Dr. Kelso may not be returning to Scrubs after all

One character fans have been virtually promised since before the first season premiered, however, has yet to make an appearance, and new reports indicate the prognosis isn’t good. Ken Jenkins played Sacred Heart’s hard-assed, defiantly old school administrator Dr. Bob Kelso for the show’s first nine seasons, and Lawrence stated before the first season of the reboot that while “It just didn’t work out this year,” Jenkins’ reintroduction to the show’s heartfelt but wacky world would happen soon. 

But that may not be in the cards, as Deadline quotes Braff, in an interview alongside Faison and Chalke, seeming to dampen fans’ expectations in advance of the September 30th Season 2 premiere. “The fans want this so much, and I so respect that, we do too, but I think we just also need to be respectful of his age,” Braff said, adding, “I’ll keep trying, but I think, for currently where he’s at, it’s a bit of a big ask, I’ll just say that.”

The 86-year-old Jenkins, who is retired from acting, hasn’t commented one way or the other. But those who miss Jenkins’ indelible turn as the abusive hospital head with, just maybe, a heart run through with the slightest bit of gold may have to reconcile themselves with a Sacred Heart untroubled by Big Bob’s crotchety brand of patient care and inventive abuse.