TCA: Zach Braff ready to take off his scrubs

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J.D. is finally growing up and moving on with his life on ‘Scrubs.’ And that’s not because the single-camera comedy has a new home on ABC.

Zach Braff, who has portrayed the quirky, sentimental doctor for seven years (formerly on NBC), said Wednesday that he would be leaving the show at the end of this season, which begins on ABC in January.

‘J.D. will be leaving the hospital,’ said creator Bill Lawrence during a press conference. ‘And without giving away too much, the show is about whether, when you leave, you can hold on to your relationships or not.’

Braff said he hopes to return as a guest star in the future, if ‘Scrubs’ continues beyond its eighth season, which ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson has said he is open to doing.

‘Thanks to Steve, this has been a bonus amazing year, but my sense is that this is my last year,’ Braff said. ‘I hope to be able to visit and direct some episodes and do craft services, if they need the help.’

But can Turk (Donald Faison) possibly go on without J.D.?

‘It’s a real conundrum for me,’ Lawrence said. ‘Whether the show goes on or not [without Braff] is really tough. I don’t just mean making cash, ‘cause I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. We’ve got a family there and a crew of people and a landscape that’s not friendly now to TV production. And they love it there.’

‘I think if Zach goes, Donald’s gotta go,’ interjected Neil Flynn, who plays the Janitor, who gets married this season in the Bahamas, even though viewers will still not know his real name.

‘When you hear the Janitor’s name,’ Lawrence said, ‘the show is over.’

--Maria Elena Fernandez