Scrubs to Local Syndication and Comedy Central/WGN in Fall 2006

[Pavan]

NEW YORK -- Buena Vista TV has quietly cleared reruns of its four-year-old sitcom "Scrubs" to TV stations in more than 50% of the country, including outlets in 18 of the top 20 markets.

"Scrubs" won't be available to the stations until fall 2006 even though it has accumulated 90 episodes through May, more than enough for a September 2005 start.

But Buena Vista, responding to TV-station demand, sold two other off-network sitcoms ahead of "Scrubs": "My Wife and Kids," which kicks off in September, and "According to Jim," for a fall 2006 start.

The marketplace responded so well to "Kids" and "Jim" that Buena Vista was able to score solid cash license fees from stations. Stations were not as gung-ho for "Scrubs," so they won't pay any cash for it, instead giving Buena Vista three minutes for national sale within each half-hour play of the series. (Stations get to keep the four other commercial minutes in each episode.)

NBC has renewed "Scrubs" for a fifth 22-episode season, but the network has removed the show from its 2005-06 primetime schedule, holding it for later in the season.

Among the stations agreeing to take "Scrubs" are WNYW/WWOR New York, KCAL Los Angeles, WFLD/WPWR Chicago, WPHL Philadelphia, WLVI Boston, KTVU/KICU San Francisco, KDFW/KDFI Dallas and WTTG/WDCA Washington.

[Pavan]

And now cable in fall 2006 as well...

Buena Vista Television is finalizing deals with Viacom-owned cable
network Comedy Central and the Tribune Co.'s Chicago-based
Superstation WGN-TV for the two outlets to share the off-network cable
window of NBC's prime-time half-hour "Scrubs."

WGN will carry "Scrubs" on its analog tier within the cable universe.
Both Comedy Central and WGN are expected to start running the show in
fall 2006, when "Scrubs" also debuts in broadcast syndication. The
move follows Buena Vista's announcement last month that it cleared the
single-camera medical comedy to local stations representing coverage
of 50 percent of the country for the syndication launch.

Comedy Central and Superstation WGN declined comment. The distributor
was offering a four-year deal for the show's cable run, sources said.
The cable deals will include all episodes through the 2005-06
television season, for a total of 115 episodes.

Comedy Central, which is expected to strip "Scrubs," is best known for
its originals.

The acquisition does not represent a change in Comedy Central's
programming strategy, and the network is not expected to become a
major buyer of off-network sitcoms, a network insider said. While the
cable network has run off-network fare, most recently the DreamWorks
Television single-camera comedy "The Job" (which lasted less than a
season on ABC), the Comedy Central insider said the network will
continue to take a "boutiquelike approach" to off-net buys.

"We're not in the sitcom-acquisition business," the insider said.
"Very few things fit the Comedy Central brand."

"Scrubs," which combines the elements of a traditional hospital show
with frequent fantasy and musical sequences, is "not a straight
sitcom," the insider added.

[dlemond]

And now cable in fall 2006 as well...

Comedy Central has bought off-network episodes of Scrubs to begin fall 2006.

Scrubs began airing in 2001 on NBC. It has aired 83 episodes already and Comedy has a deal for the upcoming fifth season as well.

The half-hour sitcom is produced by Touchstone TV and distributed by Buena Vista TV, both owned by Disney.

Scrubs has aired 93 episodes.

My Wife and Kids and According to Jim are basically the anti-Scrubs.
Unclever, unoriginal, unmoving, and unfunny.

[Miss Golden]

Monday, July 11, 2005
Zach Braff "Scrubs" Into Comedy Central©
Released by Comedy Central

Zach Braff "Scrubs" Into Comedy Central©

The Network Has Acquired NBC’s “Scrubs” To Begin Airing Fall of 2006

Comedy Central’s Acquisition Of "Scrubs" The Show Will Be Stripped Monday - Friday

NEW YORK, July 11, 2005 -- COMEDY CENTRAL has found a cure for "Scrubs" fans with Zach Braff and his clan of interns joining the laugh channel in syndication in the fall of 2006, it was announced today by David Bernath, senior vice president, programming, COMEDY CENTRAL.

"We're thrilled to have 'Scrubs' join the network," said Bernath. "It is a very funny show with a great cast. Not many off-network sitcoms fit our brand and this one fits perfectly."

"Scrubs" focuses on the strange experiences of fresh-faced medical resident John "J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff, "Garden State") as he embarks on his healing career in a surreal hospital crammed full of unpredictable staffers and patients – where humor and tragedy can merge paths at any time. The show also stars John C. McGinley, Judy Reyes, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Ken Jenkins and Neil Flynn.

"Scrubs" began airing on NBC in October 2001 and has aired for four seasons, which consists of 93-episodes. A fifth season is slated for air next year and COMEDY CENTRAL has reached an agreement to acquire those episodes as well. The network will begin airing the series in the fall of 2006.

"Scrubs" is produced by Touchstone Television and distributed by Buena Vista Television. The show was created and executive produced by Bill Lawrence with co-executive producers Matt Tarses, Eric Weinberg and Tim Hobert.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 87 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL is a registered trademark of Comedy Partners. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet address is http://www.comedycentral.com.

[slackermonkey]

Cable really makes the most sense for "Scrubs." I can't see it fitting in at any broadcast network at all.

[Pavan]

Comedy Central timeslot:

ACQUIRED SERIES

"Scrubs"
Weeknights at 7:00 p.m. beginning Monday, September 19

COMEDY CENTRAL has found a cure for "Scrubs" fans with Zach Braff and his clan of interns joining the laugh channel in syndication this fall. The all-comedy channel will be offering viewers the first opportunity to see this Emmynominated series off NBC. "Scrubs" focuses on the strange experiences of fresh-faced medical resident John "J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff, "Garden State") as he embarks on his healing career in a surreal hospital crammed full of unpredictable staffers and patientswhere humor and tragedy can merge paths at any time. The show also stars John C. McGinley, Judy Reyes, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Ken Jenkins and Neil Flynn. "Scrubs" began airing on NBC in October 2001 and is now currently running strong in its fifth season.

[NASHMAN]

Comedy Central timeslot:

ACQUIRED SERIES

"Scrubs"
Weeknights at 7:00 p.m. beginning Monday, September 19

COMEDY CENTRAL has found a cure for "Scrubs" fans with Zach Braff and his clan of interns joining the laugh channel in syndication this fall. The all-comedy channel will be offering viewers the first opportunity to see this Emmynominated series off NBC. "Scrubs" focuses on the strange experiences of fresh-faced medical resident John "J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff, "Garden State") as he embarks on his healing career in a surreal hospital crammed full of unpredictable staffers and patientswhere humor and tragedy can merge paths at any time. The show also stars John C. McGinley, Judy Reyes, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Ken Jenkins and Neil Flynn. "Scrubs" began airing on NBC in October 2001 and is now currently running strong in its fifth season.
KFRE-TV in Fresno, CA, KMAX-TV Sacramento, KUVI-TV (All three becoming CW this fall will carry Scrubs for the fall!

[80sTrivia]

This is fantastic news! I love Scrubs and I own the first two seasons on DVD... I can't wait to see it in syndication! :)