‘Scrubs’ Revival: Release Date, Cast, Season 9 Retcon, & Everything We Know

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The return of Scrubs feels pretty typical for a show coming back after a long break – it’s not the first beloved sitcom to do this, and it won’t be the last. However, this revival is also a bit different. ABC has been secretive about the new season for a while, but we’re now learning a lot of exciting details about what fans can expect when Scrubs returns.

The comedy Scrubs aired for nine seasons, from 2001 to 2010, and gradually gained a loyal following. Although it wasn’t as massively popular as some other shows of its time, the fact that it’s returning demonstrates continued interest. The original ending, however, wasn’t ideal for creator Bill Lawrence and his team. Fortunately, ABC has approved a revival, giving them a chance to provide a more satisfying conclusion.

‘Scrubs’ Revival Is Happening After Season 9 Retcon


ABC

Reviving a show after a long break often means acknowledging past flaws and moving the story forward. With its upcoming return, Scrubs has done just that, but in a dramatic way. The ninth season, rebranded as Scrubs: Med School, was widely disliked. The show’s creator tried to reinvent Scrubs with radical changes – a completely new cast, a different hospital, and the removal of many familiar characters and elements.

Bill Lawrence, who created Scrubs, is still very involved in the show’s return, but he’s handing over day-to-day control to Aseem Batra, a writer who previously worked on the series.

As a huge Scrubs fan, I was honestly pretty worried when I heard about a revival. The Med School season felt like a misstep, and I feared we’d get more of that same disappointing vibe. I never imagined they’d just… pretend it didn’t happen! But that’s exactly what they’re doing. The new season picks up years after the original finale, completely ignoring those thirteen episodes. Donald Faison, who played Turk, has actually suggested we think of Med School as existing in its own separate Scrubs universe – like those episodes did happen, just in a different reality. It’s a clever way to handle things, and honestly, as a devotee, I’m much more optimistic about the revival now.

When the ‘Scrubs’ Revival Will Premiere


NBC

Great news for fans! Scrubs is officially coming back on February 25, 2026, with a special two-episode premiere. After nearly 16 years since Scrubs: Med School concluded and 17 years since Season 8, viewers will get two new episodes at once. The premiere will air on ABC at 8 pm ET, with the second episode immediately following. Both episodes will then be available to stream on Hulu the next day.

I’m so excited about the Scrubs revival! While there’s no official word yet on how many episodes we’ll get, I’ve been listening to Zach and Donald’s podcast, Fake Doctors, Real Friends, and it sounds like they’re planning for nine episodes to start. That would be the shortest season ever, though Season 7 was also short because of the writers’ strike. Honestly, nine episodes feels pretty normal for TV these days. I’m just hoping this is just the beginning and they order a lot more if it does well! I’m really eager to see how long this new run will last.

What the ‘Scrubs’ Revival Will Be About


ABC

Before the announcement that Season 9 would take a different direction, many viewers thought the show would return to the original Sacred Heart Hospital. With medical school no longer a focus, the Scrubs revival could once again be set in the familiar hospital. Although the actual building has been demolished, ABC has rebuilt it using special sets. However, despite this setup suggesting a return to familiar territory, details about the new season’s plot indicate things will be different.

Zach Braff, who played JD in Scrubs, told Esquire that JD’s life has significantly changed since moving an hour away from Sacred Heart Hospital at the end of Season 8. The spin-off Med School didn’t really address this distance, keeping JD involved from the start. However, the new revival marks JD’s first substantial return to Sacred Heart in about 15 years. He’s only going back as a ‘concierge doctor’ because one of his patients is now being treated there.

A major focus of the story is how JD’s close relationships have changed over time. While his friendship with Turk remains, it’s been strained by the distance between them after the original series ended. More significantly, the revival shows that JD and Elliot are no longer a couple – a big shift, because the earlier series Med School depicted them as married with a child. It seems those happy events have been completely removed from the show’s official storyline.

‘Scrubs’ Revival Cast


NBC

A major issue with the later seasons of Scrubs (often referred to as Med School) was the decreased focus on the original characters. The strong connection between the long-time cast was key to the show’s success, and shifting attention to a new group of interns significantly contributed to the decline in quality. Fortunately, the upcoming revival seems to be prioritizing the return of as many original cast members as possible. While Sam Lloyd’s passing means we won’t see Ted again, he’s the only one missing. There’s hope that even Ken Jenkins, as Dr. Kelso, and Neil Flynn, as the Janitor, will make appearances, though their involvement hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.

Confirmed Returning Scrubs Stars
Character Actor
JD Zach Braff
Turk Donald Faison
Elliot Sarah Chalke
Carla Judy Reyes
Dr. Cox John C. McGinley
The Todd Rob Maschio
Hooch Phill Lewis

The new season of Scrubs will bring back the original cast, but also introduce a group of fresh, younger doctors and other new faces – something the show has done throughout its history, even before Med School. As a teaching hospital, Sacred Heart naturally sees a lot of staff turnover. The creators plan to strike a balance between the familiar characters and these new additions, aiming for a feel closer to Season 8 rather than the more experimental Season 9. One of the biggest new stars is Vanessa Bayer from Saturday Night Live, who will play Sibby, the head of the hospital’s wellness program. And viewers can likely expect some fun guest appearances when the show returns.

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2026-01-22 00:43