AceShowbiz - The beloved medical comedy Scrubs made a triumphant return to ABC after a 16-year hiatus, drawing in an impressive 11.36 million viewers across ABC, Disney+, and Hulu. This marks the network’s best comedy streaming ratings in over a year, surpassing recent premieres such as Shifting Gears, which featured Tim Allen’s return to ABC.

The two-episode premiere of Scrubs instantly rekindled the audience’s affection for the series, originally launched on NBC in 2001. The show aired seven seasons on NBC before moving to ABC for its final two seasons. The current revival’s strong debut signals a robust appetite for medical sitcom nostalgia, and fans eagerly await the next episode scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

Though Sacred Heart Hospital remains the central setting, the filming locations have changed. The original North Hollywood Medical Center, used for the first run, was demolished in 2011. The revival is now shot on a meticulously recreated set in Vancouver, maintaining the familiar hospital atmosphere that fans cherish.

The storyline has evolved significantly since the last episode featuring Zach Braff as J.D. The character has transitioned into a concierge doctor and unexpectedly returns to Sacred Heart while visiting an elderly patient’s grandson. Choosing to stay, J.D. assumes the role of Chief of Medicine, succeeding his former mentor John C. McGinley’s character, Dr. Cox.

One of the more surprising developments revealed in the premiere is the changed relationship between J.D. and Sarah Chalke’s character, Elliot. Once married at the series’ original conclusion, the two have since divorced and are now navigating co-parenting their two children. Meanwhile, Donald Faison’s Turk and Judy Reyes’ Carla remain happily married and are raising four children while continuing their hospital careers.

The new season introduces a fresh group of interns for the veteran doctors to mentor, alongside a new head of Human Resources portrayed by Vanessa Bayer. Her character is determined to enforce stricter workplace rules, preventing the older staff from resuming their typical antics. This blend of familiar faces and new challenges promises a dynamic continuation of the series.

Scrubs was created by Bill Lawrence, who returns as executive producer alongside Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer under Doozer Productions. Aseem Batra serves as executive producer and showrunner, with Randall Winston also executive producing. The main cast, including Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke, also hold executive producer credits, reflecting their active involvement in the revival.

New episodes of Scrubs will premiere weekly on ABC every Wednesday and will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day. The series’ return has already generated significant buzz, and viewers can expect more updates and developments from Collider as the season progresses.

With its blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and medical drama, the revived Scrubs aims to recapture the magic that made it a standout comedy in the early 2000s, while introducing new stories to engage both longtime fans and new audiences alike.