John Higgins Cast as New Chief Resident in 'Scrubs' Season 2
Former SNL performer John Higgins has been cast as Grant, the new Chief Resident, in the second season of the ABC revival of Scrubs. The announcement was made at D23, where the show also confirmed the return of Scott Foley as Sean Kelly and the promotion of Ava Bunn to series regular. The new season premieres on September 30.
Key points
- John Higgins will play Grant, a new Chief Resident designed to be a rival to J.D. Dorian, similar to how Higgins was a rival to Dr. Cox in SNL.
- The casting was confirmed by Deadline and alluded to by Donald Faison during a D23 panel moderated by Scott Foley.
- Ava Bunn, who plays intern Tosh, is being promoted from recurring to series regular for Season 2.
- Keyla Monterroso Mejia joins the cast as surgical nurse Mimi, while X Mayo and Joel Kim Booster are not returning.
- The season premieres with two episodes on ABC on September 30, 2026, and will stream on Hulu the following day.
Background
The Scrubs revival launched in 2025 with a nine-episode first season that received high praise from critics and audiences. The original series creator Bill Lawrence serves as an executive producer on the revival through Doozer Productions. The show is produced by 20th Television, a subsidiary of Disney Television Studios. This casting news follows recent announcements regarding other ABC programming, including the renewal of RuPaul's Drag Race and updates to The Traitors.
How outlets are covering it
Deadline provided the exclusive casting news for John Higgins, detailing his role as Grant and his background with the comedy group Please Don't Destroy. TVLine focused on the broader Season 2 trailer reveal, emphasizing the return of Scott Foley as Sean Kelly and the confirmed relationship between Sean and Elliot, while also noting the return of other original cast members like Judy Reyes and John C. McGinley. ABC30 Fresno covered the event from the perspective of the D23 fan convention, highlighting the panel where Scott Foley announced his return and the general excitement around the show's revival. While all sources agree on the core casting and premiere date, Deadline emphasizes the new addition of Higgins, TVLine highlights the returning favorites, and ABC30 frames the news within the broader context of Disney's fan event.
Why it matters
The addition of a high-profile SNL alum like John Higgins signals a commitment to maintaining the comedic edge and dynamic rivalries that defined the original Scrubs. The promotion of Ava Bunn and the return of fan-favorite Scott Foley suggest the producers are balancing new energy with nostalgia to sustain the revival's momentum. The strong reception of Season 1, which TVLine noted as having 'real purpose,' indicates that this casting strategy is aimed at preserving the show's critical and audience success into its second run.
What to watch
The second season of Scrubs is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, with back-to-back episodes on ABC. The episodes will stream on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ the following day. Fans can expect to see the new dynamic between J.D. and Grant, as well as the rekindled romance between Elliot and Sean, in the upcoming season.
- ‘SNL’ Alum John Higgins Joins ‘Scrubs’ For Major Role In Season 2 Of ABC Revival Deadline
- Scott Foley Returning To ‘Scrubs’ As Sean Kelly In Season 2 Of ABC Revival To Revisit Classic Storyline Deadline
- Scrubs Season 2: Hilarious The Studio Star Joins Show After Major Cast Exits Yahoo
- First Scrubs Season 2 Trailer Reveals TV's Scott Foley Is Back As Elliot's Ex Sean TVLine
- 'Frozen 3' and 'Hexed' photo ops takeover D23! ABC30 Fresno
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