It's a question worth asking as we approach the show's supposed final season.In an article that ran in yesterday's New York Times, Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence confirmed that ABC, the show's new home, might continue the show in some form after the upcoming eighth season. As we reported in November, star Zach Braff and Lawrence are both leaving Scrubs after season eight, even if the show continues. I'm not opposed to the idea of keeping the show going without them, but I got one question -- What would a Braff and Lawrence-free Scrubs look like?
"It would have to be like Frasier was to Cheers, " Lawrence told the NYT.
So a spinoff? Maybe, maybe not. Lawrence told TV Squad in May that the show might continue in a different incarnation, but that doesn't exactly mean spinoff.
Most spinoffs, like Frasier, usually take one or two cast members from the original show and move them to a new setting. I don't think that's what's gonna happen here. I certainly wouldn't want to lose Turk (Donald Faison), Cox (John C. McGinley), Elliot (Sarah Chalke) or any of the other unhinged hospital employees, and I'm betting that ABC would like to keep them too. According to the NYT article, Braff said he's willing to provide voice-overs for the show should it be renewed, and Lawrence said he likes the idea of keeping the Scrubs cast employed after season eight. It sounds like we might get a continuation rather than a proper spinoff, which is fine by me.
The eighth season will introduce a new crew of interns to the hospital. Lawrence said these fresh faces aren't there to replace anyone; they're just a new element to the show. But Lawrence already said these new characters would be a big part of a spinoff/continuation plan. Will one of them be the new J.D.? Should anyone be the new J.D.? Do you want to see a Scrubs: The Next Generation, or would you rather the show focus on the current characters and their evolving lives?
The new season of Scrubs starts January 6 on ABC.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-30-2008 @ 6:24PM
ginnee said...
I'm am tired of Scrubs. Elliot and JD, back and forth, was getting boring. Maybe without JD, I'd like it better.
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12-30-2008 @ 6:25PM
bruce said...
Did you continue to watch West Wing after Aaron Sorkin left, along with Rob Lowe and um... a few other cast members? I did, for about 2 episodes, vomited, and never watched it again.
I'm not a big Braff fan, in fact he kinda bugs me. But he's been the lead character of the show since season 1.
That being said, I'd love Grey's Anatomy without Ellen Pompeo/Meredith Grey. Getting rid of whiny, annoying, little Meredith might be just what the show needs... and no more Ghost Denny. The title of the show can refer to Lexie Grey.
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12-30-2008 @ 7:32PM
Andrew said...
Rob Lowe was not the main character in The West Wing like Zach Braff is for Scrubs. Although I do agree that the quality of The West Wing declined greatly after Sorkin left.
12-31-2008 @ 9:51AM
Scott said...
Rob Lowe left "The West Wing" at least a season _before_ Sorkin did. And while the first Sorkin-free season(s)? were horrible, the 7th season finally righted itself and was quite good, in a spinoff sort of way, where the former leads were more like guest characters.
As for "Scrubs", I gave up on it a few years back when it got too cartoony. No change to the show would get me to watch it again.
12-30-2008 @ 7:59PM
bruce said...
My comparison of Aaron Sorkin was more to Bill Lawrence leaving the show than to Zack Braff.
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12-30-2008 @ 8:05PM
Scott Schrantz said...
If it was fresh and funny I would watch it. But fresh and funny is something that Scrubs hasn't had in large supply for a couple of years now, although I still watch every episode. People who have seen advance episodes of this new season say that they're actually recapturing some of the goodness of the early seasons, so we'll see.
I think the show can survive without Zach Braff, theoretically, but sometimes these things go wrong. Remember when Dr. Joel left Northern Exposure? On the other hand, Dr. Ross left E.R. how many years ago?
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12-30-2008 @ 8:08PM
Bart Smith said...
I already watch a bunch of shows that don't star Zach Braff, so what's one more? As long as the show can find a way to work without J.D. and be entertaining, I don't see why I wouldn't continue to watch.
I think about the worst thing they could do would be to try and shoehorn in new character in as the new J.D. though.
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12-30-2008 @ 8:23PM
Tony said...
I'd still watch it. I think the current cast could hold their own without JD. There are definitely enough castmembers to focus on besides JD.
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12-30-2008 @ 8:26PM
Rocketboy said...
That might be the only way I do watch it.
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12-30-2008 @ 10:57PM
Harry said...
It would be weird if he was still doing voice-overs. That 70's Show (kinda) worked without much of its cast. Happy Days (kinda) worked without Richie. Scrubs might as well try. I'd watch.
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12-31-2008 @ 12:10AM
FrankM said...
Gillmore Girls with out Amy Sherman-Palladino. Newsradio without Phil Hartman. How did those work out?
I like Scrubs, but let it die already.
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1-01-2009 @ 12:25PM
StillBash said...
GG Season 7 worked for me - after about 9 episodes.
Amy Sherman-Palladino went on to produce a trainwreck.
So that's not really a good example IMHO.
The problem with Scrubs is that it's already a trainwreck. Braff would've left already if it weren't for the bags of money he carries off that Disney lot every week...
12-31-2008 @ 2:23AM
Jojee said...
I was not excited with the showing continuing at all. But the new promos on ABC have gotten me curious, and I will watch.
If it seems fresh, I would watch without Zach. I think the other characters can pull it off. But if the show continues to suck...I'm out!
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12-31-2008 @ 3:47AM
Brett said...
This might be getting the cart ahead of the horse. Given ABC's recent track record with comedies, maybe we should be asking if anyone is going to watch scrubs with Zach Braff.
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12-31-2008 @ 4:01AM
iamjoecollector said...
That 70's show didn't work at all without Topher Grace. Of course the writing had suffered a bit at times before that, the other characters just couldn't quite carry the show.
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12-31-2008 @ 5:53AM
MouseGoddess said...
Sure, it can go on without J.D. Feature Carla, she's a hoot! And Dr. Cox, who's already most of the show.
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12-31-2008 @ 7:59AM
SadOldMan said...
I will crawl across 100 miles of broken glass if that would keep Scrubs on the air. I'd love to see it continue with new characters, and focus on some of the side characters...like Janitor and Ted.
Zach Braff hasn't put any effort into the show in years, it has been everyone else carrying the show.
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12-31-2008 @ 9:13AM
Wii60 said...
I just saw Garden State for the first time and understand why Braff is such a hot commodity. This guy is going to have a massively successful film career.
That said, the supporting cast is still great, so yes, I would watch it, but doubt it would last.
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12-31-2008 @ 10:17AM
Steven said...
Sarah Chalke is the best one on the show. I would love to see a Scrubs focused on her.
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12-31-2008 @ 10:22AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Scrubs is still around? Why?
And Fraser sucked compared to Cheers.
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