The upcoming Scrubs revival is generating a lot of excitement, especially for fans eager to see the return of the iconic Dr. Percival “Perry” Cox, portrayed brilliantly by John C. McGinley. For nine seasons, Dr. Cox was the sarcastic yet deeply caring mentor at Sacred Heart Hospital, eventually becoming Chief of Medicine in season 8. As we anticipate his return, a funny reality emerges regarding Dr. Cox’s age, which adds an interesting layer to the revival.
When Scrubs graced our screens in 2001, Ken Jenkins, who played the seasoned Dr. Bob Kelso, was 63 years old. At that time, Dr. Kelso represented the established, somewhat detached authority figure. John C. McGinley, in contrast, was 42, portraying a Dr. Cox who, while experienced, was still in the thick of his career. Fast forward to the Scrubs revival, potentially over fifteen years since the original series finale in 2010, and the age dynamic shifts dramatically.
A custom image of various Scrubs characters with Zach Braff
John C. McGinley is now in his mid-60s, meaning Dr. Cox in the revival will be older than Dr. Kelso was when Scrubs first began. This role reversal is quite humorous when considering how we perceived the characters originally. Dr. Cox, once the relatively younger, rebellious doctor, will now be in the age bracket initially occupied by the retiring Chief of Medicine, Dr. Kelso. This age comparison isn’t just a funny piece of trivia; it opens up interesting possibilities for Dr. Cox’s storyline in the Scrubs revival.
Could Dr. Cox be contemplating retirement in the new season? It’s a plausible and narratively rich direction. In the original series, Dr. Kelso eventually stepped down as Chief of Medicine, paving the way for Dr. Cox’s promotion. With Dr. Cox now reaching a similar age to Kelso at retirement, the revival could explore this next phase of his career. Imagine Dr. Cox grappling with the idea of handing over the reins, perhaps even to his former protégé, JD.
While Turk ended the original Scrubs run as Chief of Surgery, JD left Sacred Heart. However, the time jump in the revival offers a perfect opportunity to bring JD back into the Chief of Medicine conversation. Dr. Cox’s potential consideration of retirement could be the catalyst for JD’s return to a leadership role at Sacred Heart, fulfilling the long-held fan dream of seeing JD in charge.
Another detail highlighting the passage of time is the age of JD and Turk’s children. In Scrubs, they were babies and toddlers. If the revival aligns with real-world time, these children will now be teenagers. This generational shift further emphasizes how much time has passed and how the characters’ lives have evolved. Seeing Dr. Cox as a grandfatherly figure, perhaps offering his signature cynical yet insightful advice to a new generation of interns, would be a delightful evolution.
The prospect of a Scrubs revival is exciting for numerous reasons, and the humorous age paradox of Dr. Cox being older than Dr. Kelso was initially adds another layer of intrigue. It opens the door for compelling storylines about career transitions, mentorship, and the passage of time, all while retaining the comedic and heartfelt spirit of Scrubs that fans adore. Seeing how Dr. Cox navigates this new chapter, possibly even stepping aside to allow JD to finally become Chief of Medicine, will be a highlight of the revival.
