http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/conten...6930d8b1949880f

'Scrubs' moving to ABC

By James Hibberd

Feb 29, 2008

"Scrubs"

Longtime NBC comedy "Scrubs" is heading to rival network ABC.

Sources say ABC is in negotiations to pick up 18 episodes of the show from ABC Studios, which has produced the series for NBC since 2001.

A broadcast show switching networks, though often discussed during contract renewals, is a rare event. Previous network jumpers include "JAG" (NBC to CBS) and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (The WB to UPN).

The writers strike cut short NBC's 18-episode final season order for the Zach Braff medical comedy to 12 episodes. Sources say the network has been reluctant to order additional episodes for next fall, citing the fact that it already has some remaining originals in the can. NBC reportedly floated various end game scenarios to producers, including ordering one final episode, or producing the remaining episodes direct to DVD.

Details of the ABC deal are still being hammered out as contracts for most cast members and writers have not been picked up beyond the current season.

After struggling in recent years to launch a hit comedy, ABC scored this season with freshman "Samantha Who." The "Scrubs" pickup will give ABC another half-hour title with a built-in audience, plus makes financial sense for parent company Disney since ABC Studios produces the show.

Steve McPherson, ABC's president of entertainment, has history with "Scrubs," having developed the show during his tenure overseeing the studio when it was known as Touchstone Television. McPherson also has been vocal about his intent to pick up the show should NBC drop it.

It's been a rocky ride for "Scrubs" on NBC. The network has repeatedly shifted the critically praised but modestly rated show around its schedule. For the past two seasons, NBC also waited until the 11th hour to pick up the comedy series with partial season orders.

Most recently, "Scrubs" has aired as part of NBC's Thursday night lineup along with "The Office," "My Name Is Earl" and "30 Rock," where the medical comedy was often the lowest-rated of the bunch.

This seems kind of stupid..I thought this was going to be Zack Braffs last season, would they do the show without him???

I do not think the show could survive post-Braff. NBC is on crack. First LV and now Scrubs. They never support anything do they? At first I thought it was just daytime but it happens in primetime as well.

Can anyone think of a show that moves from one network to another network successfully? I often catch Scrubs on ComedyCentral and my sister LOVES this show tremendously, but I don't think that this is a wise move.

^Jag went from NBC to CBS. Buffy from WB to UPN. Grounded for Life from Fox to WB. Sabrina went from ABC to WB.

There are a lot.

I think Charles In Charge & Mama's Family also switched networks. (if they didnt i think they were in syndication then got picked up by a network, like Baywatch did).

All went on to have many more seasons.

As for Braff, i wouldnt count him out for coming on for another season to give it an end. he was upset it was ending without an ending.

While many shows have switched networks over the years, none were more successful than "Jag," which spun-off "NCIS."

tvguide is saying the entire cast is on board. including braff.

Scrubs was an ABC product initially, I think. They prepared it for syndication...but NBC has aired it all these years. You would think they might consider some NBC viewers slipping over to ABC to watch it instead of viewing whatever will replace it?

Monk was another show that found success on USA network, after ABC gave it a short run and took it off the schedule. Was it NBC or ABC that first aired JAG?

Scrubs was an ABC product initially, I think. They prepared it for syndication...but NBC has aired it all these years. You would think they might consider some NBC viewers slipping over to ABC to watch it instead of viewing whatever will replace it?

Monk was another show that found success on USA network, after ABC gave it a short run and took it off the schedule. Was it NBC or ABC that first aired JAG?

Scrubs was never produced just to go into syndication. ABC Studios (then Touchstone Studios) always produced it, and sold it to NBC from the beginning. Criminal Minds on CBS right now is another show produced by ABC Studios, one of several airing on the other four networks.

Monk was always a USA show, but it aired on ABC briefly (after it had begun airing on USA) as a summer show before NBC acquired USA Network. BTW, NBC first aired JAG, but it was then picked up by CBS.

It's hard to think of a show that changed networks that was as successful as JAG (several moved to first-run syndication successfully), although Father Knows Best did it way back in the 1950's, and My Three Sons in the 1960's (this may have been the most successful, running another 7 years on CBS after its initial 5-year run on NBC). Plenty have done it only to last but one more season, like The Bionic Woman, Taxi, The Hogan Family, and Diff'rent Strokes, among many others.

This is great news. I love the show and I'm glad it's getting a second chance on ABC.