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'Scrubs' faces uncertain future after tonight

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By WALT BELCHER wbelcher

@tampatrib.com

Published: May 6, 2009

The "Scrubs" season finale (and possibly the series finale) tonight packs in 50 guest actors, which must be some kind of record.

These are not the well-known celebrity types, although Tom Cavanagh, Amy Smart and Christa Miller have some recognition. Many are actors who have appeared on the goofball comedy.

In the one-hour "My Finale" at 8 p.m. on ABC, J.D. (Zach Braff) is leaving Sacred Heart Hospital. But before he goes, he wants to get a hug from Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) and learn the janitor's (Neil Flynn) name. He's also got to part with Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke).

Canceled by NBC last season, "Scrubs" was picked up by ABC for a last bow and final season. However, the ratings have been about as good as any ABC comedy, so producer Bill Lawrence is in talks with the network to possibly keep it going.

However, it would go on without Braff and some other cast members who are leaving after eight seasons.

NO SUNDAY CW: After years of struggling to get ratings on Sunday nights, The CW television network plans to give the night back to its affiliates.

Beginning in the fall, viewers will see syndicated programming instead of reruns of CW programs from 5 to 10 p.m., the network confirmed late Monday.

Sunday night long has been a weak spot for CW and its WB Network predecessor. In a written statement, CW officials said the move will allow the network to focus all its programming resources on its Monday through Friday slate.

This past season, the network attempted to lease a block of prime time on Sundays to an independent production company. But the programs couldn't attract an audience and disappeared within weeks.

STORM CHASERS: The Weather Channel (TWC) plans to get up close and personal with tornadoes in the coming weeks.

TWC meteorologist Mike Bettes will follow a multiagency field program known as VORTEX2 as it tracks tornadoes across the Great Plains from Sunday through June 13.

TWC will include live transmissions from moving vehicles as it tracks storms. There also will be live streaming video online, a real-time blog and a link to get Twitter updates at www.weather.com/vortex.

PITCHMEN: TV pitchmen Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan put inventor Nelson Grist's cleaning product What Odor? to the test on tonight's episode of the Discovery channel series "Pitchmen" at 10 p.m.

FRINGE RENEWED: The Fox broadcasting network has renewed "Fringe," the freakishly entertaining drama series about weird science. A hit with young adults, "Fringe" is one of the few freshman series that will survive for a second season.

The mystery thriller, which stars Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson and John Noble, wraps up its first season on Tuesday when Leonard "Spock" Nimoy guest stars.

J.J. Abrams ("Lost," "Alias") is a co-creator and executive producer of the show. He also is the director of the new "Star Trek" film.

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