Grid Effect

I have never watched Scrubs, but am the first to admit that it at least puts forth an effort to be original and has built a devoted audience over the years. Which makes it all the more baffling that NBC didn’t pick it up for its final season (It is NBC, after all). For them, it will probably be a beneficial switch because ABC airs sporting events that people actually watch, and it advertises its new shows accordingly to mass audiences.

But since nothing can ever end in the land of commercially and critically successful television, the series creator is asked about the possibility of a spin-off in this article with the New York Times. Why everything needs a spin-off or to be adapted into a film nowadays is beyond me. Scrubs has been on the air for eight years now and as far as I can tell, ABC isn’t forcing them out the door after the one season and the only people fleeing for the exit are Zach Braff (who said he would still do voiceover work) and Bill Lawrence (owner of the plainest name ever for a showrunner). If everyone else wanted to still work on Scrubs or something Scrubs related, Scrubs would have another season to look forward too.

Considering I've never really watched the show, I feel like Cartman trying to take down Family Guy

It’s is one thing when a series like Arrested Development, probably one of the best comedies to ever make it to television ends its run prematurely because it can’t find an audience, decides to make a movie or frantically looks for a new home after cancellation. But Scrubs has right full seasons compared to AD’s two and a half. Basically the notion that a spin-off is even something anyone has even considered is the direct result of whoever was asking Bill Lawrence questions decided that he has nothing else to talk about. Or that it’s even a plausible option.

But from what I can tell, it’s just time to end the series. Like it was with The Wire or The Sopranos or Seinfeld. It’s time to move on and find the next comedy with an emo-ish protagonist working in a hospital to comedic ends. By the time the series is done they will have aired over 160 episodes, you’d think that would be enough for anyone. I mean, I get you like the series and all but do you really want it to turn into The Simpsons? You see what that looks like compared to what it once was.

I know novel ideas and approaches to creative television seem slim, but we have a whole host of different comedies, dramas, reality shows, dramedies and variety hours to try and occupy yourself with. I guess that the ubiquitous speculation of a successful series continuing its legacy vis a vis a film or spin-off is an indictment on the dearth of quality television more so than anything else. Never the less, let’s just try and set this one free so Mr. Lawrence doesn’t have to come out and make some David Simon like declaration that what everyone wants to see will never happen.