Comedic medical series “Scrubs” is returning to the small screen, making a switch from longtime home NBC to ABC, as the latter network confirmed Monday while presenting its fall schedule.

The Hollywood Reporter reported in March that ABC and NBC were in negotiations over “Scrubs,” with ABC wishing to pick up 18 episodes of the series from sister network ABC Studios, which had produced the comedy for NBC since 2001.

The future of the series looked uncertain then, with twelve of the episodes having already been finalized before the Hollywood writers’ strike erupted in November. The remaining six episodes had not received approval to be completed and creator Bill Lawrence was adamant that he would complete his series on DVD if he had to.

Looks like the DVD alternative is no longer necessary, as Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison and the rest of the cast return midseason on ABC.

ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson has plans for the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning sitcom, if we are to consider his remarks Tuesday. He defended the comedy’s modest ratings saying it went through 17 different time slots during its 6-year tenure at NBC and received little promotion.

Braff posted an explanation in a MySpace bulletin this week, regarding the much-advertised NBC series finale, an episode which left fans confused and frustrated. “I was not allowed to say it until today, but Scrubs will be moving to ABC for its final season,” he confessed. “We are currently filming the 8th and final season. The true finale of the show will air on ABC in the fall. NBC merely promoted the Fairy Tale episode as the finale, as it was the last episode they owned.”

ABC further announced it would add only one new scripted series in the fall, the David E. Kelley-produced drama “Life on Mars,” based on the BBC series of the same name, about a police detective transported back to 1973. The show will air Thursdays, after “Grey’s Anatomy.”

ABC also announced two new midseason shows, animated series “The Goode Family” and an untitled beauty pageant produced by Kutcher and Tyra Banks.

Among shows that did not make it in the 2008-09 fall schedule are “Notes From the Underbelly,” “Men in Trees,” “October Road,” “Women's Murder Club” and “Cashmere Mafia.”

Oprah Winfrey’s “Big Give” will also not return. McPherson specified it had been Winfrey’s decision.

Shows that do return are “Samantha Who?,” “Boston Legal,” “Eli Stone,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Private Practice,” “Dirty Sexy Money” and “Ugly Betty.”