How long can "Scrubs" go on?
As the show enters its eighth season -- though its first on ABC -- that's Topic A this afternoon, as the always loose-as-a-goose Bill Lawrence, the show's creator, seems unwilling to say enough's enough.
"It's just one of those never-say-never type situations," said Lawrence, who notes that he's been planning for the show's cancellation every year for the past five. In fact, "the finale for the show has been written for about 4 1/2 years," he joked, suggesting he might just have to rewrite "some pop-culture references."
"One of the reasons 'Scrubs' is still on the air is that it's by far the cheapest single-camera comedy made," Lawrence said. Efficient, too. They're scheduled to be done filming Season 8 by Sept. 1. ABC has owned the show all along, even as it aired for seven seasons on NBC, where it possibly set a record for time-slot changes.
If "Scrubs" does continue past the coming season, it might do so without the regular services of Zack Braff, though. "My sense is that this is my last year," said Braff, who said he'd probably return from time to time if there's a Season 9.
Some new and younger cast members are being added as interns and Courteney Cox will do a three-episode stint as the chief of medicine, replacing Ken Jenkins. She's not here today, but "we would have her back in a heartbeat," said Lawrence.
And what does all this mean for Sarah Chalke, who was one of the best things to happen to CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" last season?
"They don't want me to say it, but she's the mom," joked Lawrence, who -- though Chalke just smiled beatifically and then seemed to be mouthing the words "No, I'm not" -- might be right.
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