Over at The Daily Beast, you can read my latest story, "Community on Hiatus: Why NBC Is Making a Mistake," in which I look at the case for and against keeping the brilliant and subversive comedy around.
For right now, Community airs Thursday evening at 8 p.m. on NBC.
Comments
I have to say that I do encourage NBC to keep Community on the air. I am a major fan of the show and it still has a lot of potential as a creative, ambitious comedy. Lately TV shows have become so monotonous, we need a show like Community now more than ever. It challenges conventional writing and maybe that's why it's ratings are down, maybe some of the episodes just so unconventional the show just throws people off.
If NBC is having trouble with ratings getting rid of Community is not the way to go, I think that would be a cop out. I'll admit some of the episodes this season weren't as good as last year but even the worst episodes are no worst than a lot of shows these days and these other shows aren't having ratings problems. The best solution for NBC would be to restructure their thursday lineup and figure out how to improve things while Community is on hiatus. Maybe they can work on ways to improve the show and attract more viewers. I'll guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed.
I loved Arrested Development, Better Off Ted, and many of the other oddball comedies that required using your brain to get it. Too bad none of these is around (or on the same channel) to be linked with Community in a comedy block. Community is comedy gold, specifically the bottle episodes!
Would love to say this is a surprise, but sadly it doesn't shock me at all. NBC had better wise up somewhere along the line and quick or they are going to continue being passed up not only by their ABC, CBS, and Fox peers but also by cable and their own cable netlets (like USA).
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Do I understand it correctly that the stunningly promising "Awake" might not show up on this year's midseason schedule also?