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Scrubs theory explained as 'best' character missing from reboot trailer

Home> Entertainment> TV

Updated 14:34 12 Feb 2026 GMTPublished 14:32 12 Feb 2026 GMT

Scrubs theory explained as 'best' character missing from reboot trailer

Scrubs fans are wondering what happened to the janitor, but this theory might explain it

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

Scrubs fans are in for a treat as there's a reboot right around the corner and the first episode will be released in less than two weeks.

A bunch of fan favourite characters from that show which is usually a comedy but sometimes really f**king sad are confirmed to return, but one of the most iconic figures from the original run of Scrubs hasn't been seen.

We are, of course, talking about the janitor (Neil Flynn), who had a pathological hatred for JD (Zach Braff) and tormented him during most of their interactions, even at one point locking the doctor in a water tower and commandeering the narration for an episode.

Last time we saw him was in the episode 'Our First Day of School', where he learned JD wasn't coming back to Sacred Heart Hospital and just walked out of there, never to be seen or heard from again.

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Then again, with a reboot coming, there's speculation the janitor might make a comeback and there's a popular theory which could support it.

Check out the trailer:

The popular Scrubs theory

We don't see the janitor in the trailer for the Scrubs reboot, unless one of those two paintings over Turk's (Donald Faison) shoulder is of him.

He doesn't seem to make a physical appearance, at least, but the theory has developed that this is all part of the plan and there'll be a running joke in the reboot that he's returned just to mess with JD but nobody else has seen him.

Bad things happen to JD all season and then bam, there's a big reveal that the janitor is back and has been messing with him all this time.

At least that's how the theory goes.

Braff told Esquire that the janitor and Dr Kelso (Ken Jenkins) might return if the Scrubs reboot is 'blessed to have a second season'.

That would indicate they're not coming back at the moment, but perhaps it's all a ruse.

Who's in that painting on the wall? (ABC)
Who's in that painting on the wall? (ABC)

Why it might be true?

Take the above shot from the trailer. One of those portraits in the background looks like Dr Kelso's portrait which he once had put up in the hospital, then Dr Cox (John C. McGinley) put a memorial plaque on it and everyone thought he'd died.

Kelso took the portrait with him when he left the hospital and it never got replaced, but it might have ended up being put up again.

Anyhow, it's not clear whose portrait that is next to it but it does look a bit like Neil Flynn so it might be a painting of him in his Dr Jan Itor guise.

Plus, there have been past theories around the janitor.

A previously popular one about him from the first season of Scrubs is that he was originally going to be a figment of JD's imagination since he didn't interact with the other characters much.

However, Scrubs turned out to be successful and the janitor got to interact with a lot more people from then on, so he was very much not an imaginary tormentor for JD.

Dr Cox is returning, but where's the janitor? (ABC)
Dr Cox is returning, but where's the janitor? (ABC)

Which Scrubs characters are back for the reboot?

You can't really have Scrubs without JD, Turk and Elliot (Sarah Chalke), so they're all returning for the reboot.

Dr Cox and Carla (Judy Reyes) were both later confirmed to be making appearances in the reboot, while sex-obsessed surgeon Todd (Robert Maschio) and Dr Hooch (Phill Lewis) are also coming back.

Just remember, Hooch did take four interns hostage and got fired for it, then got put on Dr Cox's 'Never Ever Ever Ever Ever Ever Allowed In' list, while a departing JD imagined him in a straitjacket because he was 'crazy'.

Featured Image Credit: Disney

Topics: Zach Braff, TV and Film, TV

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

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@MrJoeHarker

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