AceShowbiz - Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence is expressing relief and gratitude after the reboot of the beloved medical comedy launched to remarkable ratings. The revival attracted a total of 11.36 million viewers across ABC, Hulu, Disney+, and other digital platforms within its first five days, according to Disney.

During an interview about his new HBO series Rooster, which stars Steve Carell, Charly Clive, Phil Dunster, Danielle Deadwyler, and Scrubs alumnus John C. McGinley, Lawrence shared his appreciation for the audience’s continued interest in the show. He said, “I'm so happy and grateful that anybody still cares about that show.”

Returning after a 17-year hiatus, Scrubs features original cast members Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke. The premiere episode of the revival became ABC’s highest-rated comedy episode and its most successful comedy series debut on streaming in over a year, surpassing the launch of Shifting Gears.

Lawrence praised the original cast’s involvement, noting their long-standing collaboration. He highlighted Braff’s role not only in front of the camera but also behind the scenes, pointing out Braff’s directing work on an episode of Rooster. He also mentioned the contributions of McGinley and Judy Reyes, who are recurring in the reboot, as well as guest appearances planned from Christa Miller and Neil Flynn later in the season.

Lawrence expressed enthusiasm about the new cast members portraying medical interns learning from the original leads. He described it as a meaningful experience to watch the original stars evolve professionally and personally, mentoring a fresh generation of actors. This dynamic extends off-screen as well, with the showrunner of the revival, Aseem Batra, having started as a writer on the original Scrubs series.

The creator emphasized that the intention behind the new series was not merely to reboot but to revive the show by blending the original characters with a new wave of talent. This multi-generational approach aims to continue the story in an organic and engaging way for both longtime fans and new viewers.

After three episodes, the reboot stands as ABC’s number one series in linear adults 18-49 ratings. Coupled with its strong streaming viewership, Scrubs is making a compelling case for renewal. The series also enjoys excellent critical acclaim, holding a 90% rating from critics and 95% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

Lawrence conveyed optimism about the show's future, saying, “We're all crossing our fingers that they let us do a whole bunch more, but we're really hopeful.” This hopeful outlook is particularly positive news for fans anticipating the return of original characters not featured in the initial nine episodes of Season 1.

Specifically, longtime fans will be pleased to hear that Ken Jenkins, who played Dr. Kelso, is expected to return in the next season. Lawrence revealed that scheduling or other factors prevented his involvement in this season, but his comeback is planned for the future.

With strong ratings, positive reviews, an engaged cast, and a committed creative team, the Scrubs revival appears well-positioned to continue delighting audiences and expanding its legacy in the years ahead.