Back From The Dead: Nurse Roberts Returns To Scrubs…sort Of.

Last season on Scrubs, Laverne (Nurse Roberts, portrayed by Aloma Wright) passed away after a car accident that saw her character, with great faith in God, be cruelly taken from her colleagues at Sacred Heart. The death felt rushed, but it did finally provide the show some real emotional drama that actually resonated, so it was a creatively strong development…however, it appears that Bill Lawrence made a sacrifice in order to make it happen.

Variety reports that Lawrence, thinking it would be the show’s final season, killed the character to gain such emotional resonance and finality as discussed above…but there was an insurance plan. He promised Wright, not wanting to put her out of work, that he would bring her back as Laverne’s twin sister Shirley (Get it?) should the show be renewed. And, it appears that he has lived up to his word.

Now, Lawrence is keeping his promise, and Wright has been given the opportunity to play a character who’s the polar opposite of the spiritually minded Laverne: a single, alcoholic woman who shuns religion.

“It’s going to be fun developing another character after doing the same one for six years,” Wright said. “I’m glad to know he’s a man of his word and I’ve still got a job.”

This is a real feel good story: Wright was fantastic as the surly nurse, and it’s great that to see that she’ll be continuing on in the show. Plus, in a universe where I find characters are too often stuck in a rut, introducing a new character with a different outlook could be the shot in the arm the show needs.

Either way, heading into what is perhaps its final season, Scrubs appears to have advanced medicine to the point of bringing back the dead. Are there any other TV characters that you’d like to see resuscitated? I’m personally putting my vote in for Tom, the huggable oaf who Sawyer shot in cold blood in the lost finale. The Others need a good oaf around, and he was always my favourite.

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