Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 8, “My Odds,” of the “Scrubs” revival, which aired Wednesday on ABC (Thursday on Hulu).
Doctor, heal yourself. Dr. Perry Cox (played by John C. McGinley) has not appeared in the 2026 Scrubs revival since the series (Season 10? Season 9?) premiered in February. At this time, he resigned and shocked the hospital and viewers by appointing JD (Zach Braff) as his successor. So when he returned in episode 8, “My Odds,” viewers knew something was up.
In real life, McGinley is busy as the star of another Bill Lawrence show, the new HBO Max comedy Rooster starring Steve Carell. But McGinley remains one of the mainstays of “Scrubs,” the surly attending physician who motivated (mainly through fear) J.D., Reed (Sarah Chalke), and Tarn (Donald Faison) when they were interns.
Cox always had a shoulder injury, but he seemed invincible and fearless. So when he returns to Sacred Heart in “My Odds” to perform some tests, he is in an unusually vulnerable state. Indeed, Cox is still tormenting J.D., hanging out with J.D.’s rival Dr. Park (Joel Kim Booster). However, Mr. Cox still gives Mr. JD the job, and although Mr. Park is disappointed, he trusts Mr. JD more than anyone else with his diagnosis.
“Scrubs” is a comedy, but Lawrence’s signature move is mixing that fun with well-earned dramatic moments. And that happens later in this episode when Cox realizes he’s sick and needs JD to come up with a treatment plan.
With only two episodes left in Season 1 (Season 10? Season 9?), Scrubs will likely continue Dr. Cox’s story next year, and McGinley told Variety that Lawrence has a schedule that splits his time between the show and Rooster. This is good news for fans and Scrubs alike, with McGinley saying that “My Odds” may be his favorite episode of “Scrubs” since Season 3’s critically acclaimed “My Screw Up.” In this episode, Cox is grieving the death of his brother-in-law (Brendan Fraser).
Variety spoke with McGinley about My Odds, the world of Bill Lawrence, and how he hopes to spend more time on Scrubs next season.
This is a busy time for you. Bill Lawrence’s machine is on fire right now.
He is the Norman Lear of his generation. Him and Shonda Rhimes. They’re unicorns, dude. I don’t even know Shonda, but I think she’s an amazing person.
I didn’t get to work on “Scrubs” much this season because I was busy with “Rooster,” but what were the logistical challenges of doing both?
When Billy told me about “Rooster,” he made it clear that it would conflict with “Scrubs.” And I said, add me to whatever you think will work logistically. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but I think, God willing, the schedules will align in a way that season two of both will allow Dr. Cox to work quite a bit on “Scrubs.”
What did you think of this story and what does it mean for Dr. Cox to get sick?
It puts him back in the hospital as a patient, which is very interesting to flip the situation 180 degrees from being a mentor to a position where the people he mentored now have to be his caregivers. It’s a rich landscape for writers.
Do you think Dr. Cox will be humbled by this at all? He’s become a little more vulnerable, but still Dr. Cox.
I’m not going to gamble with humility. I don’t know what Billy is cooking. This is one of the best half-hours of television next to the Brendan Fraser episode. This was one of the best half-hours we’ve ever had in “scrubs.”
This feels like a great example of how “Scrubs” goes from high comedy to drama and back again.
I think that’s Billy’s superpower, because he’s not afraid of it. He’s not afraid to tear people’s sternums open and show us what’s beating underneath. Especially when it comes to Cox. It reminds me of one of my favorite episodes in “All in the Family,” when Archie Bunker is in an elevator and everyone else in the elevator is a person of color. By the time it was over, Carol was holding the baby, which was horrifying. It’s Norman visiting the same property and Billy isn’t afraid to jump into it. For a writer, it’s an arduous task.
There are some touching moments in this episode, especially when Dr. Cox apologizes to Dr. Reed and admits that he could have scared her out of her job. It was a great feeling, remembering how much Cox used to scold everyone.
I love the verb “earned.” Because I think Billy is leaning toward getting those opportunities. Without getting too upset, Cox told her the truth. It’s great that you tell me the truth, or it’s great that I tell you the truth. I think people live for it, but they’re not necessarily encouraged to do it. Because this landscape is fragile and when people do it, it’s attractive and it makes money.
What do you think Cox was thinking at that moment? He seems to realize that he walked a very fine line in pushing these interns, and it could have completely backfired and kept these people off their drugs.
Yes, I think we are guided by such epiphanies (when we have health concerns). I’m in the hospital for a few different reasons, and it’s not that big of a leap of the imagination to think “this could be it.” You start to reconcile things. The human condition begins to reconcile things on the way out the door. If there is such an opportunity. Some of your friends and mine just quit. There is no opportunity to adjust relationships or accounts. I think Cox is in there somewhere.
The way Billy writes, there’s a good chance this will be the case. And I remember when my dad was in hospice. My father was so strong and Irish that his hospice caregiver told us: “I have to tell my dad it’s okay to go. I have to say to my dad. I have to speak up and say, ‘Dad, it’s okay to go.'” It changed my life. ”
Cox’s story could continue next season. How did Bill make you feel?
I was just reading one of my favorite novels by Joe Campbell, and I think the main character or hero has some kind of outcome during their journey. There must be danger. I think the writers have done a phenomenal job of introducing five or six new major characters, but Zach (Bruff) is the main character[in this story]. There should be consequences along the way. There must be danger. I don’t know if Cox will rise to the same level of threat to the protagonist, but in a traditional structure, Zack needs more Cox.
It’s always been a very complicated relationship. Cox is the one who gave him the job, but he’s also his biggest headache.
And not just Director Thorne, but also the Responsibility Committee Chair. I think that’s a big deal. You are in charge at Variety. And I think Zacky’s JD has to take responsibility.
The return of scrubs received a lot of attention. And I think the general consensus is that this show has managed to seamlessly recapture that tone.
I thought Billy did a great job with Pivot. ABC loved it and it was great. Shooting in Vancouver was a dream. 20,000 square feet of space. It’s like the entire hospital in Valley Village (where the original show was filmed) is located there. The tone of the paint really needs to take action and get out of my line of sight. That place is heaven.
