Over the past seven seasons, the lovelorn, misanthropic staff of Sacred Heart Hospital has traveled an interesting road. We've seen Elliot (Sarah Chalke) and J.D. (Zach Braff) have more messy fallings-out and passionate reconnections than there have been body bags sent to the morgue due to intern Doug's incompetence. We've witnessed Carla and Turk's relationship blossom from an apprehensive courtship into a solid marriage that yielded baby Isabelle. We've memorized Dr. Cox's bitter rants, and we've winced at The Todd's hundreds of innuendo-fueled high-fives.
Which is why it feels so odd that the last time a new "Scrubs" episode was on T.V. -- about eight months ago -- Florida and Michigan were still arguing for recounts, and China had not yet hosted the Michael Phelps Games.
That was until Tuesday night, when the Emmy-winning show best known for its sharp-as-a-surgical-knife wit began its eighth season, a 16-episode venture that fans have anticipated ever since the 2008 writer's strike appeared to dash chances of a proper finale.
A former primetime hit on NBC, the show moved to a new network (ABC) this year for what has been confirmed as the last season for many of its actors and writers. The long-running dramedy has lost viewers over the course of the previous three seasons, but series creator and head writer Bill Lawrence said he hopes to win back the show's fans with the new season.
"I thought that the show took a slight quality dip and got a little long in the tooth," Lawrence acknowledged in an online "Ask Scrubs" segment on ABC.com. But he promised that "this year it will return to its dramatic roots."
In returning to vintage form, "Scrubs" is taking no prisoners. Already a new character has been introduced: the smokin' hot Dr. Taylor Maddox (Courtney Cox).
With the "interwebs" (as Braff calls them) abuzz with predictions, the show has confirmed only tidbits of future developments. Viewers can expect to see "awkwardness" and "a love quadrangle," Braff has said, upon the return of Elliot's ex, Sean. According to Lawrence, even long-suffering Ted "finds happiness in a very cool way."
And, of course, the train wreck that is J.D. and Elliot's relationship will finally be resolved -- although, as Lawrence admitted, doing so was "a giant hassle."
