One F in Foley: A year of reboots - Part One - Scrubs

As it’s still January - just about - it’s that time of year when TV and movie geeks like me suss out what’s gonna be new upcoming in that area for 2026. Plenty is coming, but I’m not sure we can call it ‘new.’

On a recent evening drive to visit an old mate in the county of Armagh, I tuned into a radio programme that was discussing the year in television, which had been, and what to expect for the new future.

Alas, I thought to myself, there’s an opportunity for an article in January. So here’s a quick crash course in what’s gonna land on our screens and a wee link to the reboot it came from.

READ NEXT: One F in Foley: Super Bowl fever amid political turmoil in the USA

Scrubs
First up, it’s Scrubs. Personally, I was always a huge fan of this comedy-drama from the late 2000s. The show is due for a comeback after 17 years or so in the wilderness.

The show primarily focused on the career and life journey of Dr John Dorian (aka JD) at Sacred Heart Hospital. The show pushed boundaries in how it went from moments of wacky-goofy comedy to scenes of genuine heartfelt sadness and emotion.

Scrubs also provided subtle underlying commentary on how hospitals are financially undercut, the Iraq war debates, bereavement, addiction, and racism. Essentially, it challenged the American audience to see itself through a lens of comedic fiction.

I must admit, the first episode I saw made me think the show was a bit naft. I wasn’t used to such bizarre cutaway scenes into a character’s imagination, but they grew on me over time.

Despite its comedic overtones, Scrubs is still often hailed as ‘the most realistic hospital show on television.’ And with a few catch-up episodes, you’ll be able to see why for yourselves,

Many episodes don’t finish up with the typical cheesy American-style happy ending. Some will produce tears, and its cinematography and use of background music were always fitting to the plot.

A bit of research led me to the podcast about the show. ‘Fake Doctors: Real Friends’ was hosted by Scrubs’ main two actors - Zack Braff and Donald Fiason - who play JD and Turk, respectively.

Original Delays
Scrubs was originally pencilled in for a return in 2021, but the ongoing COVID pandemic put all those plans on hold. What’s more, the Black Lives Matter campaign also inadvertently shelved a comeback.

As alluded to earlier, Scrubs often took a satirical look at racial issues. On the podcast, both Braff and Fiason acknowledged that the times and humour had moved on a lot since those days.

While Scrubs always had a well-meaning heart to its stories and plot lines, this aspect of the writing will likely be toned down - no doubt in a funny way - when it returns to our screens next month.

Why It Matters
What I’ve always loved about Scrubs was its uniqueness. Most sitcoms I grew up watching in the nineties had audience laugh tracks, style icon actors and actresses, and predictable happy endings.

That novelty had worn off by the time I hit my early-to-mid twenties. Scrubs ditched laugh tracks and provided an insight into the reality of starting and maintaining a work-life balance and all that entails.

When real-life job opportunities were scarce in 2008, I probably watched most of Scrubs around that time. In a way, it could’ve had a subconscious effect on me to keep trying to make my situation better.

While shows like Friends told viewers that they’d be there for you, Scrubs reminded you, in a more grounded way, that you can’t do this all on your own, that you’re no Superman … and that’s ok.

The quality of the reboot remains to be seen, but it’s definitely a great excuse to rewatch the oldies.