ABC's Scrubs revival brings back core characters like J.D. and Turk while introducing fresh faces at Sacred Heart Hospital. The nine-episode season explores changes in medicine and personal lives, including J.D. and Elliot's divorce. Tributes honor absent legacy figures such as Dr. Bob Kelso and Ted.
The Scrubs revival, ordered straight to series by ABC for the 2025-26 season, reunites Zach Braff as Dr. John "J.D." Dorian and Donald Faison as Dr. Christopher Turk, who mentor new interns amid evolving medical practices. Sarah Chalke returns as Dr. Elliot Reid, an endocrinology expert running a private practice at the hospital, while John C. McGinley reprises Dr. Perry Cox as chief of medicine. Judy Reyes recurs as nurse manager Carla, who refers to J.D. as "Bambi" in a nod to the original series.
New characters include Joel Kim Booster as attending physician Dr. Eric Park, serving as J.D.'s new foil; Vanessa Bayer as HR and wellness manager Sibby Wilson; and interns such as Ava Bunn's social media-savvy Samantha "Sam" Tosh, Jacob Dudman's needle-averse Asher Green from the U.K., David Gridley's 35-year-old Blake Lewis, Layla Mohammadi's surgical intern Amara Hadi, and Amanda Morrow's confident Dashana Trainor.
The season reveals that J.D. and Elliot's marriage has ended, prompting fan reactions to the development. Neil Flynn appears in one episode as The Janitor, originally written as a one-time pilot character but expanded after creator Bill Lawrence liked his audition. Flynn recalled, "It was only a one-time thing — a day of shooting — but I was glad to have it, and it turned into a much better deal than I first anticipated."
Ken Jenkins does not appear as Dr. Bob Kelso in Season 1 due to filming in Vancouver creating logistical issues, though a plaque names "The Robert Kelso Wing" after the former chief. Showrunner Aseem Batra noted early talks about his return, stating the team's "wish list is to get all our legacy people back." The late Sam Lloyd is honored with the new bar Lloyd's Tavern. Christa Miller guest-stars once as Jordan.
Originally, Lawrence planned to reveal The Janitor as J.D.'s imaginary anxiety figure if the show ended early, but its longevity allowed broader interactions.