Scrubs Gave 3 Characters The Same Story (And You Might Not Have Even Noticed It)
Scrubs became increasingly dense with compelling characters as the show went on, but the medical sitcom didn't always manage to give everyone storylines that hadn't already happened to someone else. Running between 2001 and 2010, all nine seasons of Scrubs had episodes that were funnier than they were emotional, and vice versa. Sacred Heart Hospital was as much a place of laughter as it was fof heart-breaking moments, so even when Scrubs did start to copy itself, there was always a refreshing twist on repeated storylines.
With a Scrubs revival confirmed and on the way, the sitcom is sure to borrow from its original era while coming up with a revised blueprint. Every doctor from Scrubs is able to return, but creator Bill Lawrence has already confirmed season 10 will also introduce a new batch of younger characters to complement the original cast. So, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the newcomers going through similar challenges to Zach Braff's John "JD" Dorian and company in their younger years. As such, Scrubs probably isn't done with repeating storylines. Besides, if done well, it can be great.
Scrubs Had 3 Characters Leave Sacred Heart Before The End Of Their Internships
Nick, Cabbage, & Ed all failed to complete their first year at Sacred Heart
The doctors in Scrubs have to complete a one-year internship at a hospital after graduating from medical school. The show begins with JD, Turk (Donald Faison), and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) right at the beginning of their Sacred Heart internships. Although the beloved trio goes on to complete their internships and become senior members of the medical staff, not every Scrubs intern manages to achieve this. The show included three instances of interns departing Sacred Heart within their first year.
All 3 Failed Sacred Heart Interns In Scrubs | ||
Character | Actor | Episodes |
Nick Murdoch | Sean Hayes | 1 |
Ed Dhandapani | Aziz Ansari | 4 |
Jason "Cabbage" Cabbagio | Shaughn Buchholz | 8 |
The first was Sean Hayes' Dr. Nick Murdoch. The Will & Grace star appeared in just one episode of Scrubs, and although the young doctor was very talented and loved by the rest of the staff, he ultimately folded when he couldn't handle the emotional toll of losing a young patient. Next was Shaughn Buchholz's Jason "Cabbage" Cabbagio, who was likable, but far too mistake-prone to be able to practice medicine. As such, JD fired him in his capacity as Cabbage's boss. Finally, John C. McGinley's Dr. Cox dismissed Dr. Ed Dhandapani (Aziz Ansari) for being too lazy.
I'm Glad Scrubs Introduced These 3 Interns So Far Apart
The Scrubs writers knew to space out these similar storylines
Even though all three characters left Sacred Heart for very different reasons, it would have grown a little old and probably weirdly noticeable if their exits happened too close together. Thankfully, they were very spaced out, so it felt fresh each time. Nick's lone episode came in the first season, and Cabbage's failed intern arc began and ended within the confines of Scrubs season 5. It wouldn't be until Scrubs season 8 that the show would have another intern leave, with the departing figure being Ed.
Scrubs' Clever Reference To A Rival Sitcom Sets Up A Perfect New Casting For Season 10
Scrubs never shied away from referencing other sitcoms, but one nod in particular was far more hidden than others, and it could influence the revival.
The show's spacing out of these exits allowed the larger story to breathe while also occasionally reminding the audience (and the characters) how intense a profession being a doctor can be. Interns are often just a moment or two away from deciding they've chosen the wrong career, or having that decision made for them by their superiors. That being said, the sitcom showing such a willingness to dismiss unsuitable interns begs the question of how Dr. Doug Murphy (Johnny Kastl) managed to keep his job long enough to become the hospital pathologist.
What Happened To The 3 Interns Who Left Sacred Heart
Nick is the only member of the trio whose post-Sacred Heart life hasn't been revealed
Sean Hayes never reprised the role of Nick after the young doctor chose not to continue his internship. He was brilliant at his job and showed a lot of promise, but it's unlikely he simply started at a new hospital. I'm certain Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) would have taken Nick back in a heartbeat if he'd chosen to return, but that never happened. So, I'm left to wonder what became of him. It's possible he moved into an adjacent area of medicine, but one with less risk of dealing with death. However, this has never been confirmed or denied.
Cabbage also dooms the beloved Mrs. Wilk (Michael Learned) before he leaves in season 5, shaking her hand goodbye and passing on what would turn into a lethal infection.
Thankfully, there are canonical answers to what Cabbage and Ed got up to after being let go. Cabbage returns in Scrubs season 6 to work at the hospital coffee shop, Coffee Bucks. So, he clearly agreed with JD that medicine wasn't for him. Frustratingly, Cabbage also dooms the beloved Mrs. Wilk (Michael Learned) before he leaves in season 5, shaking her hand goodbye and passing on what would turn into a lethal infection. However, only the viewers are privy to this revelation.
The Scrubs scene showing how Cabbage unknowingly passed an infection onto Mrs. Wilk went viral during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To find out what happened to Ed after Scrubs season 8, the show's lore needs to be explored a little deeper. It's revealed in Scrubs: Interns, a spinoff webseries, that Ed secured a position at another hospital. He can be seen speaking in a video message in the forgotten Scrubs project, back in the appropriate attire and standing in front of a set of X-rays. He doesn't sound regretful at all about being fired by Dr. Cox, so I can easily imagine that Ansari's Scrubs character wasted his talents again at his new position.
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