Possibly. At least that’s what it seems like after some news reports popped up about the future of both shows. In the case of Samantha Who?, which is returning for a third season, changing from a single-camera location shoot to a multi-camera sound stage shoot (similar to How I Met Your Mother) would save a chunk of pocket change for the studio and network. With Scrubs, which seems to have a lock on a ninth season (after everyone said that the eighth season was absolutely, totally its last) switching from single- to multi-camera mode may be more of a format change then a cost saving measure.
That’s because Scrubs will probably look somewhat different then it has over the last eight seasons. With major cast members like Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke signing on for a bunch of “transition” episodes, the focus of the show is up in the air. Some reports say the focus will be placed on the interns that were introduced in season eight while others mention a focus on one of the regular cast members as they move to a new hospital or medical school.
Should Samantha or Scrubs switch to a multi-camera format the question comes up if either will feature a laugh track or studio audience responding to the jokes. I could see it working for Samantha Who?, which has a formula that could easily switch to a standard sitcom mode (similar to what Happy Days did in its early years). However, Scrubs could never have a laugh track or audience in its current format. As seen in the season four episode, “My Life in Four Cameras,” the whole rhythm of the series would be thrown off with a bunch of titters and guffaws interrupting the pistol-fast jokes.
For that matter, I wonder if Scrubs coming back for a ninth season is a good idea at all. I think about the way that 7th Heaven was brought back after their cheesy series finale where everyone was having twins. Having that show come back for the first year of the CW, minus 75 percent of their cast, was one of the worst programming mistakes ever. Having Scrubs come back in a similar pared-down state could be more detremental for the series then just ending it where they did. I guess we’ll have to see what the finished product is in order to make that determination.
Clacked by Richard Keller 
on May 16, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
Samantha Who? is the only single-camera comedy I like!
Scrubs really shouldn’t come back. I mean I love it, but the season 8 finale was a perfect ending. And dragging back Zack and Sarah, is a shame. I’m sure Zack though he was done, what with Bill Lawrence leaving as well.
Bill Lawrence always said that he saw Scrubs as a live action Simpsons. Why mess with the format?
Scrubs is dead. Please do not bring it back.