Yahoo News Scrubs boss says 'blackface episodes' could be re-edited for streaming return
Scrubs episodes recently removed from streaming for offensive content could be restored with key changes.
Series creator Bill Lawrence recently requested streaming service Hulu take down season three's 'My Friend the Doctor' and season five episodes 'My Chopped Liver' and 'My Jiggly Ball' for scenes in which JD (Zach Braff) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) appear in blackface.
Lawrence has since addressed the controversy directly with Scrubs stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison on their podcast Fake Doctors, Real Friends, explaining that his first reaction was to remove the episodes from streaming because he had no access to edit them in the pandemic.
The writer-producer indicated that it's possible that all three episodes could eventually be changed to remove the offending scenes, then returned to streaming.
The podcast also addressed Donald Faison's recent comments about feeling alienated during his time on the show as "the Black guy from Scrubs".
"The reason why that word showrunner exists in television is because you're the gatekeeper, and anything that gets allowed on a show you ultimately have to take responsibility for," Lawrence explained.
"So, first off, I'm super sorry that any of you guys had to deal with any stuff because ultimately even though we're all friends and it was a super creative and reciprocal environment, you guys still, at the end of the day, did and were receptive to doing whatever stuff we told you."
Lawrence acknowledged that the scenes of blackface in Scrubs were rooted in "ignorance" because he didn't realise how hurtful they would be.
"We were so f**king proud of ourselves for doing a very diverse show, in front of and behind the camera, a great Black-and-white friendship that exists as a real Black-and-white friendship, a great interracial couple," he recalled.
"It was almost a block of arrogance where we were like, 'We're so good at what we're portraying and doing and showing that we could never venture into muddy waters.' Even now, with that same ignorance, we never really connected the two of those things until now."
Other shows removing episodes from streaming for blackface content include The Office US, 30 Rock and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
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