Scrubs: 8 Things To Know About Zach Braff & Donald Faison’s Real-Life Friendship

Scrubs fans had a lot to be thankful for after the recent ATX TV Festival since they got to see many central cast members reunite for a panel and received word from show creator Bill Lawrence that a series reboot looks very likely for the future (via Hollywood Reporter). Lawrence clarified that with everyone’s busy schedule, fans shouldn’t expect a season 10, but instead, a movie or single episode special might be more realistic. Either way, audiences would be excited to see the likes of JD, Turk, Elliot, Carla, and Dr. Cox on screen again.

Shows like Scrubs are often successful because of the relationships between characters, and JD and Turk were undoubtedly gold. Yet, often, audiences are disappointed to discover that the real-life actors that play within these friendships are not that close, and they tend to lose touch entirely after a show wraps. However, this is not the case for actors Zach Braff and Donald Faison (JD and Turk, respectively), who have shown the world over the last couple of decades that they are every bit the bromance that audiences love to see from their characters.

They Are More Than Just Friends

In Scrubs, Turk and JD met in college and quickly became best friends. They were a great contrasting relationship since Turk was cool and athletic, and JD was nerdy and eccentric. There is no denying that it just worked.

In real life, Braff and Faison met for the first time at their table reading for the series pilot. Faison admitted in an interview that the moment they met reminded him of the feeling of meeting his wife for the first time. “He is my best friend, it is legit when I say this,” he said, going on to say that even now, he gets jealous when he sees Braff with other celebrities (he has some beef with Ed Sheeran).

They Started A Podcast Together

The start of the Covid-19 pandemic kept many separated from their loved ones, but Braff and Faison made the best of it. The pals came together (virtually) to create a podcast series called Fake Doctors, Real Friends, which continues to release new episodes weekly.

In each episode, the duo watches Scrubs and gives commentary about their memories of certain scenes, interactions with other actors, and more. The pair are just as funny as they were on the show, and the combination of their quippy commentary and the Scrubs nostalgia makes it a must-listen for any fan.

They Paired Up For A Superbowl Ad

If fans missed the Fake Doctors, Real Friends podcast, they likely caught the 2022 T-Mobile Super Bowl commercial, which saw Braff and Faison reunited again to play pretend neighbors. The ad ranked as the second most-watched Super Bowl commercial on YouTube, no doubt due, once again, to the likable Scrubs duo’s impeccable chemistry.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Braff said, “I really wish we lived next door to each other and we could sit on our front porches and talk. It was the perfect concept for us,” demonstrating just how close the pals really are.

They Were Real-Life Roommates

When JD and Turk weren’t saving lives at Sacred Heart Hospital, they were likely at their apartment playing strange games to pass the time or training their stuffed dog, Rowdy. The pair made having a roommate look like fun, but as it turns out, Braff and Faison were roommates in real life, as well.

After they had finished up season one as Scrubs‘ main characters, Braff and Faison had to relocate to New York City for the summer to work on other projects. In an interview with GQ, Faison explained that they decided to rent a place together to save money and spent most of the summer playing ping pong in their underwear (very JD and Turk of them). They had already become close, but both agreed that that summer solidified their friendship.

They Currently Live Only Streets Away From Each Other

Their days as bachelors rooming together in New York City are behind them. Faison is now married to Cacee Cobb and has a grand total of six children. Braff, who recently played the father of nine children in Disney’s Cheaper By The Dozen, told Collider, “I live a pretty quiet life. I don’t have kids. I live in a quiet neighborhood.”

Thankfully, however, Braff and Faison can enjoy their respective lives in close proximity to each other. The pair reported to GQ that they live only a few streets away, so no matter how busy their lives get, they are never too far.

They Aren’t Afraid Of Physical Affection

On Scrubs, Turk and JD had a unique relationship compared to what was often seen on screen in the early 2000s. While both characters made their attraction to women clear, they were never afraid to show each other physical affection, and many of JD’s fantasies on Scrubs saw them closer than some of the series’ couples. This hugging and snuggling helped them develop their reputation as the best bromance on television.

In their interview with GQ, both Braff and Faison explained that the characters hadn’t been initially written that way but that it evolved from their real-world affection. “I think we showed dudes that it’s OK to be a little bit sensitive. It’s OK to be buds who say ‘I love you,'” said Faison.

Faison Once Pranked Braff On Punk’d

In 2005, Braff and Faison appeared on the MTV show Punk’d, where the latter pranked the former by pretending that some teens had used spray paint to vandalize Braff”s new car. The episode was comical, but it gave another look into the kind of friendship that the costars had in the real world.

Years later, Braff talked about the experience on The Graham Norton Show, explaining that audiences hadn’t seen all that had taken place. Apparently, Faison had gotten Braff so good that Braff nearly punished the vandals (really actors) with a “pummeling.”

Faison Got Married At Braff’s House

Donald Faison is married to Cacee Cobb, and it seems that Braff has been involved in every step of their relationship. The two reportedly met in 2005 at Braff’s 30th birthday party, and then in 2012, the couple tied the knot in a beautiful rustic-themed wedding in Braff’s own backyard.

Images shared on Martha Stewart‘s website show the happy couple with Braff right alongside them for their special day. Since then, Faison and Cobb have had two children together, who are both lucky enough to have Braff as a godfather.