Scrubs Reboot Mystery: The Janitor’s Absence and a Painting Theory

The Scrubs revival on ABC brings back the beloved hospital crew, but one familiar face might be conspicuously missing for now. Fans are buzzing over a fan theory about the elusive Janitor and whether he could still pop up in the new run.

Scrubs, the Bill Lawrence creation about medical students navigating Sacred Heart Hospital, aired 182 episodes across nine seasons before ending in 2010. The reboot, set to premiere next week, features many original stars — Zach Braff (JD), Sarah Chalke (Elliot), Donald Faison (Turk), Judy Reyes (Carla), and John C. McGinley (Cox) — returning to the familiar chaos.

However, one character’s absence has become a talking point. Here’s what we know and what fans are guessing.

• Why the Janitor might sit this one out (for now)

Zach Braff explained in an Esquire interview that there isn’t a definitive answer yet for season one. He noted that the nine-episode order is still being written and that both the Janitor (Neil Flynn) and Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) have expressed interest in returning. The current plan is to focus on stories that fit the nine episodes, with a potential for more in season two if the show gets that far. If the reboot gets a Season 2, bringing back the duo is on the table.

• The painting theory that won’t go away

A long-running gag in Scrubs has the Janitor despising JD. In the reboot trailer, fans noticed what might be a portrait of the Janitor on the wall near Dr. Kelso’s picture, prompting speculation that he’s hiding in plain sight. Screen grabs aren’t crystal clear, but some viewers insist the portrait resembles Janitor actor Neil Flynn. A Reddit thread even suggested that the portrait could be one of the only regular cast members not returning.

Others offered more outlandish takes: the Janitor could be in a suit as an “undercover boss” or even reveal himself as the hospital’s covert director or a billionaire owner. Some pointed to the possibility that the Janitor has always been behind the scenes, only now stepping into the spotlight in surprising ways.

Another angle floated is that the portrait is actually the Janitor in a more theatrical disguise—perhaps as “Dr. Jan Itor.” The joke that the Janitor was a figment of JD’s imagination was dropped early on in the original series, but fans have kept the idea alive in theories about the reboot.

• What to expect as the mystery unfolds

If the Janitor does appear, it could be off-camera for much of season one or saved for a bigger reveal in unwritten episodes that Braff hinted at. For now, fans will have to wait for episodes to air to see whether these theories pay off.

The reboot is set to return on February 25, 2026. Until then, fans can explore other new and returning favorites or revisit the best TV staples list for ideas about what to watch next.