Why'd it take so long to announce this thing? Bill Lawrence: As I understand it, it was legally very important not to say anything officially until after the show had finished its run on NBC.
What led to the break-up with NBC? Lawrence: When the strike ended, we told NBC that, even though we had another seven episodes mapped out, we could do it in three, and they just didn't have any interest. Total harsh buzz of not giving a s--t about a show that had been on the network for seven years and made them millions of dollars. And I'd be more bitter, except that it worked out good for us.
They didn't want to do any kind of wrap-up? Lawrence: Not only did they not want to do any kind of wrap-up, but they took an episode that was supposed to air in the middle of the season — the fairytale episode — and marketed it as a series finale. Which was bulls--t. It was never supposed to be a series finale, much less a season finale, and I think it ended up getting judged kind of harshly because of it. If it was just a regular episode that people had tuned into I think they would've thought it was cool and funny.
I was under the impression NBC was willing to give you one episode to finish things off. No? Lawrence: Well, here's the thing. When the strike ended, NBC said, "You can shoot an hour-long finale, but we'll only pay for half of it." They wanted [ABC Studios] to suck up all the expenses, and ABC said that was unacceptable. And it felt especially harsh because Scrubs was pulling in better [ratings] than 30 Rock and My Name is Earl — even though I love those two shows — and they were encouraged to do as many f--king episodes as they can after the strike. And after seven years, I ask for three episodes to wrap up the series and they say, "Tough s--t."
A very similar situation to CW/CBS Studios/Girlfriends with CBS Studios refusing to soak up the cost of of getting the remaining episodes done, CW the network not wanting to pay for more episodes, and the show getting caught in the middle with no chance to do an ending. The difference between Scrubs and Girlfriends was that ABC is in really bad shape (sitcom-wise) so they could be coerced into taking over another season of episodes for their studio arm while CBS is in really good shape, so they had no reason to pick up a show.
As much as I dislike Scrubs, I think NBC was just trying to screw them here. There's no reason those four new eps couldn't have aired in the winter in the 8pm hour for NBC and then four or five final episodes in the spring to finish er up.
Originally posted by mushu_jj: As much as I dislike Scrubs, I think NBC was just trying to screw them here. There's no reason those four new eps couldn't have aired in the winter in the 8pm hour for NBC and then four or five final episodes in the spring to finish er up.
I was under the same impression. Same thing happened to Las Vegas. I don't watch Scrubs and I never have. I would have thought for a show that ran for 7 seasons on NBC, NBC would be willing to give the show a wrap-up. Makes you think it could happen to any show on NBC, and that longetivity isn't a guarantee for a wrap-up unless your show is called ER or L&O.
Originally posted by CaseyM: I would have thought for a show that ran for 7 seasons on NBC, NBC would be willing to give the show a wrap-up.
At one point, NBC tried to guarantee Scrubs a wrap-up, but only if Scubs (ABC studios) gave a guarantee that the show wouldn't move over to ABC the following year. ABC Studios and Scrubs refused to guarantee NBC that they would be airing the finale.
NBC knew that if/when they did not renew SCRUBS, abc was going to take it for their own. Tey were ready to do it last year. So why would NBC do anything that might benefit ABC?
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Originally posted by Obveeus:
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Originally posted by CaseyM: I would have thought for a show that ran for 7 seasons on NBC, NBC would be willing to give the show a wrap-up.
At one point, NBC tried to guarantee Scrubs a wrap-up, but only if Scubs (ABC studios) gave a guarantee that the show wouldn't move over to ABC the following year. ABC Studios and Scrubs refused to guarantee NBC that they would be airing the finale.
NBC knew that if/when they did not renew SCRUBS, abc was going to take it for their own. Tey were ready to do it last year. So why would NBC do anything that might benefit ABC?
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Originally posted by Obveeus:
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Originally posted by CaseyM: I would have thought for a show that ran for 7 seasons on NBC, NBC would be willing to give the show a wrap-up.
At one point, NBC tried to guarantee Scrubs a wrap-up, but only if Scubs (ABC studios) gave a guarantee that the show wouldn't move over to ABC the following year. ABC Studios and Scrubs refused to guarantee NBC that they would be airing the finale.
From the rest of the Tv Guide Q&A, it seems because of the way NBC handled things, it led to the switch to ABC. If NBC had agreed to end the shw in the manner the Exec Prod. wanted, the switch may not have happended.
How do you go from three episodes on NBC to 18 on ABC?
Lawrence: It was weird, man. I was thinking we'd put these last six episodes on DVD, just so we can wrap the show up and be proud of it, but the head of ABC Studios, Mark Pedowitz, said, "Bill, if you can make the show a little cheaper, I can probably get us a full season on ABC." I didn't answer right away. The first thing I did was call the cast and the writers together and I said, "Look, if we're going to do this, we have to get back to something we creatively can all be excited about." Because, personally, I felt like this past season we were less than inspired comedically. So I said to them, "This means you guys working harder. It means having emotional stakes and losing all the goofy, broad stuff that I think is easy to write… " And everyone said they were on board for one more season.
