No more smiles from Dr. Cox.
There aren't many surprise castings in television these days, as actors are usually pigeon-holed into "hunky doctor/cop/lawyer," "goofy single-dads," and "creepy sex offenders/Ben Linus" types. So kudos to Scrubs' John C. McGinley for pulling a Bryan Cranston and moving from a long comedy run to a new dramatic role.
McGinley, who has been hilarious for eight seasons as Dr. Cox on Scrubs, will now stop the goofing off in the CBS drama Back, says The Hollywood Reporter. How serious is the new role? Back stars Skeet Ulrich (Jericho) as Richard, a man who was thought dead during the events of 9/11 only to return to family and friends almost a decade later. McGinley will play a firefighter who is now married to Richard's former wife and raising his teenage kids. Eeek! Can he pull it off?
If that's a little too grim for your taste, you may want to check out NBC's retake on the 1989 film Parenthood, which starred Steve Martin and Diane Wiest. Peter Krause (Dirty, Sexy Money, Six Feet Under) and Maura Tierney (ER, NewsRadio) have signed on to play Martin and Wiest's roles in the television show, about the hilarious joys of raising a family.
Also negotiating for roles in Parenthood are Craig T. Nelson (Coach) and Dax Shepard (Idiocracy). Nelson would play the grandfather, and Shepard would play the slacker brother--great casting, if you ask me.
Elsewhere, the CBS family-of-doctor's pilot The Eastmans has cast Jacqueline Bisset as its lead. She'll play the mother of the family who is a nurse in an emergency room.
I believe the McGinley news means that Scrubs' already-slim chances for coming back next season are now almost zilch. Now we need to find a role for the Janitor!
Comments (10)
This show just sounds boring. Glad to see McGinely get work though.
I like the sound of Back.
The new McGinley series sounds really good. I hope they change the name, though.
Yeah, I hope that works out for him.
McGinley's new show sounds very interesting. I loved Skeet when he was in Jerico and I'm glad that he's doing another tv series. I'm less enthused about Parenthood but if Craig T Nelson signs on, I definately would give it a chance.
interesting,hmmm.....btw scrubs is gone for sure... Judy Reyes said it, and the episode list for season #8 indicates the same thing. The last episode is My Finale. The show has had a good run, but sure won't achieve the same send off as Friends..
I think Parenthood will be great. I hope Coach gets the gig. I love Craig T. Nelson.
With all the exits on Scrubs (Braff, Flynn, McGinley and Lawrence)I wouldn't expect it to go on past this season.
I was pretty sure it was already confirmed that Scrubs was in its final season. Zach Braff pretty much said so himself in an interview I'm far too lazy to track down and link right now.
Well, if Dr. Cox isn't coming back, there goes the half the audience that was willing to give the new show a try!
And Neil Flynn aka the Janitor DOES have a new role on an upcoming comedy, "The Middle."