Scrubs returns Feb. 25 on ABC with original stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison back as series regulars reprising their roles as J.D., Elliot and Turk, respectively. Two other key OG cast members, Judy Reyes (Carla) and John C. McGinley (Dr. Cox), are also in the nine-episode revival but as recurring since both are series regulars on other shows, ABC’s High Potential (Reyes) and HBO’s upcoming Rooster (McGinley), from Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence.
How many episodes are Reyes and McGinley in?
Reyes is in four while McGinley is in three, they revealed to Deadline.
Who else of the original cast is returning?
As we revealed this week, set for guest appearances are Scrubs alums Neil Flynn and Christa Miller, who will reprise their series regular/recurring roles as the Janitor and Jordan, respectively. And yes, we will see Jordan with longtime partner Perry Cox.
Noticeably missing from the list is original cast member Ken Jenkins, who played Bob Kelso in all nine seasons. Jenkins, 85, who retired from acting years ago, is not in Season 1 of the revival but will be in Season 2 if the series is renewed, Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence told Deadline.
“Dr. Kelso will be back next year,” Lawrence said. “It just didn’t work out this year but it will next year.”
‘Scrubs’ S9 (L-R): Eliza Couple, Michael Mosley, Dave Franco
What about Michael Mosley, Eliza Coupe, Kerry Bishé and Dave Franco, stars of the divisive ninth season of Scrubs? Lawrence confirmed to Deadline that the revival picks up as if the original series ended with the Season 8 finale, disregarding the events in the spinoff-style Season 9. Do Mosley, Coupe, Bishé and Franco’s characters still exist in revival’s universe and could they come back?
“I would do it in a heartbeat because they’re such great performers,” Lawrence said. “I’m a TV fan, I enjoy watching Scrubs uber fans’ brains melt a little bit, so I would be open to anyone coming back. Just this first year, nine episodes is such a tiny cup of coffee, we jammed in everybody we possibly could.”
Expanding the Scrubs brood
When the original Scrubs ended its run in 2010, newly married J.D. and Elliot were expecting their first child, a daughter, while Carla and Turk had two daughters. Life didn’t stop while the show was off, and the revival picks up 16 years later with more kids in the picture. How many exactly?
Carla and Turk now have four children while J.D. and Elliot share two. (J.D. also has a child with Elizabeth Banks’ Kim as revealed on the original series.)
Working mom
After Reyes left Scrubs at the end of Season 8, Carla’s absence in the ninth and final season was explained with her wanting to take care of her children. Why is she back at the hospital, and how is it for Reyes to play a working mom of four?
“I think that it’s done all day long,” she said. “My make-up artist has three kids, and she works on the set for 12-14 hours. Carla does it because she has to do it, Carla doesn’t really think about it. Caring for someone at a hospital makes caring for your kids at home more doable but it’s real life, it’s exactly what people do. It’s an interesting question to have as an actor, how do you do it when people do it every day? I think that’s the inspiration, it’s done because it has to be done. Carla’s passionate about her work, and it’s bound to get to her both sides.”
Staying on
Since they are recurring, Reyes and McGinley are not obligated to come back. Will they stick with Scrubs if the revival continues?
“F*ck yeah,” Reyes said.
Added McGinley, “I echo that one. F*ck yeah, that’s as good as it gets.”
Reyes then elaborated. “The show is a true ensemble, so we’re always together, our days are long and the work is really hard, but when it’s there, the words are easy to remember, the scenes are fun to play, and the actors are great to be with, and everybody who works on the show is happy to be there,” she said. “So when you cut and you look behind the camera and people are smiling or they’re laughing, or you pass by saying, ‘Love that scene, I love when you said that,’ that makes your day, because it’s different from being on a stage where you get the accolades immediately. We have all different kinds of people and doing the work that you do, responding to what you give, What else do you need?”
Scrubs premieres Feb. 25 on ABC.