When NBC announced the return of their shows after the strike, people were wondering why Scrubs wasn't getting any love. Sure, NBC has never been the biggest supporter of the show, but you'd think that in the show's final season, the network would allow Bill Lawrence and friends to finish the show out the way he envisioned it. Heck, he even gave the network a break, telling them that he could finish out the season in 16 episodes instead of the originally-ordered 18.But the network hemmed and hawed about making those wrap-up episodes. So now ABC Studios is finally talking about making the long-threatened move of moving the show to its parent network, ABC. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the two Disney-owned companies are in negotiation to bring 18 episodes to the alphabet network, likely starting next fall.
The THR article also goes on to mention that NBC was caught off-guard by these negotiations; they were reluctant to pick up new episodes of Scrubs for the fall, given that they had a number of episodes already shot. But Lawrence was adamant about giving his seven-year-old series some closure, hinting that he might even have the final episodes go straight to DVD. The headline of the story says the Peacock folks are "irked," but who knows... they might only be slightly perturbed (UPDATE: NBC is more than "irked;" they're still in negotiations to keep the show, according to Variety).
Network switches are rare but not new. Taxi spent its final season on NBC after being on ABC after four years. Diff'rent Strokes did the reverse, gasping its last breath on ABC after a long NBC run. JAG started on NBC and moved to CBS after one season. Then, of course, there's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which moved from The WB to UPN.
I'm torn about this. Normally, hearing that one of my favorite shows might get more episodes would make me happy. But Scrubs has been so uneven during the last season-and-a-half, I'm not sure I want more episodes. I was completely ready to see the show end this season, with the frustrating J.D. / Elliot storyline, among others, finally wrapped up. To get to the goal line, only to see that it's been moved further away, can be disheartening. But, for all we know, a switch in networks might give Lawrence and his crew a creative boost. All I really want to see is some sort of conclusion; that's not much to ask, is it?
[thanks to Segsig, Tim Hess, and Jeff Stiefer for the tip!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-29-2008 @ 7:53AM
Alicia said...
Goodness... I am so glad that NBC thinks that My Name is Earl and 30 Rock can save their sitcom world.
At least we (the fans) would get what we deserve!
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4-04-2008 @ 8:36AM
Rob said...
SCRUBS is awesome and needs to continue. There is no sitcom that can touch it right now. It is unfortunate that many people can't appreciate just how unique this show is because it does not fit into their narrow minded definition of comedy. I for one hope there is a season eight and would like to see the whole crew back.
2-29-2008 @ 8:26AM
Jimmy said...
Dear God, no.
This show has been crying out for a mercy killing for at least two years now.
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2-29-2008 @ 9:03AM
Brian B. said...
Scrubs definitely isn't as good as it once was but it is still better than 90% of the other sitcom garbage out there and I do still care about the characters. I'll definitely be tuned in for this final season.
2-29-2008 @ 8:34AM
Duke said...
Well, if it moves to ABC, you'll get the end of the JD / Elliot storyline, because Zach Braff is done with the show either way, so he wouldn't be in any of the ABC episodes, which would mean they would probably have one of those episodes they make when a star dies in real life, and everyone kind of just says he left, and now elliot is sad, or something like that.
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3-01-2008 @ 7:16PM
kickit said...
"Also, star Zach Braff, who at one point was uncertain to commit to Season 7, is said to be onboard for an eighth season according to Ausiello's source."
http://tv.ign.com/articles/855/855883p1.html
I hope this is true.
2-29-2008 @ 8:55AM
grumpyoldman said...
Scrubs without that egomaniac Braff would be awesome.....(more time for other characters high five!).
This show has an great universe of different people to focus on.
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2-29-2008 @ 9:24AM
chiphayner said...
All I ask is that they actually shoot the show in HD. Is that too much to ask?
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2-29-2008 @ 9:47AM
Scott said...
"Scrubs" was over a few years back when it stopped being about actual people and turned into a cartoon. When the sound effects and goofy dream-sequences overwhelmed the characters. And when the FORMULA for this show, and the rhythm of the narration and the dialog, became so cliched and repetitive that you could practically hum along to it and not even hear the words.
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2-29-2008 @ 9:57AM
MosquitoControl72 said...
In truth, the past season and a half has been so bad (from the episodes that I've seen) that I've stopped watching the syndication.
I've just kind of had enough. Those shows tainted the older episodes in some way. For a while it was, hands-down, my most-watched show.
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2-29-2008 @ 10:05AM
h8rain said...
I guess I am getting more particular with my TV viewing, but here lately I am simply lost interest in some shows, probably due to lackluster appeal. I *loved* Scrubs when it first started, but now it just seems.....bleh
Heroes, Prison Break, Pysch, and Monk have fallen into this as well. I have the entire past season of Pysch and Monk on my DVR, but I just never feel like watching them.
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2-29-2008 @ 11:03AM
Cody said...
The first season of Scrubs was one of the finest things ever on TV. The second season was good. After that it pretty much fell apart, and lately it is worse than According to Jim.
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2-29-2008 @ 11:47AM
sitruc said...
I like Scrubs, but they have been trying to end the series for a couple of seasons now. Why drag it out anymore? I hope this is all just so it gets a proper ending.
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2-29-2008 @ 12:21PM
algebra15 said...
I agree with the author. I've loved this show but it's needed a happy ending for at least two seasons now. Just have J.D. and Elliot get married so we can move on with our lives...
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2-29-2008 @ 12:30PM
Jake said...
I wouldn't go so far as to call Scrubs on of the best ever shows to grace TV, but it is a solid and consistently funny and original sitcom in an era where the sitcom is essentially a dead format. I am glad that it looks like the show will get a proper conclusion and escape NBC's jaws of premature cancellation, which seems to be out in full force "because of the strike."
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2-29-2008 @ 12:49PM
Jeff N. said...
Notice how NBC let Las Vegas(which was on for 5 seasons)not have a proper ending, how it left the second season of Friday Night Lights up in the air after 15 episodes, and now it isn't keen on broadcasting Scrubs final season.
We know the Networks don't care about their audiences very much, but NBC takes it to another level. They really don't give a Damn. Personally what few shows they have left that are any good could be absorbed by other Networks and NBC should just fade into the woodwork as far as I am concerned. They just aren't a very good broadcast Network. Certainly they don't deserve to be one of the 4 major Networks. They seem to be more like a minor cable channel.
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2-29-2008 @ 1:22PM
Oreo said...
If ABC wants the show to have a reason finale, good, but if they are trying to continue the show to even more seasons, bad idea.
The show needs an ending. They should just do a 13 episodes season and close the storylines. I'm sure everyone will come back for the shows ending, otherwise fans would be pissed at them for life.
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2-29-2008 @ 5:00PM
jamie said...
Scrubs needs to air its finale but it should not have another season. 4.5-5 million viewers? If it goes into season eight I have no idea how low it will go, especially since it will be an ABC sitcom then. When have ABC had a sitcom perform over 8 million in the past few seasons, Samantha Who aside?
I suggest one or two one hour episodes to tie it all up. The only problem will be making the Kelso retirement storyline build momentum. Also, Braff has said he will definatly not do a season 8, they cannot carry on without Braff, he is the point of the show, its from JD's perspective (except for 4 or 5 episodes).
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2-29-2008 @ 11:02PM
jeff stiefer said...
F--- the haters! Scrubs is still a great show. In this TV world of 'reality' garbage, we need all the Scrubs we can get. The sitcom is not dead, stop treating it like it is.
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3-01-2008 @ 1:21AM
... said...
I don't know how anyone can consider the Scrubs original or comical for the past few years. It's been as formulaic as a King of Queens or any other generic sitcom episode, except it has a hip soundtrack and annoying voice overs by a self-absorbed guy. That being said, NBC is really setting a bad example and precedent by just killing off shows without proper endings(shows that have pretty loyal followings). Las Vegas is one thing, but not giving the cult followers of FNL or Scrubs their due after tuning in for several years? What can we expect when 30 Rock continues to get dismal ratings, more of the same?
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