‘Scrubs’: Why Ken Jenkins Won’t Return as Dr. Kelso in the Revival

Season 2 of the Scrubs revival at ABC is gearing up for more Sacred Heart Hospital shenanigans as J.D. (Zach Braff), Elliot (Sarah Chalke), Turk (Donald Faison), and more favorites return for the latest episodes this fall, but more OGs are on the way.

As previously announced, Scott Foley is set to reprise his role as Elliot’s ex boyfriend, Sean, and Season 1 returnees like Judy Reyes‘s Carla, John C. McGinley‘s Dr. Cox, Christa Miller‘s Jordan, and Neil Flynn‘s Janitor are all poised for comebacks, but it’s also been revealed that another beloved character is set to make an appearance this time around.

According to Deadline, Johnny Kastl, who played the extremely klutzy and inept Dr. Doug Murphy, is set to arrive in one of Season 2’s later episodes. Showrunner Aseem Batra told the outlet, “That that is my plan. We’ll see how it all shakes up but we’re writing two more [episodes], and we have him planned in one of those last two.”

But after previously expressing interest in bringing Ken Jenkins back as Dr. Kelso, it’s been revealed that he did not make the Season 2 cut — but not for lack of trying.

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“We all have to remember that when we reboot a show, we have to go with where people are in their lives and in their health and the things that are happening in their life,” Batra shared. “So it’s not anything he can control or we can control, it’s just simply the situation. He’s doing great, but let’s all remember that, because we try to bring people back that we love, and it can’t always work with schedules or things happening in people’s lives.”

For context, Jenkins is 86 and retired from acting, so his return is certainly less likely for those reasons alone. But stay tuned for any updates should the series return for Season 3, as Braff expressed to Deadline, “I’ll keep trying, but I think, for currently where he’s at, it’s a bit of a big ask, I’ll just say that.”

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Dr. Kelso was the chief of medicine at Sacred Heart Hospital when the series debuted in the early 2000s, and the role was eventually handed down to Dr. Cox, and now to J.D. While fans shouldn’t expect a reunion in Season 2, we’ll continue to keep our fingers crossed for a Season 3 possibility. In the meantime, let us know what you think of Kastl’s return as Doug in the comments section below, and stay tuned for more on Scrubs as Season 2 of the revival unfolds.

Scrubs, Season 2 Premiere, Wednesday, September 30, 8/7c, ABC