will run a new "Scrubs" sandwiched between two "Teds." Both shows could burn through all their remaining episodes by the end of the month, making a return next season less than likely.

"Scrubs" joined the ABC family last year after NBC canceled the long-running Bill Lawrence sitcom. Despite a cast overhaul that sought to refocus the show on a younger generation of interns, viewership has been modest, the show sinking in the Nielsens.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...bd09c1fe1c3692

[Scoobiedoo30]

Scrubs is just a great show.

[Brian Damage]

THE SKINNY: ABC may have saved SCRUBS from NBC, but it’s second year on its new network, the show may finally see its days numbered.

Low ratings on Tuesday nights paired with BETTER OFF TED make its future look grim.

“I think we have obviously been disappointed with how that’s performed,” says ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson at today’s Winter TCA. “Whenever we put comedy on other than Wednesday, it’s been an island and we haven’t had a lot of success.”

About putting either show in the 8:00 pm Wednesday time slot, McPherson feels neither show would be a good fit.

“We didn’t feel those two shows were compatible with THE MIDDLE or MODERN FAMILY,” says McPherson.

Although SCRUBS has been managing with star Zach Braff showing up only part-time this season, McPherson says the series has still managed to work creatively with the retooled format and cast.

“SCRUBS is something I did resurrect,” he says. “They’ve done an amazing job of taking the show into the later years where the lead only being in a few episodes. I hope there’s a potential for that to grow, but I won’t lie that the numbers aren’t there. We felt that was the best slot we had, it hasn’t worked out the way we have liked it.”

And the fate of the show? McPherson says that a decision has not been made, but they’ll see how the remaining episodes perform this month and go from there.

“We’ll make a decision at that point,” says McPherson

http://ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=9161

[Adamantium]

What were they expecting? I like “Scrubs” but none of the fans thought it was a good idea to continue with all these major changes. I appreciate what ABC did, giving the show an eighth season but the show ended there. Bringing it back for a ninth season without retitling it “Scrubs 2.0” or something was just stupid. I mean the show didn’t do great for them last season. Why would they think it would this season?

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...so they could have enough "inventory" to release another DVD box set (they own it). Because he "recreated" the show's format, creator/producer Bill Lawrence wanted to retitle it "SCRUBS MED" this season [as he told {Newark, N.J.} STAR-LEDGER TV columnist Alan Sepinwall], but the network vetoed the idea. That tells you what they had in mind for the show. I'm sure Mr. Lawrence will be able to squeeze in some kind of a "grand finale" somewhere...but he was screwed by NBC before, and he'll get the same treatment from Disney/ABC.

[Chocolate Moose]

It WAS a very cute show.

[80sTrivia]

I've always loved Scrubs. I've been watching this seasons episodes on ABC. Although there are still some genuinely funny moments and some great new characters (especially Cole, the Ebonics-spouting intern!), but with only limited screen time for Zach, it's certainly lost its edge...