The countdown is officially on for the return of Sacred Heart Hospital. With the Scrubs revival set to premiere on February 25, 2026, the original cast is making the rounds, sharing memories and getting fans ready to scrub back in. During a recent interview to promote the new season on ABC, stars Judy Reyes (Carla Espinosa) and John C. McGinley (Dr. Perry Cox) took a walk down memory lane. They opened up about the classic lines from the original series that still make them laugh and the ones that have stuck with them the most over the years.
The nine-episode revival season brings back the core crew, including Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison as series regulars. Reyes and McGinley are returning as recurring cast members, with Reyes appearing in four episodes and McGinley in three . While fans are eager to see where Carla and Dr. Cox are 16 years later, it is the iconic dialogue from the show’s past that Reyes and McGinley cherish the most.
The Rant That Stole the Show
For John C. McGinley, picking a favorite line was almost impossible, but he kept coming back to the legendary monologues that defined his character. Dr. Cox is known for his rapid-fire, insulting, yet strangely loving rants, and McGinley revealed that one particular speech stands out above the rest.
“There were so many days where Bill [Lawrence] would hand me three pages of dialogue, and I’d just have to go into a corner and memorize this incredible rant,” McGinley shared. He pointed to a moment from the later seasons where Dr. Cox goes on a tirade about all the things he cares as little about as J.D.’s last week of residency. The list includes everything from low-carb diets to Hugh Jackman.
“The genius of that writing is that it’s not just angry noise,” McGinley explained. “It’s specific. It’s poetic. Dr. Cox uses a thousand words to tell you he cares about you, but he’ll never say ‘I care about you’ directly. My favorite is always the next one, but those big rants, where he just unloads on the world, that is pure joy to play.”
He noted that the revival scripts capture that same energy, even though Dr. Cox is now the Chief of Medicine. “He’s still Perry Cox. He’s still got the music in him. He’s just got a better parking spot now,” McGinley joked.
Carla’s Quiet Power and One Perfect Line
While McGinley focused on the long-winded speeches, Judy Reyes took a different approach. She highlighted a moment that is quiet, sharp, and perfectly Carla—a moment that shows her character’s ability to silence the room with just a few words.
Reyes recalled a scene from the episode “My Lunch” where Dr. Cox is spiraling after losing three patients. He is deflecting his pain by blaming everyone around him. As he rants, Carla simply looks at him and delivers a devastating truth.
“I love when Carla just stops him in his tracks,” Reyes said. She referenced a moment where Carla reminds Dr. Cox about his personal life to bring him back down to earth. “It’s that one line where she says, ‘Please! What about all the women you’ve slept with? Your ex-wife, that med student, your ex-wife, the cute nurse from radiology, your ex-wife…’ and he just breaks. He laughs because she’s right. She’s the only one who can talk to him that way.”
Reyes emphasized that Carla’s strength was never in yelling. “Carla is the backbone of that hospital. She doesn’t need to monologue. She just needs to look at you, and you know you’ve been handled. That is the fun of playing her. She keeps everyone honest, especially Cox and Turk.”
The Return of Sacred Heart’s Finest
As the revival approaches, the chemistry between the cast remains a major talking point. Reyes and McGinley spoke about the ease of slipping back into their roles, crediting creator Bill Lawrence for maintaining the show’s heart.
“The show is a true ensemble,” Reyes told reporters. “Our days are long and the work is really hard, but when it’s there, the words are easy to remember, the scenes are fun to play, and the actors are great to be with. When you cut and you look behind the camera and people are smiling or they’re laughing, that makes your day” .
McGinley echoed that sentiment without hesitation. When asked if he would return for more episodes beyond this season, his answer was simple and direct: “F*ck yeah, that’s as good as it gets” .
The revival will see J.D. returning to Sacred Heart to check on a private patient, leading him to reconnect with Turk, Elliot, Carla, and Dr. Cox . The new season picks up as if the original series ended with the Season 8 finale, completely ignoring the events of the medical school spinoff that was Season 9 .
Who Else Is Scrubbing In?
Besides the main cast, fans can expect to see some familiar faces pop up. Neil Flynn (The Janitor) and Christa Miller (Jordan) are set for guest appearances . Jordan will be seen alongside her longtime partner, Dr. Cox. Missing from the initial revival is Ken Jenkins, who played the lecherous Dr. Bob Kelso. According to Lawrence, Kelso will not be in Season 1 due to scheduling, but he is planned for a potential Season 2. “Dr. Kelso will be back next year,” Lawrence confirmed .
New cast members include Vanessa Bayer as Sibby, a wellness director trying to keep the doctors in line, and Joel Kim Booster as Dr. Park, a new physician who butts heads with J.D. . The new interns also include an influencer dubbed “Dr. Selfie,” bringing the show’s comedy into the world of social media and modern hospital regulations .
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Where Life Left the Characters
Time has moved on for the Sacred Heart crew. When the original show ended, J.D. and Elliot were expecting their first child, while Turk and Carla had two daughters. The revival jumps ahead 16 years, expanding the families significantly. Turk and Carla now have four children, while J.D. and Elliot have two . J.D. also has a son from his previous relationship with Kim (Elizabeth Banks).
For Reyes, playing a working mother of four navigating the chaos of a hospital feels authentic. “Carla does it because she has to do it,” Reyes said. “Caring for someone at a hospital makes caring for your kids at home more doable. It’s exactly what people do every day” .
The Scrubs revival premieres with two back-to-back episodes on February 25, 2026, at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. All episodes will also be available to stream on Hulu starting February 26 . For viewers in the UK, Canada, Australia, and India, the series will be available on Disney+ under the Star banner shortly after the U.S. broadcast.
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