"Scrubs" Future No Longer in Question Says John C. McGinley

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
Mar 10, 2008

"Scrubs'" fate is no longer up in the air, reports John C. McGinley. "I've been told to show up at work on March 24, and the 18 episodes we're going to do starting that day will be on ABC next fall," says the actor known as the acerbic Dr. Cox on the show. "Scrubs" lead Zach Braff had expressed he definitely wanted out after what should have been the final season, but McGinley says the whole cast is aboard for one more go. To recap, the "Scrubs" troupe was only able to finish 12 episodes of the 18 NBC had ordered for its final season before the writers' strike, and the network reportedly wouldn't commit to the last six episodes. "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence had declared he'd finish the show on DVD if necessary, but then ABC piped in with the invite to jump ship. Now the last six episodes in the can for NBC begin airing April 10. When they're done, there's no wrap-up, cliffhanger or anything," notes McGinley. "It's a show that will all of a sudden stop in the middle of its season on NBC, which is kind of a drag, but if we're switching to ABC, I don't really care. Steve McPherson, the guy who runs ABC, greenlit the thing when he was over at Touchstone, so it was his baby to begin with. I couldn't be more excited." McGinley, who's over the moon about the new baby girl he just had Feb. 2 with wife Nichole Kessler, says, "I haven't talked to my cast mates because I've been a little busy over here, but I'm sure everybody's pretty thrilled. The fanatical fan base we have is the only reason we're still on. It's unbelievable. It's the show you can't kill, and I'm happy for it. I'd love to do it forever."