Lots of news rolling out from NBC's mid-season schedule today, and we're likely going to have more from the other networks as they start to announce their mid-season stuff as well. But the biggest news at the moment is definitely NBC's decision to pull Community from its slot on Thursday at 8 to make room for the return of 30 Rock. Way to make Tina Fey the bad guy.
It's unclear what's going to happen with the episodes of Community that haven't been aired yet, but NBC is apparently stating that the remaining episodes of the season will be produced and aired at some point next year. It's important to note that this isn't strictly a "cancellation," but it is a pretty terrible vote of no confidence on the part of NBC for Community, and certainly makes it unlikely that it will return next season. That shouldn't be a terrific surprise: quality notwithstanding, it averages around 3.5 million viewers a week. For comparison's sake, Shit My Dad Says was still pulling in 10 million viewers or so a week when it was cancelled by CBS. NBC has apparently stated that Community is being "put on the bench" for a while, but will return to the schedule. Regardless, not a good sign.
Also disappearing from the schedule is Prime Suspect, another show that never quite seemed to find its niche; it'll be replaced with the pilot for The Firm, based on the John Grisham novel and film of the same name. Again, it might not technically be cancelled, but a sudden disappearance from the schedule isn't a good thing. Awake, the Jason Isaacs show that was supposed to be premiering in January or so, is also nowhere to be found; it recently shut down production to focus on scriptwriting, and now we have to wonder if that was the only reason they were shutting down production. If you haven't seen its trailer, you definitely should take a moment to do so.
Here's the full schedule that NBC put out:
MONDAYS
8-10PM 'The Voice' (season premiere Sunday, February 5; series resumes February 6)
10-11PM 'Smash' (beginning February 6)
TUESDAYS
8-10PM 'The Biggest Loser' (beginning January 3)
10-11PM 'Parenthood' (through February 28)
10-11PM 'Fashion Star' (beginning Tuesday, March 13, 9-11 p.m. ET with two-hour premiere; one-hour broadcasts resume March 20)
WEDNESDAYS
8-8:30PM 'Whitney' (beginning January 11)
8:30-9PM 'Are You There, Chelsea?' (beginning January 11)
9-10PM 'Rock Center with Brian Williams' (beginning February 8)
10-11PM 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
THURSDAYS
8-8:30PM '30 Rock' (beginning January 12)
8:30-9PM 'Parks and Recreation'
9-9:30PM 'The Office'
9:30-10PM 'Up All Night' (beginning January 12)
10-11PM 'The Firm' (two-hour premiere Sunday January 8; Thursday time period premiere January 12)
FRIDAYS
8-9PM 'Who Do You Think You Are?' (beginning February 3)
9-10PM 'Grimm'
10-11PM 'Dateline NBC'
SATURDAYS
8-9PM 'Harry's Law' (encore broadcasts)
9-10PM 'The Firm' (encore broadcasts)
10-11PM 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' (encore broadcasts)
SUNDAYS
7-9PM 'Dateline NBC' (beginning January 8)
8-9PM 'Harry's Law' (beginning March 4)
9-11PM 'The Celebrity Apprentice' (beginning February 12)
No. This is the opposite of Batman.
This makes me a Sad Panda. This show is consistently good and it would be a real shame if it were to go away.
i know its a business, and NBC has to do what they have to do, but i still maintain that Community is better than 98% of the TV shows available right now, including the mess that is now the Office.
So did Chuck only get a partial order? And is Fear Factor only a special thing? But anyway you look at it that is an ugly schedule filled with reality programs and crappy news magazines.
Very bad sign... Would be funny if "Troy and Abed in the Morning" was threatened with cancellation on the show.
This is a pretty massive bummer, this season has been pretty great so far. I really hope they didn't just up and decide to cancel it.
:( Community is my fav comedy
"Six seasons and a movie!!"
I guess not. COMMUNITY is the best comedy on television. PARKS AND REC is great, too, but that show cheats its comedy constantly by breaking the fourth wall and talking to a film crew that can't possibly be there.
At least 'Up All Night' is being moved to a better time slot.
God looking at their schedule I didn't realize how much shitty reality TV series that NBC has. Jesus.
I never really dug Community, even though it's pretty funny. NBC has a knack for making shows unwatchable somehow, despite Community's relatively strong cast (well...at least half of the main cast, I'd say). Plus their insistence on making every fu**ing show until very recently copy the Office in terms of tone and shooting style -- that's unwanted for sure.
The Office is a comedy with no jokes or likeable characters, with a sh*tty "fake documentary" style, that's not even that popular (averaging between 5 and 8 million viewers depending on which season you're talking about); why the hell did they focus so intently on putting out MORE shows in that vein? Meanwhile 30 Rock has great characters, super clever writing and even a soundtrack, which helps the pacing and tone so that it seems more like a film comedy, and less dry and...unfunny than all their other "comedies" on the air currently. They also do those live action shows occasionally, which come off as pretty close to a traditional sitcom, except with actual laughter instead of a laugh track, and much better writing than fu*king garbage like Two and a Half Men.
I'm personally glad that 30 Rock is coming back. And I just can't drum up much sadness for Community disappearing. I likely wouldn't care if Parks & Rec "took a break" too - and if the Office were to disappear, I'd throw a fucking party. Stupid critic-snob garbage. Maybe if the Office suddenly became entertaining, I'd change my tune...
What happened to NBC trying to establish a Wednesday night comedy block with Up All Night and Whitney? Why not just move Community onto that night? Actually, why put comedies on Wednesday anyway, what with ABC doing it better and more successfully with Happy Endings and Modern Family. NBC should dump their "extra" comedies on Tuesday, when I'm relatively sure no other channel does so.
But Alison Brie is hot and that show is actually good....unlike most of the other crap on NBC
Scooped again by the dasa!!
Seriously I hope Community comes back. NBC never really gave the show the prime treatment and now to put it on life support seems so unfair.
That is terrible news, Community is one of my favourite shows :(
Community has collapsed into a meta-show, playing around too much with movie and TV tropes, and the characters have each become one-joke pieces in a weird-joke machine. Watch the first season again and you'll remember how it was once a clever and even touching show. Just as well it's going away.
Wow, NBC does something stupid again. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. These folks ok'd Whitney. Ugh.
The Office has been regressing for a long time, Parks and Rec was just another swing at the same style (although I do think Amy Poehler is funny) and Modern Family took that style and did it better.
I guess NBC is gonna gear up for more reality/talent/singing/nonsense shows.
30 Rock is garbage, I've tried to watch it, its just not funny. Bad trade, NBC.
Community makes me feel warm and fuzzy in the same way as Arrested Development.
Perpetually sunny, filled with lovable and deranged characters and snarky pop culture jokes in easy to digest 20 minute lumps.
I really hope they keep it going.
Looks like her heart's already broken. :p
But seriously, I hope Community comes back too. More people should see it in my opinion.