Scrubs fan theory claims missing character is hiding in plain sight

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Okay, so the new Scrubs is almost here, and honestly, I was bummed to hear one of my favorite characters wasn’t coming back. But I just read this crazy fan theory online that maybe, just maybe, they’ll still pop up somehow! It’s a long shot, but it’s got me hoping!

Scrubs was a funny TV show created by Bill Lawrence, following the lives of medical students at a made-up hospital. It was a big hit, lasting nine seasons and a total of 182 episodes.

The popular show originally finished airing in 2010, but it’s getting a fresh start on ABC next week. Original cast members Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Judy Reyes, and John C. McGinley are all back for the reboot.

I’ve noticed one character is totally missing, which is weird. But I saw this really interesting theory on Reddit that might explain why…

Why ‘The Janitor’ isn’t in the Scrubs reboot

Currently, it doesn’t look like Dr. Kelso, played by Ken Jenkins, or The Janitor, played by Neil Flynn, will be in the new version of the show. Zach Braff shared the reason in a recent interview with Esquire.

Braff says they’re still figuring out if they’ll be involved in season one. Episodes eight and nine of the season are still being written, and both he and Neil Patrick Harris are interested in participating. However, they need to make sure they have the time and resources to tell a story that does justice to their characters.

I don’t have the answer right now, but if we get a second season, we’d definitely like to explore that.

The Janitor might be hiding in plain sight

From the very first episode, the Janitor has shown a dislike for JD, and a bit of that playful animosity is essential to the feel of the show’s revival.

A new trailer for the show has sparked fan theories that the Janitor appears in a painting within Sacred Heart Hospital, positioned to the right of Dr. Kelso’s portrait.

The image is blurry in screenshots, but it appears to be Neil Flynn, who played the Janitor. One Reddit user believes this suggests that only the portraits of these two recurring characters won’t be featured in the revival, implying they won’t be returning.

One person theorizes he’s wearing a suit because it could be a surprise reveal – maybe he’s actually the hospital director in disguise, like in those ‘Undercover Boss’ shows.

Okay, so I was reading the theories about the Janitor, and someone had a really wild idea! They think he’s secretly a super-rich billionaire who owns the whole hospital. That would explain why he’s always wandering around not really cleaning anything, just causing trouble and being mysterious. It would be an amazing plot twist, honestly!

However, if the painting depicts the Janitor, most people believe it’s a disguise he uses, pretending to be a doctor named “Dr. Jan Itor.”

Online users are jokingly identifying a person as “Dr. Jan Itor.” One person said it’s the best they could come up with, while another simply stated that’s who it looks like. A third commenter suggested “Dr. Jan Itor” is actually the new hospital president.

The initial idea for a running joke was that the Janitor wasn’t actually real – he was a creation of JD’s mind. However, the writers decided it was more effective if the Janitor’s dislike of JD was genuine.

Perhaps the Janitor torments J.D. throughout the revival series, but subtly – mostly through psychological manipulation that the audience doesn’t directly see. The big explanation for this behavior, hinted at by Zach Braff, could have been saved for episodes that were never made.

We’ll have more details when Scrubs comes back on February 25, 2026. In the meantime, check out our other recommended shows this month here, or explore our list of the greatest TV shows of all time here.

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2026-02-19 14:49