Medical comedy series Scrubs has been renewed for a ninth series, despite predictions it had come to an end.

医学喜剧系列Scrubs第九季登场，尽管有预言称它走到了尽头。

Star Zach Braff (right) will return for six "transitional" episodes

The show, which stars Zach Braff, wrapped up earlier this year with an episode called "My Finale（结局，终了）", which resolved several ongoing¹ storylines.

The series had seen low ratings after moving from NBC to rival network ABC and Braff, who plays Doctor John "JD" Dorian announced he was leaving.

But ABC says the show will continue - with Braff returning for six episodes.

He is expected to hand over to a new line-up, including several regular cast members and some of the medical interns²（实习医师） introduced in the most recent series.

According to trade paper Hollywood Reporter, actress Sarah Chalke (Dr Elliot Reid) has also been approached to work on the transitional（变迁的，过渡期的） episodes.

Returning regulars include Donald Faison (Dr Turk), John C McGinley (Dr Cox) and Neil Flynn, whose character is known simply as The Janitor³.

ABC has also commissioned three new comedies, including a new vehicle for Frasier star Kelsey Grammer, who will play the lead in Hank, about a high-flying executive who finds himself out of work.

Sci-fi surprise

Meanwhile Fox has surprised critics and fans alike by ordering a second series of struggling sci-fi series Dollhouse.

The Joss Whedon-scripted drama stars Eliza Dushku as a secret agent whose mind has been wiped so she can be imprinted⁴ with any personality her handlers require.

It suffered near-disastrous ratings, and many assumed it would suffer the same fate as its creator's previous series, Firefly, which was pulled after just 11 episodes.

But, according to The Hollywood Reporter, executives took into account Firefly's longevity⁵（长寿） - it has continued to sell well on DVD and spawned⁶（孵出） a big-screen movie, Serenity⁷ - when deciding Dollhouse's fate.

Producers are also reported to have promised budget cuts to secure a second series.

The show premieres（初次公演） in the UK this week on the Sci-Fi Channel.