confirmed Scrubs revival means a 183rd episode (and beyond) will be made over a decade after the sitcom ended, but it won't be the same as the lost installment from the original run. Instead, the Scrubs season 10 will take the story forward.

Although it still has a cult following, Scrubs was never guaranteed to be renewed at the end of each season. Its viewing figures and ratings were inconsistent, so the cast wasn't ever sure if they'd be back for another run. As a result, Scrubs technically has three finales, and all for different reasons. However, Scrubs' lost episode happened for reasons beyond the production's control.

"My Commitment" Was Supposed To Be A Scrubs Season 7 Episode

Only 11 of the 18 ordered Scrubs season 7 episodes were ever made

Scrubs was one of the many shows that suffered due to the 2007-2008 Hollywood writers' strike. The industry's writers downed tools in the name of fair payment, and it happened while Scrubs season 7 was in active production. ABC had ordered 18 episodes from creator and showrunner Bill Lawrence, but only 11 were completed before the strike brought things to an abrupt halt. The twelfth episode was set to be called "My Commitment," but it had to be abandoned during filming due to the strike.

Due to the writers' strike, Scrubs season 7 ultimately ended up being the show's shortest run - but only just. Scrubs season 9's softly-rebooted Med School episodes only totaled 13 installments, so it was saved the shame of last place by season 7. Regardless, the Med School is still widely regarded as the show's worst effort, so it stands as evidence that more episodes don't necessarily mean a season will be better. Having said that, it's difficult to see a world where Scrubs season 7 was finished in its entirety, and it was worse than Med School.

Scrubs' Abandoned Episode Went On To Form The Basis Of Season 8's "My Nah Nah Nah"

The work on "My Commitment" didn't go to waste

In a post on the ABC website in 2009, Lawrence discussed "My Commitment," and the incomplete episode's fate isn't quite so miserable after all. Rather than the footage shot for the season 7 episode going to waste, it was repurposed a year later for Scrubs season 8, episode 11, "My Nah Nah Nah." Per the showrunner's explanation, "50% of it was shot over a year ago." Given the themes in "My Nah Nah Nah" revolving around issues with Dr. Cox's relationship with Jordan (and the Janitor's with Lady), it would appear "My Commitment" had an understandably fitting title.

The parts of "My Commitment" that were shot were done so without the presence of Bill Lawrence and the other Scrubs writers, due to the strike.

Interestingly, Scrubs season 7 was the show's final run to be shot in a 4:3 ratio. Scrubs season 8 was the first to switch to 16:9, so the picture filled a widescreen TV. Lawrence has discussed on the official Scrubs rewatch podcast that all episodes were shot in 16:9, but most only ever aired in 4:3. So, "My Nah Nah Nah" is special because it's the only installment to include 4:3 footage from Scrubs' earlier years, converted for the new 16:9 format. Thankfully, it's impossible to notice without prior knowledge.

The 2007-2008 Writers' Strike Massively Affected Scrubs Season 7

Scrubs' final run on ABC ended weirdly

As well as the show's hugely truncated run, Scrubs season 7 suffered many other negative side effects of the strike that caused "My Commitment" to be abandoned. These issues largely stemmed from the same source, and that was the fact that parts of Scrubs season 7 were aired out of order. This resulted in continuity issues that the show couldn't possibly have addressed in the scripts. For example, Ken Jenkins' Dr. Bob Kelso is suddenly the Chief of Medicine again in some episodes, despite his character having already retired earlier in the season.

The reason for Scrubs season 7's running order being toyed with was that ABC was working with limited tools to give the run a more natural flow. Perhaps most saliently, "My Princess" was moved to be the show's finale. It was never intended to wrap up the season, but its cinematic and fantastical qualities seemingly made it the most eligible to end what could easily have been the sitcom's final run of episodes. Ultimately, Scrubs stuttering to a stop did result in ABC dropping the show, and the final two seasons were produced by NBC instead before its cancelation.

Source: ABC