'Scrubs' takes its last TV breath this season

The security guard outside the North Hollywood Medical Center has had to deal with numerous injured or sick people who have shown up for medical attention.

All have been turned away.

This is not some nightmare version of an HMO. It's pretend. The only doctors and nurses that roam these Southern California hospital floors are actors. Most television shows are produced on sound stages. But this abandoned hospital has been the home for the NBC comedy series "Scrubs" since the comedy launched Oct. 2, 2001.

Everything from the writer's room to the editing bays are located throughout the structure.

And now, the show's wacky cast of caregivers are making their comedy rounds for the last time. NBC has announced that this, the show's seventh season, will be the last.

For Judy Reyes, who plays Nurse Carla Espinosa, work on the final episodes has been a little tough.

"It is senior year in high school," Reyes says during a break from filming. She is seated at the nurse's station on the building's third floor. The area is the show's intensive care unit.

Rows of rooms are across from where she sits. Most have beds. Some are loaded with lights and equipment.

"Everyone is really excited to use this as a jump-off point to the next level for all of our careers. But we are all really sad to see it end. We are kind of looking back and doing that thing where you look at pictures to see how you looked when it all started," Reyes says.

"Scrubs" has certainly made television stars out of most of the cast. Reyes had done a few roles, including playing a nurse in the Martin Scorsese film "Bringing Out the Dead" and the cable series "Oz." For her co-star Zach Braff, "Scrubs" was his big break.

That Reyes is talking about the seventh season of the show is an accomplishment. "Scrubs" has been treated with about as much respect by NBC as a man in an emergency room with a bloody nose and no insurance.

"Scrubs" has been plopped in at various times during its seasons, sometimes even midyear. And then it was bounced from time period to time period. This final year is not starting until almost two months after other NBC shows. One reason is that there will only be 18 new episodes in the final year.

Reyes arrives at the main production office to find John C. McGinley, who plays Dr. Perry Cox, reading letters from a huge brown box. After reading each letter, he signs a photo and placed it in an envelope.

A few steps away, Neil Flynn, who plays the moniker-challenged character known only as The Janitor, eats his breakfast from a small white Styrofoam bowl. Reyes' dog leaves its bed on the hallway floor to greet her.

The elevator doors opened to reveal Braff seated on a miniature 4-by-4. He's covered in white dust. As he guides the small vehicle down the hall, Braff offers a "Hi, guys."

Braff says that while it might sound cheesy, the show is like a family because they have all spent so much time together.

Reyes' character has been part of a believable on-screen relationship. Through the six seasons, Carla and Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison) met, dated, got engaged, got married and had a child. Last season's musical episode even dealt with what happens when a new mom wants to go back to work.

No one will say where the relationship is headed this year.

A whole new crop of viewers are getting to see that relationship as past seasons of "Scrubs" are airing on various cable and network channels at various times of the day. Reyes is a little worried about that new fan base.

"I think they are going to be so upset the show is ending," Reyes says.