Troy and Abed are back in the morning! In the wake of the yearly spring massacre of TV shows by broadcast networks, only two NBC comedies will live to see the light of day once more: one of them being, against all odds, critical darling “Community.”
A perpetual ratings problem child, “Community” suffered the loss of its creator Dan Harmon and cast member Chevy Chase this season, and, as was inevitable, something was missing, or so the detractors claimed. On this week’s Love | Hate, columnist Sebastian Torrelio offers optimism for the show’s future while Tony Huang argues for a swift, painless death.
Hello? Successful comedies? “Community” is joining you. Yes, I’ll hold.
Common critical consensus for the recently completed fourth season of “Community” state that the show has lost the edge it once had under creator Dan Harmon. And it’s true, new showrunners David Guarascio and Moses Port have put their own touch on the sitcom to distinguish it from other seasons. A lot of season four consisted of fanfare, calling back to the series’ past with constant reference after reference without being very refreshing or expanded upon.
Now, they have a season of audience commentary to learn from. Season four competes in quality with season one, a program trying to find its niche with the viewing community. It had to find a balance between sincerity and laughs to give it one of the most devoted fanbases among running television shows, and it will inevitably do so again.
The best moments of the past season were when the cast and crew began being inventive. A personal favorite episode of mine was “Basic Human Anatomy,” written by Academy Award-winner Jim Rash, who also plays the show’s Dean Craig Pelton.
It featured Troy and Abed in a devoted “Freaky Friday” spoof, mixing the silliness of switching bodies with the importance of relationships. If the show’s writers aren’t afraid of breaking new ground like they once did frequently, season five has immense potential. And perhaps let Rash write another episode or two in the “dean”-time.
Living in a television world where shows with cult followings are successfully fighting for prominence is great fun. The recent revival of “Veronica Mars” and “Arrested Development” both have me filled with delight and anticipation. It’s assurance that six seasons and a “Community” movie is a very probable goal to meet, and NBC’s renewal, even as a midseason replacement, speaks wonders.
I just hope it turned out like this in all those other timelines.
Email Torrelio at storrelio@media.ucla.edu if you’re on the “love” side.
It’s something of a golden age for TV right now – shows are better, more distinctive, and we’re finally figuring out serialization. What we haven’t quite gotten a grasp on, however, is getting out when the going is good: case in point, “Community.”
Now, I’m aware that forces beyond “art” are behind zombie TV shows: look at “The Office,” which will finally end this week after years of languishing in its own shadow. “Money, dear boy,”actor Laurence Olivier once said in response to his choice in movie roles. I’m almost positive that NBC is looking precisely for money of the syndication variety.
For the sake of argument, let’s assume that something can be done, that there lie two clear paths: one toward more, one toward none. It seems paradoxical for a fan of “Community” to want it to end, to want none. I do love the show, faults and all. Even now, deprived of its central voice, the show still has a certain charm.
But it doesn’t feel right to devote time to a show that’s lost its heart – it’s like listening to the The Velvet Underground without Lou Reed, or reading “Harry Potter VIII” written by a fan.
“Community” 2.0 is perfectly fine for what it is, but even from the first episode of season four, “History 101,” it seemed hollowed out, too aware of the cultural burden it shoulders, more of a not-failure than an almost-success.
And besides, “Community” was never meant to be “just fine.” It was an ambition of personal vision rarely seen in network comedy, furiously idiosyncratic and almost frustratingly self-absorbed. This is why it seems uniquely shortsighted to let it keep on, not quite itself, pandering for another day. I’d rather the producers end the series completely to preserve its integrity. If it’s already not “Community,” then let it go.
Email Huang at thuang@media.ucla.edu if you’re on the “hate” side.