Awards Buzz was on the red carpet for the highly anticipated season finale of Scrubs, where we caught up with cast members reflecting on the revival and its emotional conclusion. At the event, Awards Buzz’s Sari Cohen spoke with Sarah Chalke about returning to the series, revisiting the set, and the joy of reuniting with the cast.
Q: Sari Cohen – What has the run of the revival felt like? What are you feeling right now?
A: Sarah Chalke
It’s been so incredibly surreal. I just feel super lucky. Grateful is probably the biggest word, because to get to do a job like that once in your lifetime is so rare—where you love the character, the script, the story, and most importantly, all the people you’re working with. We got to do that for eight years, which was such a gift. So to come back and do it again has been amazing. And it was crazy how quickly it all came back. You’d think it would take time to fall back into it, but it felt immediate just like we were 25 again.
Q: Sari Cohen – When you stepped back on set, what were some of the familiarities that returned, and what felt different?
A: Sarah Chalke
The biggest similarity was the set. It was unbelievable. We originally shot in an abandoned hospital in the Valley that’s since been torn down, so they rebuilt everything exactly. We thought it might be 60% similar, but it was identical. We got goosebumps walking back onto those sets. I spent my 20s in that ICU, that entrance, that cafeteria. Let’s just say it was wild.
The other big thing was the environment. We’d all gone off for 15 years and done other jobs, but coming back to a set where we had so much fun every day. It was such a collaborative, creative space where you felt safe to try anything. That feeling came right back, and I think we all missed that so much. Just getting to work with your friends and make each other laugh every day. It doesn’t get any better.
Q: Sari Cohen
Do you have a favorite off-screen moment from the revival?
A: Sarah Chalke
There were so many. One of the coolest things was our Saturday night dinners every weekend so the new cast could get to know the original cast. That was a really special experience.
The wrestling fantasy sequence was probably my favorite thing we shot. Off-screen, we actually got to do the stunts which means getting strapped into harnesses, lifted into the air, thrown onto mats. All of this was so much fun.
And honestly, just the day-to-day moments. Zach and Donald still have this one sound they can make that will instantly make me laugh, especially late at night like when we were in our 20s. All those little traditions came back.
Q: Sari Cohen
Since we are Awards Buzz, if you could give any of your co-stars or someone behind the scenes an award, what would it be and why?
A: Sarah Chalke
That’s such a great question. I would give Zach an award for his directing. I think he’s such a great director. He directed the first episode back, and it was really special because we were all figuring out how to step back into these characters while also bringing them into 2026. He gave us the space to play and explore that.
And I’d give Donald an award for making everyone laugh every day. I don’t think he’s ever had a bad day on set. He comes into hair and makeup in the morning in the best mood—dancing, cracking jokes—and it just lifts everyone up.
