NBC has renewed Community as the Joel McHale starrer continues to march toward its “six seasons and a movie.”
The beleaguered cult favorite will continue on for a fifth season, NBC announced Friday. The news comes a day after the Thursday comedy wrapped its fourth season, even year-over-year with a 1.3 rating in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic and tying American Idol among adults 18-34.
While Community will continue, it will do so without co-star Chevy Chase, who exited the show in November following a roller-coaster relationship with the NBC series as he grew frustrated with the direction his character was taking. Most recently in October, the actor used an N-word on-set when questioning dialog in a scene, then “immediately” apologized to the cast.
The pickup also comes ahead of Community’s syndicated debut in the fall on Comedy Central, with repeats potentially helping to lift the series the way TBS’ encores have helped push CBS’ The Big Bang Theory to new heights in its sixth season.
Despite being initially left off the network’s midseason lineup for the second time, the series received a vote of confidence from NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt earlier this year when he touted that the community college comedy would have more heart under new showrunners David Guarascio and Moses Port. The duo took over from series creator Dan Harmon this season, with some critics of the Sony Pictures Television vehicle giving season four mixed results, some noting Community had lost the edge it had under Harmon.
For NBC’s part, the Community news as the network reinvents its comedy brand, with the community college series joining Parks and Recreation as its lone returning half-hours for 2013-14. All of its freshman comedies — save for Ryan Murphy’s semi-autobiographical entry The New Normal and summer effort Save Me — have failed to earn second seasons, though Save Me is not expected to return. NBC on Friday dropped Matthew Perry’s Go On, which was considered the rookie most likely to continue.
Meanwhile, NBC continues to add new comedies including The Michael J. Fox Show, Sean Saves the World, Undateable and The Family Guide, which just lost co-star Parker Posey.
The last episode of the fourth season of “Community” will be airing on Thursday, May 9th at 8-8:30 p.m.
Community 4×02 “Paranormal Parentage” – While on their way to Vicki’s (Danielle Kaplowitz) Halloween costume party, the study group makes a detour to Pierce’s (Chevy Chase) mansion when they learn he accidentally locked himself in his panic room. As Pierce languishes behind locked doors, the group searches the dark and eerie house for the book that holds the code to the door. Along the way they encounter a few of the house’s secrets. Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Alison Brie, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover and Jim Rash also star.
Thursday is a good day to study hard. Community Season 4 premieres Thursday February 7th on NBC!
If you know any Asian-American community college Spanish teachers with memory loss, they may have Changnesia. Tune into the Community Season 4 premiere, Thursday February 7th on NBC.
Check out this new preview clip from the new season of “Community”, which premieres February 7th on NBC!
Britta “therapizes” Abed, encouraging him to go to his happy place!
Community 4×01 “History 101″ – The Greendale Study Group returns from summer break ready to tackle their fourth year of Community College. Jeff (Joel McHale) is particularly focused on graduating and is just a few credits away. When there is a mix-up with a history class registration, Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) institutes an elaborate physical competition for class space. Meanwhile, Britta (Gillian Jacobs) helps Abed (Danny Pudi) deal with the anxiety he is experiencing over the thought of the study group graduating and breaking up. Chevy Chase, Alison Brie, Yvette Nicole Brown, Donald Glover and Ken Jeong also star.
Check out this sneak peek video from the upcoming season of “Community”! The show returns Thursday, February 7 at 8/7c on NBC!
Don’t miss this holiday gift from Community — an exclusive sneak peek! Watch the Season Premiere Thursday, February 7th at 8/7c on NBC.
The critically acclaimed “Community” is a smart, exuberant half-hour comedy series about a tight-knit study group at Greendale Community College. At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, “The Soup”), a fast-talking lawyer whose degree has been revoked. With some help from his fellow classmates, Winger forms a study group who eventually learn more about themselves than their course work.
Also among the series stars who comprise the group are comedy legend Chevy Chase (“Fletch”) as Pierce, a successful businessman whose life experience has brought him infinite wisdom; Gillian Jacobs (“Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World”) as Britta, the 20-something dropout with something to prove; Yvette Nicole Brown (“Rules of Engagement”) as Shirley, a sassy middle-aged divorcée; Danny Pudi (“Greek”) as Abed, a pop culture junkie; Alison Brie (“Mad Men”) as Annie, a high-strung perfectionist; Donald Glover (“30 Rock”) as Troy, a former high school football star trying to find his way and Ken Jeong (“The Hangover Part II”) as Chang, the group’s former Spanish professor — turned student. Greendale’s fearless leader is Dean Pelton (Jim Rash, “That 70s Show”), an ultra-efficient yet slightly neurotic administrator, whose penchant for dressing in costume is well-documented.
After the dramatic paintball conclusion of season two, season three finds the group tackling a new set of challenges including a tough-as-nails biology teacher, Professor Kane, played by Michael K. Williams (HBO’s “The Wire”) and Chang’s questionable appointment to campus security. Dean Pelton meets his match in Vice Dean Laybourne (John Goodman), the distinguished head of the Greendale Air Conditioning Repair Annex, whileTroyand Abed also decide to share an apartment together, which creates new challenges for their friendship.
“Community” was created by Dan Harmon (“The Sarah Silverman Program”) who serves as executive producer with Russ Krasnoff (“The Soloist”), Joe Russo (“Arrested Development”), Anthony Russo (“Arrested Development”), Garrett Donovan (“Scrubs”), Neil Goldman (“Scrubs”) and Gary Foster (“The Soloist”). The series is a Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap, Russo Brothers production, Universal Media Studios production in association with Sony Pictures Television.