Four months after ABC stole Scrubs away from NBC, absence apparently has made the Peacock’s heart grow…Wait, no. It’s actually grown smaller than the Grinch’s on Christmas Eve!
For the death-defying comedy’s likely series finale on ABC, which was shot last week for a probable spring airing, series creator Bill Lawrence gathered all of the significant guest stars from the past eight years for a jaw-dropping scene that’ll rival the mass reunion in Seinfeld’s sendoff. But two actors currently appearing on NBC programs — Heroes‘ Masi Oka and Chuck’s Sarah Lancaster — weren’t permitted to participate.
“They both wanted to do it, but NBC said they weren’t allowed to,” explains Lawrence, who, as you know, has never been shy in calling out his old network for its lack of Scrubs promotion and constant time-slot changes. “Typical classy stuff.”
Although networks tend to frown on letting their stars fraternize with the enemy, things have been loosening up in recent years. For instance, ABC gave Scrubs leading lady Sarah Chalke the OK to continue her recurring gig on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother this season. In turn, the Eye loaned out The Unit’s Scott Foley for Scrubs‘ penultimate episode. Even NBC has been known to play nice on occasion: The net is allowing its newest Law & Order: SVU ADA, Michaela McManus, to revisit her alma mater, The CW’s One Tree Hill, this season.
Natch, the double standard is not lost on Lawrence, who suggests that the slight is almost certainly sour grapes over Scrubs‘ defection. “But [Masi and Sarah] should not have been part of that fight,” he sighs. “It felt kind of petty to me.”
Well, despite the NBC dis, the scene in question — which featured such Scrubs grads as Tom Cavanagh, Amy Smart, and Nicole Sullivan — “turned out awesome,” tattles one spywitness. “It was very emotional. It should be an incredible finale.”
And before you ask, yes, that was the scene I was invited to appear in — and would have appeared in had “forces beyond my control” not intervened. (Someone was going to ask, right?)
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How disappointing
I loved Franklyn.
NBC’s been pulling spiteful things like that ever since Kevin Reilly took over in 2004 (surely people noticed the new creative direction Scrubs took after season 3, and surprise that was the last season the Scrubs got a writing Emmy nom). And It looks like Ben Silverman’s regime is keeping the fire lit.
That’s upsetting. Problem is NBC knows it’s not going to hurt their ratings to have a bad reputation because they have shows people love (like Heroes and Chuck).
Will Tara Reid be back too?
Yup, petty just about sums it up. NBC has been failing to meet its own standards for years now, the same goes off screen too apparently. Hats off, Reilly.
That stinks… grr. Just as long as the Blanks are there, I’m good.
On another note, if Nicole Sullivan’s going to be there and her character is dead does that mean Brendan Fraser is going to show up too?
NBC is just trying to steal the bastard crown from FOX.
“they have shows people love”
Really? NBC, the network consistently in fourth place, the weakest they have been in years? Even a show like Heroes is way down in the ratings from its first season, NBC doesn’t have much left that’s worth watching at all.
Bummer no Masi Oka, I have been hoping for a return cameo since Heroes started.
Ummm ABC didn’t steal Scrubs. NBC cancelled it, and only then did ABC pick it up. Makes NBC look even worse for not letting them make the appearance.
Why is the show going to ABC for one season and then ending? That seems kind of pointless. Wasn’t it going to continue without Zach Braff? I was actually thinking of watching it! haha.
Petty and really makes no sense! What exactly is NBC afraid of? Since we’re talking about a series finale, it’s not like it’s pulling anything away from NBC consistently. I would think that any exposure that their stars get on something that is likely to gain a lot of viewers is good. Someone could see Masi Oka and say “I loved that guy on Scrubs, I should check out Heroes and see what he’s doing…” Right?
Does this mean we’ll finally find out the Janitor’s name?
Glad to see Dan back though. Love him.
Bob,
From what I’ve read, not only is Braff leaving, but so is Bill Lawrence, the series creator, and Judy Reyes, an actress on the show. As it mentioned above, the finale is the “likely” series finale. I don’t think it’s been set in stone yet (and would you expect anything less since last year was supposed to be the end of the series?), but with so many key players leaving, it seems probable that the show won’t continue.
you would think that NBC would realize that this could HELP them in promoting their shows. This is indicative of their failure to produce bona fide hits in recent years, save Heroes and the odd game show