As someone who came of age during Scrubs’ original run, I’ve long considered it not only a great medical show but also one of the best sitcoms of all time. While the Zach Braff-led series, with all its celebrity cameos and long list of great episodes, has been off the air for nearly 16 years, we’ll soon be going back to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Ahead of the ABC show’s return, I’ve searched near and far for everything I can find about the return of one of my all-time favorite shows. And after finding all this, I’m even more excited for the return of J.D., Turk, and the rest of the Scrubs cast…
When Will The Scrubs Revival Premiere?
The Scrubs revival series will land on the 2026 TV schedule in a matter of weeks, as ABC has announced a February 25 return for the beloved show. That’s right near the 16th anniversary of the Scrubs Season 9 finale and nearly a quarter-century since J.D. first walked into Sacred Heart back in October 2001.
Not only will episodes air the old-fashioned way on ABC, but they’ll also be streaming for anyone with a Hulu subscription.
The Scrubs Series Revival Will Consist Of Nine Episodes
Considering Scrubs is returning to the airwaves with a mid-season premiere, it was unlikely the show would get a full 20-to-23-episode order. That said, as Zach Braff and Donald Faison revealed on their Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald podcast (via Screenrant) in August 2025, the new revival will consist of nine episodes. This still gives us plenty of time for those signature daydream sequences, J.D. and Turk yelling “Eagle!” through the hallways of Sacred Heart, and all sorts of surprises come February 2026.
The Scrubs Series Revival Cast
The award-winning Scrubs cast has always been a tight-knit group; one that will make appearances together on shows like Cougar Town, lead multiple commercial campaigns, and post pics of themselves just hanging out. That said, it was no surprise when ABC announced that many of the surviving actors from the original run (RIP, Sam Lloyd) would be returning for the new revival. Here’s everyone who’s been announced for the show so far.
- Zach Braff as John "J.D." Dorian
- Donald Faison as Christopher Turk
- Sarah Chalke as Elliot Reid
- Judy Reyes as Carla Espinosa
- John C. McGinley as Dr. Perry Cox
- Vanessa Bayer as Sibby
- Joel Kim Booster as Dr. Erik Park
- Robert Maschio as Dr. Todd Quinlan
- Phill Lewis as Dr. Hooch
- Ava Bunn as Serena
- Jacob Dudman as Asher
- David Gridley as Blake
- Layla Mohammadi as Amara
- Amanda Morrow as Dashana
What About Dr. Kelso And The Janitor?
I’m sure I’m not the only one who looked at that list above and thought: Aren’t there two major characters missing? As of this writing (less than a month before the premiere), Ken Jenkins and Neil Flynn’s characters aren’t set to appear on the show, at least not in the first few episodes.
When speaking with Esquire ahead of the series’ return, Zach Braff said that both actors want to come back, it’s just that the creative team is trying to make it work. Even so, if they don’t appear this season, and Scrubs is given a second season, Braff said it’s a strong possibility:
Well, the true answer is if we’re blessed to have a second season, absolutely. And the real answer for season 1 is we’re not fully sure yet. Episodes 8 and 9 of the nine-episode order are still being written. They both are interested in doing it. But do we have the bandwidth in the first nine to get to it all and service a story that would be worthy of Ken and Neil? That might come true. At this point, I can’t tell you the answer, but most definitely, if we are lucky enough to get a season 2, that’s something we want to do.
I find it hard to believe that two of the most recognizable characters from the show’s first run won’t be around, but we shall see.
In the same interview, Braff also hinted at a tribute to Sam Lloyd, who passed away in 2020. According to Braff, the revival will honor the man who famously played Ted Buckley by naming the characters’ after-hours hangout Lloyd’s Tavern.
What Will The Scrubs Revival Be About?
One of the big questions I had upon hearing that Bill Lawrence was bringing Scrubs back to life revolved around its setup: will it be a reboot or a revival of the original series? Well, the Ted Lasso and Shrinking creator told Deadline in October 2024 that it won’t be one or the other, but instead a combination of the two, stating:
We’ve been talking about a lot, and I think the only real reason to do it is a combo. A: people wanting to see what the world of medicine was like for the people they love, which is part of any successful reboot. But B: I think that show always worked because you get to see young people dropped into the world of medicine, knowing young people that go there are super idealistic and are doing it because it’s a calling. There’s no cliché ‘rich doctors playing golf’ — that’s not what it is anymore. So I think that, no matter what it is, it would be a giant mistake not to do as a combo of those two things.
Though that didn’t answer many questions at the time, ABC has since announced that the revival will follow J.D. and Turk as they “scrub in together for the first time in a long time.” Coming back to Sacred Heart Hospital with new patients, new interns, and a whole new world of medicine, a lot can happen when these two get back in the swing of things.
When speaking with People Magazine in November 2025, Zach Braff and Donald Faison opened up about the tone and feel of the series, saying that there will be a combination of both old and new when the show returns:
- Zach Braff: There's a very young writers staff along with some of the brilliant original writers on Scrubs, and I think this young, very diverse group of writers will help us crack that case.
- Donald Faison: I think a lot of the story still holds up too. You're still following your favorite doctors, your heroes to some people. Regardless of what's happened from season one through nine, the core story is still there and people really want to see that.
I must say, it will be interesting to see how the two eras melt together. This could be a really cool direction for the staff of Sacred Heart.
The Scrubs Series Revival Trailer
After years of anticipation, ABC finally gave us a proper look at the upcoming Scrubs series revival in January 2026. Though it’s not a full trailer (hopefully, we get this sooner or later), the teaser dropped on the Scrubs Instagram account does have me even more excited for what’s to come:
The brief teaser starts off with JD and Turk spotting each other in the halls of Sacred Heart as they break out a classic “Eagle” for old time’s sake. What follows is some laughs, cast returns, and a whole lot of heart. February 25 can’t come soon enough!
Series Creator Bill Lawrence Will Not Be Writing Or Showrunning Scrubs, But Is Involved
Though Bill Lawrence, who will defend the Scrubs reboot to anyone and everyone, won’t be writing the series revival or serving as showrunner (this guy is super busy with Ted Lasso Season 4 and the upcoming new season of Shrinking), he will be heavily involved with the project.
According to Deadline, the prolific TV producer will serve as an executive producer for the medical dramedy series once again.
How To Watch The Original Scrubs Series Online
If you’re trying to relive the glory days of Scrubs before the reboot comes around, you’re in luck because it’s never been easier to watch the series from start to finish. You can check out all nine seasons over on Hulu (or with a Disney+ subscription if you bundle).
We’re only a few weeks away from the return of Scrubs, but make sure to check back leading up to the premiere for all the latest.
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