Zach Braff and Donald Faison Reunite for Scrubs Reboot

The longtime co-stars and real-life friends discuss reviving their beloved characters and maintaining their bromance.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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After a 16-year break, the medical comedy Scrubs is back on TV with Zach Braff and Donald Faison reprising their roles as J.D. and Turk. The duo, who have remained close friends since the show's original 9-season run, discuss what it's been like to revisit their characters, the joy of working together again, and how they see their characters in a new age of hospital shows.

Why it matters

Scrubs was known for its unique blend of comedy and heart, centered around the close friendship between J.D. and Turk. The show's return gives fans a chance to reconnect with these beloved characters, while also exploring how their relationship and perspectives have evolved over the years. As the healthcare industry faces new challenges, the revival also provides an opportunity to honor the heroism of medical professionals in a comedic yet poignant way.

The details

Braff and Faison first connected during the show's very first table read in 2001, and their on-screen chemistry as best friends quickly became the heart of Scrubs. After the show ended in 2010, the two remained close, with Faison getting married in Braff's backyard and Braff becoming godfather to Faison's children. They even started a Scrubs rewatch podcast during the pandemic, revisiting all 182 episodes. Now, with the show's revival, Braff and Faison are reprising their roles as J.D. and Turk, this time as more distinguished mentors to a new generation of doctors. The new episodes aim to ground the show in reality while still capturing the show's signature blend of humor and emotion.

  • Scrubs originally aired for 9 seasons from 2001 to 2010.
  • The Scrubs revival is currently in production and is set to premiere in 2026, 16 years after the original series ended.

The players

Zach Braff

An American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, best known for his role as J.D. on the medical comedy Scrubs.

Donald Faison

An American actor and comedian, best known for his role as Turk on the medical comedy Scrubs.

Bill Lawrence

The creator of Scrubs, who is producing the show's revival.

Aseem Batra

The showrunner for the Scrubs revival.

Noah Wyle

An American actor known for his role on the medical drama ER, who is also appearing in the Scrubs revival.

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What they’re saying

“It's wonderful. It felt like a comfortable slipper, how you can just slide right into it. As an actor, it was more than I had been given emotionally in a lot of other projects.”

— Donald Faison, Actor (Men's Health)

“We kind of said, 'Wow, look how broad the show got.' Some people loved that. We loved it. Some of it's off the rails and surreal. But, I think along with Bill and Aseem, the idea was to ground the show. Let's save that trippy stuff for fantasies, and let's make sure the show itself is always grounded in reality.”

— Zach Braff, Actor (Men's Health)

“I think they are. I really do. Noah Wyle is on The Pitt saving lives one after the other. Our show isn't ER-based, but there are emergencies. It's more often like cracking the code of what could possibly be wrong with this person and dealing with their families and keeping everyone hopeful and running.”

— Zach Braff, Actor (Men's Health)

“The lines are definitely blurred now. I would say Turk and J.D. are the completely turned-up version of who we are. Like, if you dial it all the way.”

— Donald Faison, Actor (Men's Health)

“We were really young. I think we learned a lot more off camera than we did on camera, as far as navigating Hollywood.”

— Donald Faison, Actor (Men's Health)

What’s next

The Scrubs revival is currently in production and is expected to premiere on NBC in 2026.

The takeaway

The return of Scrubs not only reunites the beloved on-screen duo of J.D. and Turk, but also highlights the enduring real-life friendship between actors Zach Braff and Donald Faison. Their chemistry and camaraderie, both on and off screen, have been central to the show's enduring appeal, and fans are eagerly anticipating seeing these characters and their relationship evolve in the new episodes.