Community
The tv show “Community” is a critically acclaimed American television sitcom that aired on NBC from 2009 to 2014. Created by Dan Harmon, the show follows a diverse group of students at a fictional community college in Colorado called Greendale. The show has gained a loyal following for its unique blend of humor, pop culture references, and heartwarming character development.
The cast of Community
Jeff Winger (played by Joel McHale) is at the show’s center, a former lawyer forced to attend Greendale after his law degree was revoked. There, he meets a cast of quirky and lovable characters, including the earnest and idealistic Annie Edison (Alison Brie), aging slacker Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase), the pop culture-obsessed Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), stereotypical jock Troy Barnes (Donald Glover), the activist Brita Perry (Gillian Jacobs), and the mother figure Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown).
Parodies
One of the show’s most significant strengths is its ability to parody and satirize various genres and pop culture phenomena. From spoofing action movies and sci-fi classics to referencing popular TV shows like “Lost” and “Doctor Who,” “Community” offers a never-ending supply of clever and hilarious pop culture commentary.
Another of the defining features of “Community” is its use of meta-humor and self-awareness. The show frequently breaks the fourth wall, acknowledging its own existence as a TV show and referencing pop culture and media tropes in clever and unexpected ways. This meta-humor is one of the reasons the show has gained such a dedicated cult following over the years.
“Community” also isn’t afraid to experiment with different genres and storytelling techniques. Episodes range from classic sitcom fare to high-concept episodes that parody everything from action movies to video games. The show’s willingness to take risks and push boundaries helped it stand out from other sitcoms of the time.
Character Development
Another key element of “Community” is its emphasis on character development. Over the course of six seasons, viewers watch the study group grow and change in meaningful ways, as they confront their own insecurities and overcome obstacles together. This emotional depth, combined with the show’s humor and wit, make for a truly unique and memorable viewing experience.
Character Breakdown
- Jeff Winger: Jeff, played by Joel McHale, starts as a cynical, selfish former lawyer who only joins the community college to get his law degree reinstated. However, as the show progresses, he learns to care about his fellow students and becomes a more selfless and compassionate person.
- Britta Perry: Britta, played by Gillian Jacobs, begins as a self-righteous activist who constantly tries to prove she’s the most socially conscious person in the group. However, as the show goes on, her flaws and insecurities are revealed, and she becomes a more sympathetic and relatable character.
- Abed Nadir: Abed, played by Danny Pudi, starts as an emotionally disconnected pop culture enthusiast struggling to connect with others. As the show progresses, he learns to open up and form deeper relationships with his friends.
- Troy Barnes: Troy, played by Donald Glover, starts as a jock who’s trying to escape his high school reputation. As the show progresses, he becomes more comfortable with his geeky side and forms a close bond with Abed.
- Annie Edison: Annie, played by Alison Brie, begins as a neurotic overachiever who’s trying to prove herself. However, as the show goes on, she learns to relax and embrace her own quirks.
- Pierce Hawthorne: Pierce, played by Chevy Chase, starts as a wealthy, entitled bigot who often clashes with the other characters. As the show progresses, he becomes a more sympathetic character with a tragic backstory.
- Shirley Bennett: Shirley, played by Yvette Nicole Brown, starts as a judgmental mother figure constantly trying to control the other characters. She becomes more accepting and learns to relinquish her need for control later in the show.
Community Canceled
NBC canceled the show after its fifth season due to declining ratings. However, the show was picked up by Yahoo! Screen for a sixth season. Despite the show’s loyal fanbase, it ultimately did not receive enough viewership to justify continuing past its sixth season on Yahoo! Screen. Various factors contributed to the show’s decline in ratings, including the show’s constant schedule changes and the departure of key cast members such as Donald Glover and Chevy Chase. While beloved by its fanbase, the show’s often surreal, and meta humor may have been too niche for a broader audience.
But this didn’t keep that niche audience from wanting more. There have been rumors for several years now that Community would be given a movie as a bit of a farewell of sorts. And last year we got the confirmation that the project was indeed moving ahead.
Greenlight from Peacock
Community will finally be getting its long-awaited movie. The project was picked up by NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock, after a bidding war with other platforms. The movie will feature six of the show’s nine main cast members, including Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Jim Rash, and Ken Jeong.
However, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, and Yvette Nicole Brown are not currently attached to the project. Chase famously clashed with series creator Dan Harmon, and Glover only appeared in a few episodes before leaving to work on his own show, Atlanta. Brown left after season five to care for her father but did return for the series finale. Peacock has yet to comment on whether negotiations will take place to bring all nine original cast members back.
According to Susan Rovner, chairman of entertainment content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, the phrase “Six seasons and a movie” started as a playful reference in the early seasons of Community, but quickly became a rallying cry for passionate fans of the show. Rovner expressed gratitude that 15 years later, the promised movie is finally becoming a reality. She also stated that NBCUniversal is excited to collaborate with show creator Dan Harmon, writer Andrew Guest, actor Joel McHale, Sony Pictures Television, and UTV to bring this beloved comedy to Peacock audiences.
Always on the brink
During its five seasons on NBC, Community was always on the brink of cancellation due to low ratings. Sony executives Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht negotiated a renewal for the show by packaging it with other pilots that network executives wanted to pick up from the studio. However, in 2014, NBC officially canceled Community. Sony executives shopped the show to various streaming platforms, with Hulu expressing interest in a potential revival. Eventually, Yahoo Screen picked up the show for a 13-episode season, but the expensive experiment in scripted originals lasted only a short time before the show ended.
Despite its tumultuous history, Community has remained a fan favorite in the streaming era, with its five-season library available on multiple platforms. Peacock has secured the rights to the show’s full library, which it will share with Hulu. Creator Dan Harmon, who was briefly fired from the series, has always maintained that the Community movie was a matter of “when” rather than “if,” and now, it seems that “when” has finally arrived.
Long list of revivals
I am excited about all the recent revivals of older shows in the works. I have discussed Futurama and King of the Hill, which are also being resurrected recently. I hope the trend to continues.
There has yet to be an official date for release for Community; I’ll update this page as soon as I find any new information. #sixseasonsandamovie
