Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence has revealed that he turned down a studio request to write an early end for the series.

Speaking at a New York Comedy Festival event, Lawrence said that ABC Studios asked him to write a backup ending earlier this year as it became increasingly clear that the WGA would initiate strike action.

He said that he proceeded with writing the scripts as he had originally planned rather than including a scene in which "two people kiss" that could have been shown as a way of ending the series early.

Lawrence indicated that he is prepared to wait until the 2008-09 season to end the show if necessary. He said: "I will use all my leverage to end this show properly, even if it means I have to do all the voices myself and call people up to read it over the phone."

Scrubs is expected to go off the air in January as only 11 episodes of an 18 episode order have been completed. Non-WGA members are finishing a 12th episode but Lawrence has refused to cross a WGA picket line to work on the show.