Original Cast Returns, Season 9 Ignored

Scrubs season 10 is on the way, and some recent news is an excellent sign for fans of the original series. The medical sitcom, created by Bill Lawrence, premiered its first season in 2001 and ran for 8 seasons, ending in 2009. Though there was, technically, a season 9, it wasn’t particularly popular. It’s for this reason that many are considering the upcoming Scrubs season 10 something of a do-over.

While the emotional finale of Scrubs season 8 served as the perfect ending to JD’s story, ABC saw fit to keep the ball rolling. Season 9 featured a mostly fresh cast, playing medical students alongside a select few returning Scrubs characters. This attempt to continue Scrubs completely crashed and burned, and the original season 10 plan was canceled.

Now, the better part of two decades later, Lawrence is bringing back Scrubs for a tenth season. This time, all the original primary cast will return to play their characters, allowing us a peek at what their lives look like in the 2020s. It’s an exciting prospect, made all the better by the suggestions that Scrubs season 9 will essentially be ignored.

Scrubs Season 9 Cast Members Aren’t Coming Back For Season 10

Eliza Coupe as Dr. Denise Mahoney, Michael Mosley as Drew Suffin, and Dave Franco as Cole Aaronson from Scrubs season 9 next to each other

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, actor Dave Franco, who played medical student Cole Aaronson in Scrubs season 9, revealed that he hasn’t been invited back for the upcoming revival. Since Franco was among the main cast in the show’s divisive final season, we can assume none of the other members of this “next generation” will return either.

This is good news for Scrubs fans, and that is absolutely nothing against Franco or the other primary actors from season 9. The performances of this season weren’t the issue. Rather, it simply wasn’t the right time or angle to continue Scrubs‘ story after such a powerful finale season. This is a concept that Franco understands fully, as he noted that he enjoyed the experience on Scrubs but that he knows there isn’t “a lot of love for the ninth season.”

Scrubs Revival Only Works If It (Mostly) Ignores Season 9

Elliott, JD, and Turk in Scrubs promotional image

Part of what made Scrubs so successful was its unique balance of heart and comedy. The show was, at its core, a rather profound look at the actual struggles of those in the medical field, especially young doctors transitioning through the stages of their careers. This was layered with complete ridiculousness through all eight seasons, until the show logically ended with JD having climbed to the position of attending physician.

Season 9 simply didn’t fit with the trajectory of the story that audiences knew and loved. Not only did much of the cast not return, but this installment literally obliterated the familiar setting, replacing Sacred Heart Hospital with a medical school. It was a disastrous decision, and one that felt more like a money grab than anything else.

Scrubs season 9 was such a mistake that it would be far better off if the upcoming revival season ignored it as much as possible. Any solid reference (outside of meta comedy) to this installment would feel like the show trying to justify something that didn’t work. We’re ready for a Scrubs revival, but one that organically carries on from the finale we loved. That means leaving that temporarily added cast behind.