Fall TV Preview: Scrubs Takes One Last Trip to Sacred Heart

For the past six years, we've laughed and cried with the gang at Sacred Heart. Scrubs, one of the most refreshing and interesting sitcoms in recent memory, introduced us to the life of John "J.D." Dorian (played by Zach Braff), an internal medicine intern at a hospital, as well as his colleagues -- Chris Turk (Donald Faison), a surgical intern as well as J.D.'s best friend and roommate; Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke), also an internal medicine intern; Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), a nurse who becomes romantically involved with Turk; Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), an attending physician and J.D.'s reluctant mentor; Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins), the seemingly-heartless chief of medicine; and the Janitor (Neil Flynn), who constantly torments J.D. at every turn.

Over the years, we've been privy to the lives of these characters. We were there when J.D. and Elliot started dating, only to have it fall apart. We were there when Dr. Cox discovered his ex-wife Jordan (Christa Miller) was pregnant with his child. We were guests at Turk and Carla's wedding. We felt for J.D. when his father passed away (a tribute episode to the late great John Ritter, who played J.D.'s father in a previous episode). We waited with Carla and Turk for the birth of their daughter, Isabella. We helped J.D. pull Dr. Cox out of a downward spiral in his life. And through it all, we got to know the characters beyond their little quirks.

Although the sixth season got off to a rocky start, it had an upswing towards the end. The season began with J.D. discovering he had accidentally impregnated his new girlfriend Kim (Elizabeth Banks). The pair decided they would keep the baby, but Kim was offered a job in Washington for six months. After she left, however, she told J.D. her new job wanted her to stay on and that she had a miscarriage. Following this, J.D.'s life became a bit rocky, as did the show on a whole. It wasn't until the end of the season when there was an upswing. Keith (Travis Schuldt) proposed to Elliot and once she accepted the proposal, J.D. realized he was still in love with her. Before he had a chance to explore how he felt, Kim re-entered his life, revealing she lied about the miscarriage. At first angered, J.D. eventually forgave her and the two became a couple once more. The season ended on a cliffhanger, with Elliot and J.D. afraid they were making a huge mistake staying with their respective partners. As Elliot put it, "I've reached the point of no return. To get out of this, I'd have to do something huge." J.D. responded with, "I'd have to go nuclear." The two lay together on a hospital bed side-by-side their hands slowly linking together. J.D.'s inner monologue summarized the episode (as it usually does) with: "So there we were -- together but not together. And as always, not knowing what the hell we were doing." The two then leaned in towards each other, seemingly about to kiss, but then it cut to the credits just before they did.

Now, October 25th begins the seventh and final season of Scrubs, a season that will only last for eighteen episodes, shorter than its predecessors. There are lots of questions about what will happen in these final eighteen episodes and the season premiere is bound to be one of the most talked-about episodes in the show's history. The first question is the obvious one -- will Elliot and J.D. get back together and if so, what does that mean for Keith and especially Kim and J.D.'s unborn son?

My prediction is Elliot and J.D. will sleep together but they won't start a relationship -- at least not yet. Kim will be angered but she'll be willing to give J.D. a second chance. After she lied about the miscarriage, she'll probably feel somewhat responsible for J.D.'s infidelity. J.D., however, might tell Kim he can't be with her anyway. Keith, on the other hand, has been nothing but a perfect boyfriend for Elliot so I imagine he'll feel pretty betrayed and break off the wedding.

But with every new season comes a new set of problems, so it's impossible to accurately predict what else may happen during these final eighteen episodes. I am convinced by the series finale, J.D. and Elliot will be together -- possibly engaged. There are other things fans are interested in, such as who will be the fourth member of the Janitor's brain trust? And speaking of the Janitor, just what is his real name? Now that the show is coming to an end, the finale is the perfect place to reveal his identity. How will Dr. Cox and Jordan handle raising a second child? And what new surprises are in store for the staff of Sacred Heart?

As Scrubs has become known for famous guest stars over the years (such as Brendan Frasier, Tara Reid, Michael J. Fox, and Colin Farrell to name a few), I know two celebrities I'd like to make an appearance. The first is Hugh Laurie, star of Fox's House. Dr. Cox has been compared to Laurie's character a few times, as Kelso once said, "you're so edgy and cantankerous, you're like House without the limp" and watching the pair trade jibes would make for great entertainment. Another guest star I would like to see? Hugh Jackman playing himself, because of Dr. Cox's unexplained hatred for the man.

One thing is for certain, though. No matter what this final season brings, fans everywhere will mourn the departure of the gang from Sacred Heart.