How The Scrubs Spinoff Failed In A Single Strange Season

Scrubs will always be remembered as one of the best sitcoms of all time. The timeless cast and emotional storytelling created a truly unique half hour comedy. But the legacy of Scrubs took a major hit when ABC decided they wanted to extend the life of the show and try a soft reboot with Scrubs: Med School. Which after a near perfect Season 8 Finale, would ultimately be the shows downfall.

#Scrubs #FinalSeason #Nerdstalgic

Written by Dave Baker
Edited by Dan Smiley

[mgs]

I am actually amazed you managed to do a 10 minute presentation about a season that doesn't exist. Outstanding imagination

[Kmadden]

I think I remember reading an interview with Bill Lawrence at the time where he basically admitted that the only reason why he agreed to do a ninth season was because he didn’t want to leave his cast and crew looking for work in the middle of a recession.

[advogadocannabico]

I just treat season 9 as spin off, that way scrubs remain with the perfect finale in my head

[yourfriendtuna]

I never watched this season. The season 8 finale was perfection. No need in more.

[trinaq]

For me, Scrubs ended when J.D. left, that "Book of Love" montage was the perfect note to end the series on, but they chose to needlessly carry on with a final season, just for the money, naturally.

[ohghee]

One thing you didn't mention that I feel would change people's opinion on the black mark of the shows underwhelming season 9 is that a big reason why Bill Lawrence agreed to this was to keep a lot of the writers, directors, and staff in general employed during the recession that was happening (or certain to happen) at the time. So does it make the season any better? No. But at least it makes the season 9 attempt seem a bit more noble and forgiving

[mrliteral]

The issue really started with NBC not renewing it after season 7, preventing the opportunity for proper closure. When ABC offered to pick up the show for a full season 8, Lawrence took the opportunity to conclude everyone's story to his satisfaction... but the network wanted more out of their investment. Most of those returning did so under contractual obligation and not much else.

[jippy]

I don't know who these people are who remember Scrubs mostly for that "last season". I remember Scrubs as a core memory of laughter and tears for eight years that was handled brilliantly to the very end. And then there was a season of something else, who cares.

[karl_franks]

I haven’t seen the season 9 episodes since they first aired and man I forgot how weirdly cheap and artificial the new sets looked 🥴 the lighting and filming in an actual (disused) hospital gave the first run a really natural look which holds up really well

[TheDonkeyJote]

One little correction, Eliza Coupe's Dr. Mahoney wasn't a new character. She was introduced as a recurring character in Season 8 (and was the best of the interns introduced that season).

Imo, if they had wanted to carry on with Scrubs post-Braff, it should have been following the season 8 interns (Denise, Sunny, Howie, and Katie) with Coupe as the new main character. The most interesting thing about Season 9 was her.

[NotAWeeb]

I feel like Eliza Coupe and Michael Mosley helped make this season likeable and did well bringing their characters to life. Although I do think the season itself is unnecessary.

[blaksword]

I love scrubs so much but I just have to consider S9 as a totally different show

[Dolirn]

I have to take issue with the claim that this lackluster final season is what Scrubs is known for in pop culture. I've never watched Scrubs, yet am familiar with it, its characters, and some of its jokes from cultural awareness. I had never heard of this final season until just now.

[zenith]

Main mistake: the title. Call this Med school, without scrubs, and it could work. The characters are cool in my opinion, especially Drew and Cole who, while annoying, had a cool arq.
I think people bo longer give sitcoms the breathing time they all need at first. Give this show another season and it could have been cool

[trinaq]

I can't believe that I forgot that Dave Franco was in this show! At least he went onto bigger and better things!

[williamstoycheff]

Dr. Mahoney was introduced in eight so I felt like we were just following her during her time. As a med school teacher. She seems like she was the anchor and the connection between scrubs and this

[kyts]

It's almost kind of weird how many parallels there are between Scrubs season 9 and the first season of Community. Drew Suffin is basically Jeff Winger...

[kiliancronin]

How Scrubs ended in season 8 was perfect, beautifully done and so emotional. Definitely one of the greatest endings to a show

[henryalberts]

I feel like the greatest problem of Season 9 was introducing entire new characters, rather than relying on Denise from Season 8 and her fellow interns. If Scrubs was to survive, I think pivoting to them as leads and expanding their lives fully while retaining other characters besides JD would allow a sort of generational, long-lasting sitcom that could continue with a rotating generational cast.

[RobertJW]

Season 9 also has a genuinely great farewell episode for Ted, who really deserved it. Everyone clowns on 9, but that episode… that one’s worth keeping in the canon.