SNL Alum John Higgins Scrubs In for Season 2
John Higgins Joins "Scrubs" Revival: What You Need to Know About Season 2
The Big News
Former Saturday Night Live writer and performer John Higgins is joining the cast of ABC’s Scrubs revival for a major recurring role in Season 2. Higgins is best known as one-third of the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy.
Important Point: This is an exclusive report from Deadline, meaning they broke the story first.
Who Is John Higgins?
Before we dive into his new role, here’s a quick rundown of Higgins’ background:
- SNL Veteran: Writer and performer on Saturday Night Live
- Comedy Trio: Member of Please Don’t Destroy (alongside Martin Herlihy and Ben Marshall)
- Film Experience: Co-wrote and executive produced Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (2023)
- Recent Move: Left SNL last summer to focus on acting full-time
- Upcoming Projects:
- Netflix film Bad Day (starring Cameron Diaz)
- Recurring role on Apple TV+’s Stick (starring Owen Wilson)
His Character: Grant, the New Chief Resident
Higgins will play Grant, the new Chief Resident at Sacred Heart Hospital.
What Does "Chief Resident" Mean?
Simple Explanation: A Chief Resident is a senior doctor-in-training who helps supervise other residents (junior doctors). Think of it like a "team captain" for the medical trainees.
The Fun Parallel
The show is setting up a full-circle moment:
- Back in the day: J.D. (Zach Braff) was the annoying young doctor who drove Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) crazy
- Now: Grant will be the thorn in J.D.’s side — same energy, new generation!
Other Season 2 Casting Updates
Promotions & New Additions
| Actor | Character | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ava Bunn | Tosh (intern) | Promoted to series regular |
| Keyla Monterroso Mejia | Mimi (surgical nurse) | New recurring role |
Not Returning from Season 1
- X Mayo as nurse Raymond
- Joel Kim Booster as Dr. Kevin Park (J.D.’s scheming rival)
Behind the Scenes: Who’s Running the Show
- Original Creator: Bill Lawrence (Executive Producer via Doozer Productions)
- Showrunner: Aseem Batra
- Stars/Executive Producers: Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke
- Production Company: 20th Television (part of Disney Television Studios)
When & Where to Watch
- TV Premiere: Wednesday, September 30 on ABC
- Streaming: Next day on Hulu
- First Look: A Season 2 teaser has already been released (check YouTube!)
The D23 Reveal
Donald Faison hinted at the casting during a "Scrubs: Scrubbing Back" panel at D23 (Disney’s big fan convention). The panel featured:
- Moderator: Scott Foley (returning as Sean Kelly in Season 2!)
- Stars: Braff, Faison, Chalke
- Showrunner: Aseem Batra
Quote from Donald Faison: "John Higgins joins the cast, it’s been a lot of fun to watch him work, actually him and Ava Bunn, who plays Tosh. They’ve been great additions."
Summary
- John Higgins (Please Don’t Destroy, ex-SNL) joins Scrubs Season 2 as Grant, the new Chief Resident
- His character will annoy J.D. just like J.D. once annoyed Dr. Cox — poetic justice!
- Ava Bunn (Tosh) promoted to series regular
- Keyla Monterroso Mejia joins as nurse Mimi
- Scott Foley returns as Sean Kelly
- Premieres September 30 on ABC, streams next day on Hulu
- Original creator Bill Lawrence still involved as EP
FAQ
Who is John Higgins?
He’s a comedian, writer, and actor best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and as part of the viral comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy. He recently left SNL to pursue acting.
What role is he playing?
He plays Grant, the new Chief Resident — a senior doctor-in-training who will be a rival/thorn in the side of J.D. (Zach Braff).
When does Season 2 premiere?
Wednesday, September 30 on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
Is the original cast returning?
Yes! Zach Braff (J.D.), Donald Faison (Turk), and Sarah Chalke (Elliot) are all back as series regulars and executive producers. Scott Foley also returns as Sean Kelly.
Who’s NOT coming back?
Season 1 recurring players X Mayo (nurse Raymond) and Joel Kim Booster (Dr. Kevin Park) will not return for Season 2.