Scrubs 2.0 Promo Poster - Season 9 Premieres Tuesday, Dec 1st on ABC

The Blot’s been pretty mum on Scrubs Season 9 for a couple of reasons, but mainly because I have no idea how to feel about it. While it’s great ABC renewed the show for a ninth season, Scrubs returns with a brand new look and pretty much a brand new cast. With John C. McGinley’s Dr. Cox and Donald Faison’s Dr. Turk as the only remaining central characters from the show’s stellar zany cast, the focus of the show shifts to three new medical students attending Winston University and interning at Sacred Heart.


While Zach Braff’s J.D. will still appear in a handful of episodes, the show will now be narrated by Kerry Bishe’s Lucy Bennett, a new medical student at Winston University, which is a pretty significant change if I do say so myself. I am relieved to hear Sarah Chalke’s Dr. Elliot Reid, Sam Lloyd’s Ted Buckland and Robert Maschino’s The Todd will be appearing sporadically throughout Scrubs’ ninth season, but I’m worried the show won’t have the same rhythm and feel it once did, especially with Scrubs creator and show runner Bill Lawrence focusing much of his attention on his new ABC comedy, Cougar Town.


I will say, even with all my reservations I am still elated to have Scrubs returning for another season. While I’d prefer to watch the Janitor roaming the halls of Sacred Heart, I’ll take Scrubs 2.0 any day over the alternative (i.e. a Scrubs-less world). Joining Scrubs as series regulars this season is previously recurring cast member Eliza Coupe (former intern turned student advisor Denise Mahoney aka Jo), and newcomers Michael Mosley and Dave Franco as new medical students.


Scrubs Season 9 premieres on ABC tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 1st, at 8/9c.

Scrubs Debuts on ABC Tomorrow!

The Blot is ridiculously excited about tomorrow’s season premiere of Scrubs on ABC. It was a travesty how NBC treated Scrubs the past few years, especially the pathetic send off it gave such a successful comedy that aired on its network for 7 seasons. Because of that it’s really nice to see how much marketing muscle ABC is putting behind the start of Scrubs’ 8th and possibly final season. Scrubs returns with an all new 30 minute episode on Tuesday January 6th at 9/8c and is followed immediately with a second all new episode at 9:30/8:30c.


Considering how weak ABC’s comedy lineup is (with Samantha Who? its only even remotely successful half hour comedy), is it any surprise that the alphabet network is already talking about bringing Scrubs back for a 9th season (or possibly rebranding the show as a Scrubs spin-off) even though star Zach Braff has stated he will definitely be leaving the show at the end of this season. Would a Braff-less Scrubs even be worth bringing back? ABC seems to think so considering the extra money the network brings in off selling the comedy's syndication rights and DVD packages.

ABC has some great webisodes currently airing on the Scrubs website highlighting the show’s new batch of medical interns, which also incidentally gives viewers a sneak peek at what a 9th season without Braff’s Dr. Dorian would be like. So once you’re done enjoying tomorrow night’s hour long Scrubs, head over to ABC.com to check out all the new characters set to pop up in Scrubs Season 8 this year.

Scrubs airs Tuesdays this Spring on ABC at 9/8c.

Scrubs' ABC Premiere Set For Jan 6th & New Season 8 Trailer

I have to tell you, The Blot needs some Scrubs in my life and watching reruns of the popular comedy is really not doing it for me anymore. I need some fresh new episodes and I need them now! Thankfully ABC has finally announced when Scrubs’ 8th and final season will begin, January 6, 2009. I can’t wait to see what the Bill Lawrence comedy has in store for us this season, especially after the way NBC unceremoniously dumped the medical dramedy last year.


According to some reports, Scrubs Season 8’s premiere on ABC will air at 9/8c on Tuesday, January 6. The show will air two thirty minute episodes back-to-back for its first two weeks and then continue airing one 30 minute episode from there on out. No word on what other ABC comedy will be paired with the medical comedy staring Zack Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison and John C. McGinley.


If you are as in need of a fix of new Scrubs material as much as I am, then check out this new sneak peek promo clip highlighting what’s in store for the staff of Sacred Heart hospital in the coming season:

It’s Official - Scrubs To ABC This Fall

Well after months of speculation and the marketing of last week’s Scrubs on NBC as the “Scrubs Finale,” today “ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson…officially announced the acquisition of NBC comedy Scrubs.” (link) This might have been one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood considering Scrubs is already back in production for next season.


What is surprising is that McPherson hinted that “Scrubs on ABC…may go beyond next season.” (link) The last part sounds a little weird to me, since The Blot had always been under the impression that no matter what next season would be Scrubs’ 8th and final season. Zach Braff even said as much in his blog post yesterday on his Myspace page when he said “I was not allowed to say it until today, but Scrubs will be moving to ABC for its final season.” (link)


It was nice to hear McPherson speak so positive about what Scrubs can bring to ABC. He even added that “we think it’s been in 17 time periods on (NBC) and they rarely promoted it at all and it still performed a 3.5 rating on Thursday second only to the The Office. We think it’s a great addition to our comedy brand, it gives us a real opportunity and another piece to play with” (link) It sounds like Scrubs finally has a network’s support, which the show has so desperately needed. Hopefully this move will do great things for the show and give Scrubs the send off it so richly deserves.

Will Sarah Chalke Be Joining How I Met Your Mother Next Season?

According to a source who spoke to MSNBC’s Courtney Hazlett it is a real possibility. Hazlett wrote on MSNBC’s The Scoop that “producers were very, very happy with her.” (link) The source even went on to say that there is “definitely interest” in the Scrubs star returning as Ted Mosby’s dermatologist/love interest this season. (link) While Sarah Chalke will obviously not be able to return to HIMYM regularly this season due to her currently filming 18 new episodes of Scrubs for next season, Hazlett’s source added they “wouldn’t rule anything out.” (link)


With the obviously great on screen chemistry between Chalke’s Stella and Josh Radner’s Ted it seems like a no brainer to bring Chalke back as a cast member next year. Wouldn’t her reappearance in the season finale combined with the big reveal that she is Ted’s future wife be a great way to end the season? Plus, Chalke has already shown her ability to shine in a talented ensemble cast with her work on Scrubs, so her addition to How I Met Your Mother should be seamless.

Britney Spears, Alicia Silverstone and Sarah Chalke to Guest Star on How I Met Your Mother (Plus Scrubs News)

Wow, its been a huge news week for How I Met Your Mother as the show tries to make a major push in the ratings to ensure its renewal for next year. Bringing in all this star power has been known to backfire in the past, as many viewers were turned off from NBC’s Will & Grace as it became so guest star heavy. I think there is definitely some potential backlash to having the paparazzi’s favorite target Britney Spears showing up in an episode. I don’t know if this is a major “get” for HIMYM or not, but it will definitely draw lots of attention by the media and hopefully some new viewers looking for the next big Britney screw up.

Originally it was being reported that Alicia Silverstone (Clueless) had been cast as Josh Radnor’s Ted’s dermatologist and love interest for a multi-episode arc. (link) Michael Ausiello even went so far as to hypothozie that he thinks Silverstone could possibly be the mother in How I Met Your Mother, just in case these were the last few episodes of the season. (link)

Then it was leaked that Britney Spears would appear in one of Silverstone’s episodes as an employee of the doctor’s. E! reported that Spears would star as “Abby, a girl who works in Ted’s doctor’s office” and is described as “sweet and friendly and scattered and a little nerdy – a female Michael Cera.” (link) Ok, that description is so all over the place it actually might work for Britney in that she doesn’t have to act, just show up as her crazy, all over the place self. The Blot was nervous as this point because over the past year Britney has come off as a pariah and seems to poison everything she’s involved in. The only thing worse would have been if HIMYM cast Lindsay Lohan for a guest role.

Then news came today that there is already a big Spears backlash that is evidently changing the future plans for How I Met Your Mother. Today Ausiello is reporting that Alicia Silverstone has dropped out from her multi-episode arc as Ted’s doctor and lover. (link) The reason Silverstone dropped out of the role is “because her reps (understandably) feared she would be overshadowed by Spears” who would be playing her assistant in the doctor’s office. (link) The role of dermatologist will now be played by Scrubs’ Sarah Chalke, but the multi-episode love affair is now being scraped because of Chalke’s schedule. And so it now seems the opportunity for all of us to finally meet Ted’s future wife this season has been scrapped, all because of little Miss Britney Spears. There is a silver lining as Ausiello reports there are still “big plans for Silverstone” and the show intends “to creat another character for her” in the future. (link)

In other exciting Sarah Chalke news, it is being reported in this week’s Ask Ausiello that the reason why Chalke can only appear in one episode of How I Met Your Mother is that the cast and crew of Scrubs “are due back on the set the week of March 24th to being production on an 18-episode final season to air on ABC.” (link) Now how exciting is that!?!

Scrubs Moving To ABC, Well Maybe

The yearly rumor of NBC not renewing Scrubs and ABC Studios bringing it home to ABC has reared its ugly head again, only this time with a twist. Instead of the show not being picked up, NBC is refusing to order additional episodes so that Scrubs can have a proper send off into syndication. Have no fear though, as The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that “ABC is in negotiations to pick up 18 episodes of the series from ABC Studios, which has produced the comedy for NBC since 2001.” (link) This would be an additional 18 episodes on top of the 5 episodes NBC already has completed from before the WGA strike. But, this could very well be a ploy by ABC to force NBC’s hand into agreeing to produce additional episodes this season so that Scrubs can have a full season of episodes and go out with a true series finale.


While shows have been known to switch networks midstream it is a pretty rare occurrence (JAG, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), especially for a show most consider to be in its final season. While NBC originally ordered an 18 episode season, the strike cut the seasons short to 12 episodes and “the network has been reluctant to order additional episodes for the fall, citing the fact that it already has some remaining originals in the can.” (link) TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello has confirmed The Hollywood Reporter’s story, stating that “the move came after negotiations between NBC and ABC studios, which produces Scrubs, broke down.” (link)


Incidentally, if ABC were to pick up the show for an additional 18 episodes it would mean that Scrubs would be on the air for one more full season. So as not to conflict with the actors upcoming schedules, “the episodes will be shot right away and will be ready to air in the fall.” (link) Ausiello also found out that if the ABC deal were to go through the entire cast would return including star Zach Braff.

Scrubs fans shouldn’t hold their breath for an additional season. While it is possible the deal is made, I think the odds are pretty slim. More than likely the threat of the deal will compel NBC to order additional episodes for this season, allowing Scrubs to end as planned and blocking ABC from stealing the show. More news to come as details emerge!

UPDATE: Variety is now reporting that NBC is saying there is no truth to the reports of Scrubs moving to ABC. (link) NBC Entertaiment/Unversal Media Studios co-chair Marc Graboff is quoted as saying that they have “a license agreement with ABC Studios, which includes a right of first negotiation and first refusal to extend the series term beyond this season.” (link) I interpret this to mean that any deal ABC is claiming to have made would be in violation with its agreement with NBC and NBC is willing to block ABC by coming to terms with ABC Studios “to resolve the seventh – and what was believed to be the final – season of Scrubs.” (link)

The Variety article also states that before NBC would commit to purchasing additional episodes and a series finale of Scrubs the network would need assurances from ABC Studios “that Scrubs wouldn’t wind up squeezing out another season on ABC.” (link) It seems as though this issue is far from being over with creator Bill Lawrence and the cast of Scrubs squarely in the middle of a tug-of-war between ABC and NBC.

The Writers Strike Is Officially Over and a Scrubs Update

As of last night, Tuesday February 12th, the WGA “union members voted overwhelmingly to go back to work.” (link) This means that movie and TV writers will finally be going back to work and “programmers are busy getting back to business after a dry spell that deprived viewers of new episodes and networks of ratings.” (link) Unfortunately not all TV shows will be going back into production. The networks are holding back many of the year’s new shows so that they can be re-launched with full seasons next year. A few other shows that are on the brink of cancellation are also not going back into production until the networks decide if they are going to renew the show or not, or if it’s worth putting those shows back on the air for a very limited final run.


For all the Scrubs fans out there that were concerned that we’d never get a series finale since this was to be the show’s final season, you can now breathe a sigh of relief. Creator Bill Lawrence has assured us all that the final four episodes of the NBC comedy will be written and produced. (link) Lawrence stated to TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello that “worst-case scenario is that ABC/Disney lets me make the last four episodes as a DVD. And I say that's the worst-case scenario because I'm going to try as hard as I can to get NBC's support in finishing the show up on TV. I just don't have any definitive answer because I haven't been talking to them.” (link) To clarify, the NBC comedy is actually produced by ABC/Disney, so that in the case NBC does not want to air the final episodes on their network, ABC would like Scrubs to finish the production of the show’s final season in order to sell future DVD box sets either as an individual Season 7 box set or as a Complete Series box set.