Nostalgic TV viewers have arguably never had it better. Scrubs is among the latest in a long line of ‘90s-2000s-era sitcom reboots, with J.D. (played by Zach Braff) and the Sacred Heart crew returning to TV this past February after a nearly 16-year break. While it can be hard to recapture the magic from decades ago, the Scrubs reboot has seemed to find its footing, to the delight of advertisers this fall.
Through the first four episodes of the reboot’s second season (started September 30), the average ad airing during Scrubs delivered 52% stronger engagement than the primetime broadcast and cable benchmark. That, combined with solid viewership, means that it would take nearly 15 average primetime ads to match the impact of just one ad on Scrubs so far this season.
The reboot’s first season, airing in late winter/early spring of 2026, had slightly below-average engagement, although the overall ad impact was still nearly 11x the average primetime ad. This indicates that a loyal audience for a show like Scrubs can still deliver good value for advertisers, even if it takes time for engagement to pick up.
Some brands have enjoyed particularly high engagement so far when airing during Scrubs. Here's a look at some of the show’s top ads this season, based on their ability to drive consumer engagement actions that are proven to predict future sales:
Speaking of successful reboots, McDonald’s 15-second spot about bringing back its Spicy Chicken McNuggets was the top-performing creative, generating 1,055% stronger engagement than the average Scrubs ad so far this season. A different creative about these nuggets was also among the top performers, which helped McDonald’s earn the top engagement spot (1,050% above average) among all brands that advertised on Scrubs this season.
Target followed closely behind, with its 30-second spot highlighting new fall finds generating 993% stronger engagement than the average Scrubs spot this season. The ad took a unique, upbeat approach to bring Target products to life outside the store, which may have inspired viewers cozied up on a fall night to think about their next outing.
While a hospital serves as the central setting for Scrubs, the show’s really about the relationships among staff, as well as some of their families outside of work. Maybe that theme helps explain viewers’ strong engagement with a spirited 15-second Ancestry creative about tracing a dad’s legendary roots. The ad was 363% more effective than the average Scrubs ad this season.
Sticking with the family theme, a 15-second Kohl’s ad about a mom buying jeans for her daughter was 304% more effective than the show’s average so far this season. The creative had a splash of humor, as the jeans “happened” to all fit the mom, not the daughter, which perhaps resonated with Scrubs viewers in a lighthearted mood.
Lastly, the holiday season got off to a promising early start for Balsam Hill. The brand’s 15-second creative promoted a sale on its realistic, artificial Christmas trees, and this spot was 207% more effective than average, perhaps connecting to the cheery disposition of the Scrubs audience.
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