Yes, Dr. Cox is Returning for the 'Scrubs' Reboot

It’s always fun when a supporting character in a show pops more than one of the leads (unless you’re Reginald VelJohnson). They manage to steal the show and the audience’s hearts every time they appear onscreen. Many have even parlayed the love and attention into their own shows. But a select few can steal their scenes without stealing the show. They support their leads without taking over. Dr. Cox is one such character.

Cox is a physician on the show Scrubs and is played exquisitely by longtime character actor John C. McGinley. He’s brash, sarcastic, and pretends not to care despite having a heart of gold. Cox is forced to mentor Zach Braff’s J.D., and despite their dissimilar approaches to life, they become friends. While the character was well written, it’s McGinley’s performance that makes him shine.

There’s a world where Cox could just be an overbearing blowhard. It’s called the real world. Most human beings like Cox, who don’t work in fictional hospitals, would be unbearable to be around. He’s a know-it-all who isn’t afraid to show it. He is often dismissive of his co-workers’ talents or abilities. He’s the worst. But, as an audience, we are helpless against McGinley’s charms.

The man plays Cox in a way that makes him fun to be around. His jokes feel like jokes and not insults. There is a tenderness we see McGinley wrestle with. It may be written into the character, but he makes it feel real, on a sitcom, no less. While J.D.’s adventures are at the heart of the story, Cox makes the show feel complete. So, of course, they’re bringing him back for the revival.

The Hollywood Reporter notes that McGinley will be in front of the camera when the new iteration of Scrubs gets going. He is the fifth person to return, a group that includes Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, and Judy Reyes. It will be interesting to see how, if at all, Cox has changed over the years.

My guess is: a lot! Cox feels similar to people like Marc Maron, David Letterman, and Howard Stern. They’re all men with sharp wits and bones to pick, but, at different times in their lives, have been softened by medical conditions or tragedy (or both). I predict something similar for ole Dr. Cox, especially given the stories that series creator Bill Lawrence has focused on later in his career.

Regardless of how he is, it will be nice to have Dr. Cox back, and the Scrubs revival gets more exciting with every passing day.