“New” Scrubs: reviews

The new-look Scrubs debuts in the US this week described as ‘a completely different show but with some of the same characters.’

After leaving for a job at another hospital, Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian (Zach Braff) returns to Sacred Heart’s adjacent medical school. J.D. is a professor alongside Chris (Donald Faison), Perry (John McGinley), Denise (Eliza Coupe) and Bob (guest star Ken Jenkins) and a new class of medical students.

Zach Braff is only hanging around to kick the series off for a handful of eps.

Reviews so far are a bit uneven with many commentators preferring to see the show as a spin-off rather than a continuation.

NJ.com said:
You can look at the new season of “Scrubs” either as a continuation of the series that aired its alleged finale last spring, or as a spin-off with the same name and many of the same faces. I prefer the latter view, and not just because creator Bill Lawrence lost a fight with ABC to rename the show “Scrubs Med” to clearly delineate between the two. If we treat the new season – which relocates Sacred Heart Hospital to its nearby medical school campus – as a separate show, then we don’t have to take anything away from the resurgent final season, or from the funny and poignant finale. Nor do we have to worry about the new incarnation threatening the legacy of the original show, any more than “AfterM*A*S*H” or “The Golden Palace” sullied the reputations of “M*A*S*H” and “Golden Girls.” Which isn’t to say that “Scrubs Med” (whether ABC calls it that or not) is an abomination on the level of either of those shows. It’s a solid little comedy, in which “Scrubs” fans can recognize the spirit of the show they loved, even if it’s not “Scrubs” at its best.

LA Times said:
The school environment offers up fresh blood in the form of a new class of students, including blossoming nerd Lucy (Kerry Bishe), surly and remote Drew (Michael Mosley) and Cole (Dave Franco), an oleaginous son of privilege. Leading the new charges, Dr. Cox is merciless, attempting to reduce Lucy to tears and informing students he’ll be referring to them by their numerical rank. Drew, he decides, is No.1 and is forced to wear a sign on his chest indicating such. In other words, “Scrubs” has been watching “House” and is better for it. New candidates helped revitalize that show two years ago, a neat trick that preserves the familiar pecking order while allowing for new plot shades. ( “Grey’s Anatomy” has done this too, with less success — new kids, same problems.) None have the immediate charm of Aziz Ansari’s Ed Dhandapani, one of last season’s new faces, but they’re able foils, especially Drew, who quickly finds his doppelgänger in Dr. Mahoney (Eliza Coupe), one of last year’s interns, who has a similarly brusque manner. “If you’re going to kill yourself,” she tells the new students, “do it off campus, because it is a buttload of paperwork.”

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said:
On a continuum of spinoffs that sinks to the depths of “AfterM• A• S• H” and to the creative heights of “Frasier,” where does the new, un-retitled “Scrubs” land? Probably somewhere in the middle. It’s not terrifically awful, but it’s also not as reliably fun as “Scrubs” was in its prime. There’s too much time spent with the old characters to get viewers invested in the newbies, giving the show a divvied up feel. As the new season opens, J. D. (Zach Braff) explains to viewers in his typical voiceover narration that Sacred Heart Hospital has been torn down and rebuilt on the campus of Winston University. “Part of me hates how familiar this seems. I hope I can find a way to make this all feel new,” says J.D., now an instructor alongside Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) and Turk (Donald Faison). Then his narration gives way to a female voice belonging to Lucy (Kerry Bishe), who narrates part of the episode. Although she’s the show’s new voice, her character isn’t all that distinctive. She’s an insecure doormat without much of a personality.

This final one isn’t so much a Review as Comment:

Mediaweek (US) said:
After eight long years (the first seven on NBC), the veteran sitcom shifts from the hospital to a med school setting with only Donald Faison and John C. McGinley returning as regular cast members. Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and others from the overrated comedy will make occasional guest appearances. Does anyone really think changing settings will rejuvenate this dead-as-a-doornail sitcom? Other than clan Douglas moving from the Midwest to Southern California on family sitcom My Three Sons, my answer is no. While I commend Scrubs for trying something new, don’t be fooled. The series was never a ratings hit, even when it aired between Friends and Will & Grace from 2002 to ’04. One former NBC exec, in fact, actually verbally threatened me when I failed to list Scrubs on The Programming Insider as a “winner.” “You better watch your step,” he yelled just as the phone was angrily slammed in my ear. We haven’t spoken since.