The Day Community Died
Entertain The Elk・17 minutes read
NBC premiered "Community" in 2009 on Thursday nights, targeting the lucrative 18 to 34-year-old demographic, following a legacy of successful sitcoms like "The Cosby Show" and "Friends." The show, guided by creator Dan Harmon's narrative style rooted in Joseph Campbell's monomyth, faced behind-the-scenes drama, cast changes, and a significant drop in quality in Season 4 before concluding with a meta commentary on change and growth in the final episode, providing emotional closure for viewers and ending on the creative team's terms.
Insights
- The show "Community" faced behind-the-scenes drama, including cast feuds and harassment, impacting its production and leading to significant changes in quality during different seasons.
- The final episode of "Community," titled "Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television," served as a meta commentary on change and growth, providing emotional closure for the audience and signaling that the creative team was ending the series on their terms, a departure from previous uncertainty about the show's future.
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Recent questions
When did NBC premiere "Community"?
September 17, 2009
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Summary
00:00
NBC's "Community" Revives Thursday Night Dominance
- NBC premiered "Community" on September 17, 2009, aiming to regain Thursday night TV dominance.
- Thursday nights were crucial for advertisers due to affluent 18 to 34-year-old viewers.
- NBC's past success with sitcoms like "The Cosby Show" and "Friends" set a pattern.
- In the 2000s, NBC's lineup included "The Office," "30 Rock," "Parks and Recreation," and "Community."
- The diverse cast of "Community" included Joel McHale, Ken Jeong, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, and Chevy Chase.
- Talented directors like Justin Lin and the Russo brothers contributed to the show's success.
- Creator Dan Harmon's writing style, based on Joseph Campbell's monomyth, shaped the show's narrative.
- Behind-the-scenes drama, including feuds and harassment, affected the show's production.
- Season 4, without Harmon, was considered a low point with episodes lacking substance.
- Harmon's return in Season 5 brought back the show's essence, but cast departures impacted the dynamic.
14:44
"Community" finale offers emotional closure and reflection.
- The final episode of the series "Community," titled "Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television," served as a meta commentary on change and growth, with characters discussing the uncertain future of the show, mirroring real-life situations where actors were moving on to other projects.
- The episode provided emotional closure for the audience, allowing them to process the show's tumultuous history and concluding on a satisfying note, signaling that the creative team was ending the series on their own terms, which was a significant departure from previous seasons filled with uncertainty about the show's future.
