Latest news with #BillLawrence
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zach Braff Joins ‘Scrubs' Reboot in Development at ABC
Zach Braff may soon be scrubbing back in at Sacred Heart. The actor is on board to reprise the role of J.D. in a reboot of 'Scrubs' being developed at ABC. The reboot was first reported to be in early development in December, with original series creator Bill Lawrence serving as executive producer but not showrunner. More from Variety Disney's Upfront Went Hard on Sports - With an Off-Key Manning Brothers Musical - but Hardly Mentioned ABC Jimmy Kimmel Takes On Bob Iger, Netflix and Gen Z's YouTube Habits in Upfronts Monologue: 'When You Have Kids, You'll Come Crawling Back to Disney Like Dogs!" ABC Unveils Fall 2025 Schedule: '9-1-1: Nashville' Joins Its Mothership on Thursday; 'Shark Tank' Moves to Wednesday As 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Takes Its Place Lawrence, Braff and other 'Scrubs' alum have discussed the idea of a reboot for years, but it couldn't go into motion until after negotiations between Disney, which owns the IP, and Warner Bros. Television, where Lawrence has an overall deal. While working on 'Scrubs' at Disney-owned 20th Television, Lawrence remains under his deal at WBTV, where he produces the Apple TV+ comedy series 'Shrinking,' 'Ted Lasso' and 'Bad Monkey.' 'Scrubs' premiered in 2001 on NBC, which aired the series for seven seasons before cancelling it. It was then renewed by ABC for an eighth season, which was intended to end the series, though the network later greenlit a ninth season subtitled 'Scrubs: Med School' in which only John C. McGinley and Donald Faison stayed on as series regulars. Braff appeared in six out of 13 episodes. Alongside Braff as J.D. aka John Dorian, the original cast of 'Scrubs' included McGinley as Perry Cox, Faison as Chris Turk, Judy Reyes as Carla Espinosa, Sarah Chalke as Elliot Reid, Ken Jenkins as Bob Kelso and Neil Flynn as the janitor. The series was a single-camera sitcom set at Sacred Heart Hospital and narrated by J.D. as he and his friends advanced in their medical careers. Braff is the only cast member currently confirmed to be attached to the reboot. He previously spoke about his enthusiasm to join a 'Scrubs' reboot in a Variety interview about the 20th anniversary of his film 'Garden State': 'The idea of getting back together with my friends and doing like 10 or 12 episodes of maybe one or two seasons, and just laughing with everyone? That sounds like a dream,' he said. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Candice Bergen to Appear on ‘Shrinking' Opposite Harrison Ford and Fellow Guest Star Michael J. Fox, Says Co-Creator Bill Lawrence
Add Candice Bergen to the list of icons appearing on Apple TV+'s 'Shrinking,' co-creator Bill Lawrence revealed Saturday night during a panel at Austin's ATX TV Festival. During the 'Bill Lawrence and Friends' event at the Paramount Theatre, Lawrence let it slip that the 'Murphy Brown' star would appear on the series, which is now shooting its Season 3, opposite series regular Harrison Ford and previously announced guest star Michael J. Fox. Lawrence let Bergen's casting slip while talking about working again with Fox, the star of Lawrence's first-ever sitcom, 'Spin City.' More from Variety 'King of the Hill' Revival First Details: Hank and Peggy Are Retired, Bobby's a Dallas Chef, Dale Was Briefly Arlen's Mayor and More As the Real World Looks Bleak and Democracy Crumbles, TV Comedies Like 'A Man on the Inside' and 'Shrinking' Are Providing a Needed Mental Health Break 'Shrinking' Season 3 Casts Sherry Cola, Isabella Gomez 'He's one of the greatest people I've ever met,' Lawrence said of Fox. 'He's one of my mentors. And man, what an inspiring dude, the way he's living his life. So to get to have him back, working with him… I didn't expect to have career highlights at this point in my career and I was on set about 10 days ago watching Harrison Ford and Mike Fox and Candice Bergen — oh a spoiler!' Lawrence didn't elaborate on Bergen's 'Shrinking' role beyond that slip. Lawrence co-created 'Shrinking' with Brett Goldstein and Jason Segel, who stars as Jimmy, a therapist whose grief about his late wife pushes him to start breaking the rules and making big changes in the lives of his patients, friends, family and self. The cast also includes Harrison Ford, Christa Miller, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Ted McGinley. Besides Fox and Bergen, new cast members in Season 3 will include Jeff Daniels, Sherry Cola and Isabella Gomez. Bergen's other recent guest stints include 'And Just Like Us' and 'The Conners.' Lawrence shared more about his experience working with Fox on 'Spin City,' which he created and executive produced with Gary David Goldberg in his 20s. Fox departed 'Spin City' after four seasons in 2000 due to Parkinson's symptoms. Fox also had a two-episode arc in Lawrence's NBC sitcom 'Scrubs,' in which he played a genius doctor with severe OCD. 'I was lucky enough to had a mentor, and I created 'Spin City' when I was 25 years old,' Lawrence said. 'Mike Fox was saying things that I wrote, and I was so scared. I couldn't give him notes, and I couldn't do other things. And what broke the ice finally, and I think he did this on purpose. 'Spin City' was in front of a live audience, and people would line up in New York because it wasn't LA, there was only one live sitcom. It was Michael J Fox's show… [there was] a joke that I was convinced was gonna be fucking funny. And Mike's like, 'dude, not funny.' This the first time I took a stand. I'm like, 'I think it's gonna be funny, Mike, this is the first scene. And he goes, I don't think so. And I'm like, 'I think it's be funny.' He's like, 'All right, I'll do it.' And the first scene with a huge audience that's crackling with electricity. We get to that first joke. He says it, and it's fucking crickets. Instead of going on with the scene, he just looked over in front of me. He goes, 'you fucking happy now?' 'There's two lessons. One is he, by the way, had a smile on his face. So he was letting me know that it was okay, and it gave me so much confidence,' Lawrence added. 'But he was also letting me know that those of us that write don't have to have that kind of egg on our face, if it goes south. So one of the things that we always tell everybody, is you do something silly and big and bold and go for it, and if it doesn't work, I promise it won't be on the show. I hope you guys like seeing Mike on TV again. He's my hero.' The Lawrence panel also included Zach Braff ('Scrubs'), Brett Goldstein ('Shrinking,' 'Ted Lasso'), Josh Hopkins ('Cougar Town,' 'Shrinking'), Phil Dunster ('Ted Lasso') and Charly Clive, who stars in Lawrence's upcoming HBO series as the daughter of Steve Carell's character. (Dunster is also in that show.) Braff is on board Lawrence's potential 'Scrubs' revival in development at ABC. 'We're all still friends,' Braff said. 'People think this is like a lie, and we tell people we all really hang out. Donald and I are legitimately best friends. He's staying in my apartment as we speak in New York. We're all really, really close and and so when this, when it came up that ABC, Disney, wanted to do it. It just felt like a great the right time. And the idea of going and laughing all day long with this group of people that I love so much again this time felt like a really good time.' Braff is also directing an episode of Lawrence's HBO series starring Carell, Dunster, Clive and John C. McGinley. Asked about the Apple TV+ 'Ted Lasso' revival, Lawrence deferred to creator/star Jason Sudeikis. (Who wasn't in Austin.) 'He is Ted Lasso, but he's also the voice the show,' Lawrence said. 'And more than a creative partner, I was kind of riding on his coattails on that one.' Added Goldstein, who joked at Lawrence's Bergen slip: 'Unlike Bill, who breaks embargoes, I'm not allowed to say anything, because Apple has a sniper on the roof driving an eye on me right now. All I can say is, it is delightful to be back in the right through with everyone.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Scrubs fans delight as Zach Braff finally signs on for reboot after tense negotiations over his deal
Scrubs made its biggest stride yet toward returning after its most identifiable star signed on. The rebooted series, which is set to air on ABC, has signed on original star Zach Braff to return as John J.D. Dorian, sources told Deadline on Wednesday. The move helps put in place the most important member of the original main cast, after the show also enlisted original creator and showrunner Bill Lawrence. Representatives for ABC and 20th Television, which is producing the show, haven't commented on the reported development. The return of Braff, 50, signals the series is more likely than ever to make it to air, as his participation make make it easier to lock in other members of the original lead cast. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. According to the publication, the negotiations to talk Braff into returning had some major hiccups along the way. One sticking point was the actor and filmmaker's wish not to shoot the reboot in Vancouver, Canada, as was being proposed, presumably as a cost-cutting measure. However, Braff reportedly insisted on keeping the series in Los Angeles. Scrubs' first eight seasons were primarily filmed in a decommissioned hospital located in Los Angeles' North Hollywood neighborhood, while the show's ninth and final season moved to neighboring Culver City. Braff also reportedly clashed with producers over money issues, and sources claimed that the dual issues created an impasse big enough that it could have scuttled the entire project. However, the parties eventually found a compromise that was agreeable enough for everyone, though it hasn't yet been announced if Braff was successful in moving production back to Hollywood. His desire to keep the show filming in LA comes in the context of fears of disastrous tariffs after President Donald Trump announced a plan to institute 100 percent tariffs on films made outside the US, though it's unclear if he intended television shows to suffer the same fate. Southern California's iconic industry capital has struggled in recent years as productions have been lured to other states and international destinations to shoot films and TV shows by lucrative tax credits and cheaper operating costs. Other complications for the Scrubs reboot have been tied to the show's creator. In August, Braff revealed that negotiations were taking so long on the reboot because of Bill Lawrence's exclusive overall deal with Warner Bros TV, which would forbid him from making a show with 20th Television and ABC under normal circumstances. Lawrence, who was also showrunner on the original series, has created the ongoing Apple TV+ shows Shrinking, Bad Monkey and Ted Lasso — which is set to return for a fourth season — as well as an upcoming comedy starring Steve Carell for HBO as part of his current deal. Even after negotiations with Warners allowed Lawrence to develop the scrubs reboot on the side for Disney-owned 20th TV and ABC, he'll still have to sit out writing or showrunning duties due to his extreme time commitments on his other shows. Scrubs originally aired on NBC for its first eight seasons, before moving to ABC for its ninth and final season. Although there were bumps along the road to getting Lawrence and Braff back on the show, the two have continued to display a strong professional relationship in recent years. Now that Braff's participation is secured, the production is in a stronger position to get the original main cast members to return. Those include Donald Faison, who played J.D.'s best friend Christopher Turk, as well as Sarah Chalke (Elliot Reid), Judy Reyes (Carla Espinosa) and John C. McGinley (Perry Cox). Lawrence previously said he envisions the returning series as a hybrid of reboots and revivals, with the cast comprised of a mix of actors from the original series, along with new characters. It's unclear if his plans for the show still involve all of the original cast members returning, and even if they do their roles may be necessarily diminished in order to give screen time to Scrubs' newer generation. Braff — who has directed multiple films, including Garden State — worked as a director on an episode of Ted Lasso, which earned him Emmy and Director's Guild of America nominations. He also had a guest spot on Lawrence's Courteney Cox–starring comedy Cougar Town, and more recently, he returned to direct episodes in the last two seasons of the Jason Segel and Harrison Ford–starring Shrinking on Apple TV+. Braff also appeared in a multi-episode arc with star Vince Vaughn on Bad Monkey, and he's set to direct on Lawrence's HBO series with Steve Carell. His most recent feature as director — and writer — was 2023's A Good Person, which starred his then-girlfriend Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'That's The Official Word': What The Cast Of 'Ted Lasso' Has Said About Season 4
When "Ted Lasso" came to a close with Season 3, it was unclear if it would return for a fourth installment. While many stories came to a close and Ted returned to Kansas, there were also doors left open, setting up the beloved Apple TV+ series for a return if it wanted one. Well, now it's coming back, so here's what the cast of "Ted Lasso" has said about Season 4. March 14, 2025, was the day "Ted Lasso" Season 4 was officially confirmed after months of rumors and speculation. Back in 2024, co-creator Bill Lawrence said this show's return would be up to Jason Sudeikis. Then, on this spring day, Mr. Sudeikis finally addressed it all.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic and Republican candidates advance in races for City Council, mayor
The primary elections for mayor and Meadville City Council were uncontested Tuesday, with two candidates vying for two ballot spots and one candidate seeking nomination for mayor in both the Democratic and Republican races. On the Republican ballot, incumbent Jim Roha, seeking his third consecutive and fifth term overall, will advance to the general election along with Bill Lawrence, who finished third among four candidates vying for two council seats in 2023. First-time candidate Don Erdley will be the Republican nominee for mayor on the November ballot. Roha received 513 votes; Lawrence, 499; and Erdley, 542. On the Democratic side, first-time candidate Mary Moody will advance to the general election, as will Andrew Herbstritt, who previously finished third among four candidates vying for two nominations in the 2021 Democratic City Council primary. Jaime Kinder, the incumbent mayor who is seeking her second term, will be the Democratic nominee for mayor. In the primary, Moody received 712 votes; Herbstritt, 702; and Kinder, 726.
