Scrubsis returning to ABC, and while the reboot is still currently in development,Zach Braff has officially signed on to reprise his role as Dr. John “JD” Dorian,the main protagonist of the popular medical comedyfor the first eight seasons. Braff only appeared in the first six episodes of the misguided season 9, seeing him at Winston University as a professor before returning to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he began working at the end of season 8 to be closer to his son.
Many questions continue to circle the reboot, and multiple factors have yet to be announced. Despite Braff’s character’s return, it still hasn’t been confirmedwhether the remaining principal cast will return.While we await more news on theScrubsreboot, here are ten characters we’d love to see return with J.D. to the show.
10The Janitor
J.D.’s Main Rival Back For More Revenge
All great characters have their main rivals, and there was no greater rival inScrubsfor J.D. than The Janitor (Neil Flynn). Theybegan their blood feud against J.D. after he dropped a penny in the front sliding door of the hospital, causing it to break. Through eight seasons, The Janitor made J.D.’s life a nightmare, doing everything from locking him on the roof of the hospital to feeding him a laxative-laced pie.
One of the major themes in the original run ofScrubswas the dynamic between J.D. and The Janitor. Although they shared more terror than friendship, The Janitor did form a truce with J.D. when needed or when it benefited him. Flynn has played parts in several Bill Lawrence-helmed projects post-Scrubs, including roles inSurviving JackandShrinking, soit wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine The Janitor making his returnto torment and terrorize J.D. once more.
9Dr. Cox
J.D.’s Unwilling Mentor Returns As The Veteran
As The Janitor was J.D.’s main rival, no one character played a more pivotal and consequential role in J.D.’s life than Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox (John C. McGinley). An unwilling mentor,Dr. Cox became more than just J.D.’s mentor; he became a father figure. He was the person who shot it straight with him, even when he didn’t want to.
It would be hard to imagine aScrubsreboot without the involvement of John C. McGinley, who is scheduled to star in Bill Lawrence’s new and yet-to-be-titled HBO show, and was also a part of the Lawrence-helmed short-lived seriesGround Floor.The dynamics of an aging Dr. Cox with a weathered Dr. Dorianin aScrubsworld set 15 years or more in the future would make for compelling television, especially if we still see elements of J.D.’s continued need for Cox’s approval all these years later.
8The Todd
The Inappropriate Surgeon With A New, Serious Tone
For every character that helped J.D. and company grow, there were always a few that stayed relatively the same. The personification of this was Dr. Todd Quinlan, known to allScrubsfans as “The Todd” (Robert Maschio). Brash, offensive, and inappropriate,The Todd was one of the most skilled surgeons at Sacred Heartand always willing to give out painful high-fives to whoever happened to wander into his path.
Part of the magic thatScrubsbrought was based on the interactions of the characters in good and bad ways, andThe Todd represented a type of neutral chaos that was a necessary balance to the seriousness that the show could bring. However, as he would have adapted to a world that doesn’t take kindly to his overtly sexual commentary, seeing a reformed and serious Todd could be a fun change of pace.
7Hooch
He’s Definitely Crazy, And Would Be The Best New Old Running Gag
Hooch, an orthopedic surgeon at Sacred Heart, isa character who slowly descends into madness throughout the show. The frequent victim of pranks that J.D. and Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison) would pull, Hooch was fired from the hospital after holding four interns hostage during season 7, episode 5. There were always multiple running gags through the first eight seasons ofScrubs, and the most chaotic was Hooch slowly losing his mind thanks to J.D. and Turk. A returning Hooch, last seen in the season 8 finale in a straitjacket, would be a fun return to a silly but terrifying gag.
6Dr. Kelso
Sacred Heart’s Former Chief Of Medicine Back For More Muffins
The main antagonist in the show itself and Sacred Heart Hospital, Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), did more to disrupt the lives of J.D., Dr. Cox, and the rest of the Sacred Heart staff as the cold, calculated Chief of Medicine throughout the first seven seasons. Eventually showing signs of humanity through the years,Kelso settled into his retirement in Coffee Bucks. He ate free muffins every day until departing for good in the season 8 finale.
Dr. Kelso was a part of season 9, joining as a professor in the wake of his wife Enid’s death, and appeared in nine episodes, settling into his new “love nest” dorm. Playing off the aged dynamic of both Dr. Cox and J.D.,a handful of appearances by Dr. Kelso would add additional layers to the now-veteran Cox’s place in Sacred Heart, with J.D. and any new doctors who have crossed his path since.
5Keith Dudemeister
Funny Name, Tragic Story, Hopefully With New Found Love
A sad tale in the story ofScrubs, Keith Dudemeister (Travis Schuldt)became an integral part of the show as the love interest of Dr. Elliott Reid (Sarah Chalke) through seasons 5 and 6. While it seemed Dr. Reid was destined to become Dr. Dudemeister, she ended up breaking off the engagement in favor of being with J.D.
Keith was a popular secondary character throughout the show and a main plot driver to finally connect J.D. and Elliott together, andseeing where Keith ended up all these years later would be a nice nod back to that era of the show.Although we assume he has succeeded and done well, we certainly hopeDudemeister has found love before season 10.
4Carla Espinosa
The Heart And Soul Of Sacred Heart Back To Balance Turk
Outside Dr. Cox, no other character made a bigger impact on J.D. than Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), who helped him navigate his early formidable years as a new doctor, coming to his rescue more times than they’d like to admit. Appearing throughout the first eight seasons,Carla was the heart and soul of Sacred Heart, the clear conscious of the hospital, whether they wanted to hear it or not.
Although almost all the principal cast returned for season 9 in some capacity, Carla was the only character who didn’t return, opting to be a stay-at-home mom as opposed to returning to the new Sacred Heart Hospital.Turk’s character without Carla’s presence on screen felt a bit wonky and unbalanced, and we’d love to see this dynamic return to the screen in season 10.
3Denise Mahoney
J.D.’s True Apprentice - Brash, Abrasive, And Cold
One of the better parts of the disjointed season 9 was a larger presence for Dr. Denise Mahoney (Eliza Coupe), the brash, straightforward, and direct residentwho struggles to be compassionate with her patients and colleagues. When J.D. officially left in season 9, she became Turk’s new “best friend,” and a unique dynamic ensued, helping to carry the show through its remaining episodes.
If season 10 incorporates all elements of the originalScrubsofferings, season 9 has to be included, for better or worse, andMahoney would be one of the few holdover portions of the season that would make sense factoring into the reboot. AsDr. Mahoney was J.D.’s true protégé, a story based on this relationship 15 years later would play as a backdrop by revisiting the relationship between Dr. Cox and J.D.
2Jordan Sullivan
Jordan Humanized Dr. Cox And Helped Him Grow
Dr. Cox pushed everyone in his life away to the best of his ability, but couldn’t fully shake his ex-wife, Jordan Sullivan (Christa Miller), who mostly brought out the best in him.Jordan became the stability to Cox’s often volatile approach to his life and colleagues, and by season 8, Dr. Cox came close to the best version of himself thanks to Jordan’s unwavering commitment to him and his well-being.
Miller, who is currently part of the principal cast of another Bill Lawrence show,Shrinking, could likely make an easy cameo appearance or two to help fill in the 15-year gap between seasons 9 and 10 for Dr. Cox and his family, especially as their children grew.Their son, Jack, would be old enough to be old enough to at least begin medical school in season 10, and it would be fun to see another Dr. Cox terrorize and verbally bludgeon J.D. on the floors of Sacred Heart.
1Dr. Turk
J.D. & Turk Are Like Peanut Butter & Jelly
Arguably, the most important element ofScrubsis the relationship between J.D. and Dr. Turk.They’rebest friends who love each other more than they love their spouses. Through all of their doubts and insecurities, the show follows the growth and evolution of the characters as they become doctors, husbands, fathers, and knowledgeable people in their fields.
Braff and Donald Faison have remained close friends post-Scrubs, collaborating on commercial projects as well asReal Friends, Fake Doctors, a podcast aboutScrubsand the stories behind the scenes.It’s impossible to imagine aScrubsreboot without Faison’s involvement, and we think it’s only a matter of time before the announcement of his return, giving us more time to enjoy J.D. and Turk’s dynamic and friendship.
