Scrubs (season 8)
Encyclopedia
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
television series Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
premiered on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
on January 6, 2009 and concluded on May 6, 2009 and consists of 18 episodes. The eighth season was the first to be shown on ABC after NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
dropped the series, ending its seven-year run on the network. ABC's pick-up of the show was followed by it commissioning eighteen episodes, which included an hour-long finale. For all of the season's run, it was expected that the eighth season would be the last, especially after the show's creator Bill Lawrence
Bill Lawrence (producer)
William Van Duzer Lawrence IV is an American screenwriter, producer, and director best known as the creator of Scrubs and co-creator of Cougar Town. Lawrence is married to the actress Christa Miller whom he cast in both television series; they have three children together...
announced it. After rumors surfaced of a ninth season, it was understood that the eighth would be the last to star Zach Braff
Zach Braff
Zachary Israel "Zach" Braff is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, comedian, and director. Braff first became known in 2001 for his role as Dr. John Dorian on the television series Scrubs, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.In 2004, Braff made his...
and much of the main cast. However, the show was later re-commissioned for another season, in which Braff and other cast members appeared for multiple episodes. The eighth season was the first to be filmed in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
.
Needing to cut costs for the eighth season, Bill Lawrence stated that he divided the writing staff up into two groups, half for the first nine episodes and half for the second nine episodes. Additionally, each main cast member was absent for three episodes during the season (except Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke who are absent for two). An accompanying web series
Web series
A web series is a series of episodes released on the Internet or also by mobile or cellular phone, and part of the newly emerging medium called web television. A single instance of a web series program is called an episode .While the popularity of web series is continuing to rise, the concept...
that aired on ABC's website called Scrubs: Interns
Scrubs: Interns
Scrubs: Interns is a webisode series from ABC based on the comedy-drama series Scrubs in its eighth season, which originally aired premiered on ABC.com, the day of a new Scrubs episode aired...
was also created to coincide with the season, starring the new interns with guest appearances by the main cast.
Main cast
Another way ABC cut costs is to have the main cast absent in a few episodes. Series star Zach BraffZach Braff
Zachary Israel "Zach" Braff is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, comedian, and director. Braff first became known in 2001 for his role as Dr. John Dorian on the television series Scrubs, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.In 2004, Braff made his...
is absent for an episode for the first time in the series, and only lends his voice to another episode.
- Zach BraffZach BraffZachary Israel "Zach" Braff is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, comedian, and director. Braff first became known in 2001 for his role as Dr. John Dorian on the television series Scrubs, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.In 2004, Braff made his...
as Dr. John "J.D." Dorian (16 episodes, plus 1 voice-only episode) - Sarah ChalkeSarah ChalkeSarah Chalke is a Canadian-American actress known for portraying Dr. Elliot Reid on the NBC/ABC comedy Scrubs, "Second Becky" Conner Healy on Roseanne, and Stella Zinman in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother...
as Dr. Elliot ReidElliot ReidDr. Elliot Reid is a fictional character played by Sarah Chalke in the American comedy-drama Scrubs. She has appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except two Season 8 episodes, "My Last Words" and "My Lawyer's in Love"....
(16 episodes) - Donald FaisonDonald FaisonDonald Adeosun Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC comedy-drama Scrubs and as Murray in the film Clueless and the subsequent television series of the same name.Faison has also co-starred in the films Remember the Titans ,...
as Dr. Chris TurkChristopher TurkChristopher Duncan Turk, M.D., is a fictional character played by Donald Faison on the American comedy-drama Scrubs. Turk has appeared in every episode except three Season 8 episodes, "My Saving Grace", "My New Role" and "My Lawyer's in Love". Donald Faison is the only original cast member,...
(15 episodes) - Neil FlynnNeil FlynnNeil Richard Flynn is an American actor and comedian, known for his role as Janitor in the medical comedy-drama Scrubs. He currently portrays Mike Heck in the ABC sitcom The Middle.-Early life:...
as The JanitorJanitor (Scrubs)The Janitor is a fictional character, played by actor Neil Flynn in the American comedy-drama Scrubs.Neil Flynn was originally billed as a recurring guest star throughout Season 1, although he appeared in all 24 episodes of that season. He was promoted to a series regular beginning with Season 2...
(15 episodes) - Ken JenkinsKen JenkinsKen Jenkins is an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Bob Kelso, the Chief of Medicine on the American comedy Scrubs....
as Dr. Bob KelsoBob KelsoRobert "Bob" Kelso, M.D. , is a fictional character played by Ken Jenkins in the American comedy-drama Scrubs....
(15 episodes) - John C. McGinleyJohn C. McGinleyJohn Christopher McGinley is an American actor, most notable for his roles as Perry Cox in Scrubs, Bob Slydell in Office Space, Sergeant Red O'Neill in Oliver Stone's Platoon and Marv in Stone's Wall Street. He has also written and produced for television and film...
as Dr. Perry Cox (15 episodes) - Judy ReyesJudy ReyesJudy Reyes is an American actress of Dominican heritage. She is best known for her portrayal of nurse Carla Espinosa on the TV comedy Scrubs.-Early life:...
as Nurse Carla EspinosaCarla EspinosaCarla Espinosa, RN is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama Scrubs, portrayed by Judy Reyes.Carla has appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except three Season 8 episodes, "My Happy Place", "My Cookie Pants" and "My Full Moon"...
(15 episodes)
Recurring roles
- Robert MaschioRobert MaschioRobert Maschio is an American actor. He is known for playing Dr. Todd 'The Todd' Quinlan in the American comedy-drama Scrubs.-Career:...
as Dr. Todd Quinlan (12 episodes) - Sam LloydSam LloydSam Lloyd may refer to:*Samuel T. Lloyd III, dean of Washington National Cathedral*Sam Lloyd, recurring guest character on several television shows including Scrubs and Desperate Housewives-See also:...
as Ted Buckland (10 episodes) - Eliza CoupeEliza CoupeEliza Coupe is an American actress best known for her role as Denise "Jo" Mahoney in the medical comedy Scrubs, in which she became a regular for the ninth season. Coupe currently stars as Jane Williams in the ABC comedy series Happy Endings.-Career:Coupe grew up in New Hampshire and graduated...
as Dr. Denise Mahoney (9 episodes) - Christa MillerChrista MillerChrista Miller is an American actress who has achieved success in television comedy. Her foremost roles include Kate O'Brien on The Drew Carey Show and Jordan Sullivan on Scrubs . She has also appeared on Seinfeld and CSI: Miami...
as Jordan Sullivan (9 episodes) - Betsy Beutler as Dr. Katie Collins (7 episodes)
- Sonal ShahSonal Shah (actress)Sonal Shah is an Indian-American actress who is best known for playing Dr. Sonja "Sunny" Dey on TV's Scrubs.- Early life and education :...
as Dr. Sonja "Sunny" Dey (6 episodes) - Taran KillamTaran KillamTaran Hourie Killam is an American actor and comedian best known for his television work on shows such as The Amanda Show, Scrubs, Wild 'N Out, MADtv and currently on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:...
as Jimmy "The Overly Touchy Orderly" (5 episodes) - Kit PongettiKit PongettiKit Pongetti is an American actress, singer and writer, known for several acting roles, including playing Lady, the wife of the Janitor, in the show Scrubs.-Early life:...
as Ladinia "Lady" Williams (5 episodes) - Aziz AnsariAziz AnsariAziz Ansari is an American actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. He currently stars as Tom Haverford on the NBC show Parks and Recreation....
as Dr. Ed Dhandapani (4 episodes)
Guest stars
- Courteney CoxCourteney CoxCourteney Bass Cox is an American actress, she is best known for her roles as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends, Gale Weathers in the horror series Scream and as Jules Cobb in the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination....
as Dr. Taylor Maddox (3 episodes) - Kate MicucciKate MicucciKate Micucci born March 31, 1980) is an American actress, comedian and singer-songwriter, whose first major television exposure was as Stephanie Gooch in Scrubs, and later as Shelly in Raising Hope...
as Stephanie Gooch (3 episodes) - Lee Thompson YoungLee Thompson YoungLee Thompson Young is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his teenage role as the title character on the Disney Channel television series The Famous Jett Jackson...
as Derek Hill (3 episodes) - Elizabeth BanksElizabeth BanksElizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
as Dr. Kim Briggs (2 episodes) - Johnny KastlJohnny KastlJohnny Kastl is an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Doug Murphy on the medical dramedy Scrubs. He has since made cameo appearances in several Hollywood productions and played other parts on television including the role of Todd Jaracki on The Beast with Patrick Swayze.-Early life:Born...
as Dr. Doug Murphy (2 episodes) - Travis SchuldtTravis SchuldtTravis Schuldt is an American actor. He originated the role of Ethan Winthrop on the NBC soap opera Passions from 1999 to 2002, and played a recurring role of Keith Dudemeister in the sitcom Scrubs from 2006-2008.-Career:...
as Keith Dudemeister (2 episodes) - Aloma WrightAloma WrightAloma Wright is an American actress. She was born in New York and raised in California.- Career :Wright was cast as Laverne Roberts for Scrubs. After six seasons, her character was killed off in My Long Goodbye. She returned in season seven playing a new character, Nurse Shirley...
as Nurse Laverne Roberts (2 episodes) - Scott FoleyScott FoleyScott Kellerman Foley is an American actor. He is known for roles in television shows such as The Unit and Felicity, and in films such as Scream 3...
as Sean Kelly (1 episode)
Production
After a rumor-induced build-up to season eight, and it being believed that season seven was the last, ABC picked up Scrubs and announced it as a midseason replacement. The first episode aired January 6, 2009.The season's timeslot shifted from Scrubs being shown on Tuesdays at 9:00 pm and 9:30 pm to Wednesdays at 8:00 pm beginning with episode 11, "My Nah Nah Nah
My Nah Nah Nah
"My Nah Nah Nah" is the 11th episode of the eighth season of the ABC Studios television series Scrubs, and 161st overall. It was broadcast on March 18, 2009.- Plot :...
". The show performed most successfully on Wednesdays, with average viewing figures of 5.36 million an episode.
To cut costs the writing staff was split into two groups, with the exception of Bill Lawrence
Bill Lawrence (producer)
William Van Duzer Lawrence IV is an American screenwriter, producer, and director best known as the creator of Scrubs and co-creator of Cougar Town. Lawrence is married to the actress Christa Miller whom he cast in both television series; they have three children together...
, Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan
Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan
Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan are a television writing team who have worked on television comedies Family Guy and Scrubs. Their most recent project was the television pilot Nobody's Watching, which they created and wrote with Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence.The character on Family Guy named Neil...
, and Bill Callahan
Bill Callahan (producer)
Bill Callahan is a writer/producer for such shows as Spin City, 8 Simple Rules, Oliver Beene, Scrubs and Psych.-Career:Callahan was an executive producer/writer on Scrubs, which entered its ninth season on December 1, 2009...
, one group for the first seven episodes, and the second for the rest of the season. Since Goldman & Donovan, Callahan and Lawrence wrote an episode in the second half, the term was longer. For the episode "My Nah Nah Nah", writers who didn't work in season 8 were credited, since the episode was partially filmed in season 7.
Writing staff
- Bill LawrenceBill Lawrence (producer)William Van Duzer Lawrence IV is an American screenwriter, producer, and director best known as the creator of Scrubs and co-creator of Cougar Town. Lawrence is married to the actress Christa Miller whom he cast in both television series; they have three children together...
– executive producer/head writer - Neil Goldman and Garrett DonovanNeil Goldman and Garrett DonovanNeil Goldman and Garrett Donovan are a television writing team who have worked on television comedies Family Guy and Scrubs. Their most recent project was the television pilot Nobody's Watching, which they created and wrote with Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence.The character on Family Guy named Neil...
– executive producers/assistant head writers - Bill CallahanBill Callahan (producer)Bill Callahan is a writer/producer for such shows as Spin City, 8 Simple Rules, Oliver Beene, Scrubs and Psych.-Career:Callahan was an executive producer/writer on Scrubs, which entered its ninth season on December 1, 2009...
– executive producer/assistant head writer
Episodes 1–7
- Janae BakkenJanae BakkenJanae Bakken is an American television producer and screenwriter best known for her work on the television series Scrubs....
– co-executive producer - Angela NisselAngela NisselAngela R. Nissel is an author best known for her first book, The Broke Diaries: The Completely True and Hilarious Misadventures of a Good Girl Gone Broke...
– co-executive producer - Aseem Batra – co-producer
- Clarence Livingston – co-producer
- Dave Tennant – executive story editor
- Taii K. Austin – staff writer
Episodes 8–18
- Debra FordhamDeb FordhamDeb Fordham served as an Emmy-nominated writer and producer for the American situation comedy Scrubs. She wrote sixteen episodes, two of which, "My Life in Four Cameras" and "My Musical", are considered to be among the best Scrubs episodes...
– co-executive producer - Tad Quill – consulting producer
- Kevin BiegelKevin Biegel-Scrubs:Biegel got his first staff writing job on Scrubs, in its fifth season. In that season he wrote the episode "My Missed Perception" as well co-wrote the season finale "My Transition." In the sixth season he was promoted to story editor...
– co-producer - Andy Schwartz – executive story editor
- Devin Mahoney & Rego Marquiis – staff writers
Production staff
- Bill Lawrence – executive producer/showrunner
- Randall Winston – producer
- Liz Newman – producer
- Danny Rose – co-producer
- Abraham Park – associate producer
Directors
Includes directors who directed 2 or more episodes, or directors who are part of the cast and crew- Bill LawrenceBill Lawrence (producer)William Van Duzer Lawrence IV is an American screenwriter, producer, and director best known as the creator of Scrubs and co-creator of Cougar Town. Lawrence is married to the actress Christa Miller whom he cast in both television series; they have three children together...
(5 episodes) - Michael SpillerMichael SpillerMichael Alan Spiller is an American cinematographer and television director.Spiller has directed on numerous series and has also served as a cinematographer prior to directing and worked frequently with Hal Hartley. He was a regular director on the HBO series, Sex and the City where he also served...
(2 episodes) - John PutchJohn PutchJohn Putch is an American actor, director and screenwriter. He is best known for his recurring role as Bob Morton on the 1980s sitcom One Day at a Time and as Sean Brody in the film Jaws 3-D.-Career:...
(2 episodes) - Zach BraffZach BraffZachary Israel "Zach" Braff is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, comedian, and director. Braff first became known in 2001 for his role as Dr. John Dorian on the television series Scrubs, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.In 2004, Braff made his...
(1 episode) - Michael McDonald (1 episode)
- John Michel (editor) (1 episode)
- Mark Stegemann (writer) (1 episode)
Scrubs: Interns
To coincide with Scrubs being shown on television, a web series was produced called Scrubs: InternsScrubs: Interns
Scrubs: Interns is a webisode series from ABC based on the comedy-drama series Scrubs in its eighth season, which originally aired premiered on ABC.com, the day of a new Scrubs episode aired...
. It consisted of twelve webisodes following the adventures of the interns at Sacred Heart Hospital. The episodes featured cameos from several regular cast members, and included an episode with J.D. The webisodes' theme tune was performed by The Blanks
The Blanks
The Blanks are an a cappella group. Most notably, they appeared in the TV series Scrubs in a recurring guest role, under various names such as Ted's Band and The Worthless Peons...
. Only the first ten webisodes can be viewed online. The final two can be viewed exclusively on the Scrubs season eight DVD and Blu-ray sets.
Episodes
| Series # |
Season # |
Title | Directed by | Written by | U.S. viewers (millions) |
Original air date | Production code |
|---|
"My Finale"
The one-hour season finale aired May 6, 2009 on ABC. It was expected to be, if not the last ever episode of Scrubs, the last that Zach Braff will appear in. This was later proved untrue. Also at the ending, Bill Lawrence had stated: "That's a series wrap for..."In the finale, J.D. anticipates his final day at Sacred Heart Hospital. He deals with his last patient, but is more worried about the day not living up to his expectations. After over-hearing Dr. Cox finally admit that he considered J.D. as a friend, J.D. leaves the hospital. He imagines that on his way out, he walks through a tunnel of people he has met throughout his eight years - over fifty guest stars from the show. J.D. then sees his future projected in front of him. He witnesses marrying Elliot, having a child with her, seeing Sam Dorian and Isabella Turk get engaged, and spending Christmas with his friends from the hospital. Finally, J.D. narrates, "Who's to say this isn't what happens? And who's to say my fantasy won't come true, just this once?" and drives away.