Scrubs' Next Season Heads for the Classroom

When Scrubs returns for its somewhat unexpected ninth season this fall on ABC, the show will make a move from the halls of Sacred Heart to those of a medical school — with Christopher Turk (played by Donald Faison)  and Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) leading the way.

"It's going to be a different show," creator Bill Lawrence told EW's Ausiello. "It'll still be life-and-death stakes, but if the show is just Scrubs again in the hospital with a different person's voiceover, it would be a disaster, and people would be mad."

While Cox and Turk will now be teaching and the setting will be new, don't mourn the old Scrubs too much. Lawrence promises that now and then, students will visit Sacred Heart — where they might run into such original cast members as Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes and Ken Jenkins, who will all return as guests throughout the season.

Yet, at least half the cast on the new Scrubs will be new hires, among which there will likely be a heavyweight actor. "[ABC] is really after us to hire a big name," Lawrence said. "So one of them will be fairly famous."

A network rep for the show did not yet have a comment for TVGuide.com on Lawrence's plans.

Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows, from this summer or the upcoming fall season? E-mail senior editors Matt, Mickey and Tim at [email protected]. Also, follow TV Guide on Twitter.