Does Anyone Else Watch COMMUNITY?

[Plum]

Trentsketch, I think the absence of Chase is a minor factor at best in this decision - it probably made it easier for Sony and NBC to ask Harmon back, but I highly doubt it was a decisive factor. I also highly doubt that Joel McHale, who by all accounts is a really nice guy, did anything to make the workplace hostile for Chase. (Chase does a great job making things hostile himself.)

Basically, the fact is that this coming season will bring Community up to 97 episodes, which is close enough to 100 to work for syndication purposes, and Sony just wants those syndication dollars in the future while investing as little money as possible now. The three small factors that probably nudged the decision over the top:

a) The cast apparently rebelled at the quality of last season's scripts and asked for Harmon back
b) I imagine Harmon doesn't want to be known as someone who's too unruly to be hired, and so played nice
c) Sony would not be averse to having the show get its cultural cachet back (again, future syndication dollars)

And so we got the result we got. Which will hopefully turn out to be a great thing. (At the very least it'll turn out to be an interesting thing, which is more than I can say for most of last season.)

[mormonophobic]

I didn't even think NBC cared enough about Community to renew it, much less to ask Harmon back. This is beyond exciting news! Though it is a short season, just imagine all the places it can go now that its creative genius is back at the helm. I wonder if they will ignore the past season completely or if it will remain Community-canon.

[trentsketch]

There's more to it than Chase leaving, of course, but Harmon's most vocal opponent on the show is gone. It sounds like the cast, McHale especially, constantly voiced their concerns with the new direction of the show and pinned it all on Harmon not being there. The show did well enough to get another season somehow and the remaining cast made it clear that they wanted Harmon back.

Syndication is probably a big factor, too. 100 episodes to get there and there will be fans who turn the show off for season 4 episodes. Bringing back Harmon minimizes the "it's not the same" complaints and lets them put together a more cohesive package for syndication deals.

[Plum]

I didn't even think NBC cared enough about Community to renew it, much less to ask Harmon back.

It's not so much "caring" as "lacking all reasonable alternatives," aka the reason Chuck somehow made it to 5 NBC seasons, too. Sony's probably agreed to take on more of the production costs (again, they reeeeally want the syndication money), and a cheap 1.5 rating probably sounds like a good deal by NBC standards.

[mormonophobic]

Season 4 really did happen...

"I don't think it would be very Community of me to negate anything," he continues. "Season three was weird, season two was weird, season one was weird; they're all weird. So if season four was weird in a different way, season's five job is to reveal that all four of those weird things add up to some weird hip-hop dance that when you put it on a loop, you go, 'Oh, I get it!'"
Harmon Talks

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I think that's fair, although if he'd have come back AND written off the previous season he would have totally fulfilled my prophecy!

[ghostlight2]

Looking forward to how Harmon is going to handle watching season 4 (he said in the article he hadn't yet, but was going to binge watch it).

I recently read about Aaron Sorkin ignoring someone else's advice to not watch The West Wing after he left. He ignored them, but moments after he started watching season 5, he turned it off, calling it akin to watching someone else make out with his old girlfriend.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

My hope is that after he actually watches season four, he'll backpedal on his claim he's not going negate anything.

And it looks like it's officially official now!
Dropped Last Year, ‘Community’ Creator Returns

[Wynbish]

It's going to be a tricky season, integrating Jeff in ways that make sense and are true to the show. Glad to know the chief is back for the job.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

If they just reset back to the start of senior year, he'll fit in just fine! And aw, isn't it sad Pierce died over the summer?

[Wynbish]

He had it comin'. He had it comin'.

[Jordan Catalano]

They could very easily start senior year over again by saying it was a different time line. Hell, take them back to junior year while they're at it.

[clever name]

Last season was all in Abed's head.

[Wynbish]

Hey guys, Dan actually enjoyed the fourth season!
Or the complete opposite

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

12 Days of Christmas? More like 12 Days till Community!
Baby Boomer Santa

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Watch a Short Community Christmas Cartoon

[Lavieboheme3090]

Community Season 5
Beyond the Darkest Timeline

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-3kFjFbSSE

[Jordan Catalano]

That video really is the greatest thing since the history of greatest things.

[Plum]

I'm trying to keep my expectations low so I won't be disappointed, but that's getting increasingly difficult to do.

[clever name]

My day is going to consist of a lot of time killing until 8pm.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

NBC Effs Up Community Promo

[strummergirl]

I'm loving it so far.

[The Josh]

Doesn't it feel weird doing this without... Magnitude?

I'm so glad to have Harmon back, I'm starting to recognize these characters again. And so much to love! Abed's Cageing, the Zach Braff joke, and of course JONATHAN BANKS! Welcome home, Community!

[The Josh]

Did someone let me listen to Come Sail Away by Styx again? Because that episode left me in tears. Bon Troyage.

[Wynbish]

Great episode and great concept. Better than pillows vs. blankets. Maybe even better than the first paintball episode.