Dr. Cox’s hospital stay isn’t over, and neither is his time on screen. Showrunner Aseem Batra shared that the Scrubs revival has secured John C. McGinley for additional episodes, and she teased an unexpected way of bringing him back.
John C. McGinley is returning for more Scrubs Season 2 episodes
Batra told TVLine that the production has McGinley for “a couple more” episodes. She said the writers are “getting creative” with his return, and that viewers will see him “in a different capacity” than before. She wouldn’t say more, but called it “a little surprise” that should be “really fun.”
McGinley’s schedule limits how much the show can use him. Batra said the series shares the actor with Rooster, so the writers grab whatever shooting days he can spare and build his scenes around them. “We love Johnny C. and love having him as much as possible, but he’s a busy man,” she said.
The news follows a two-part Season 2 premiere that put Cox through a punishing medical ordeal. In the first episode, J.D., Turk, Elliot and Carla struggle to figure out why his initial treatments aren’t working. Cox, back at Sacred Heart as a patient, depends on others for basic needs. Carla, who has known him for 25 years, takes his hand and tells him she knows how to guide a patient through this.
The second Scrubs episode brings relief, then a new problem. J.D. adjusts the treatment plan and it works, but Cox’s insurer refuses to pay for the expensive infusions unless the hospital admits him again.
That sends him back to a bed, and it leaves J.D. an opening to show new mentee Grant, played by John Higgins, how to work around the system. Grant isn’t interested in the lesson. The chief resident even reports J.D. to Sibby.
Batra also discussed Turk’s continuing mental health storyline and when fans can expect Sean and the Janitor, played by Neil Flynn, to return.