How 'Community' Can Be Redeemed: #SixSeasonsAndSomeCharacterDevelopment

As my roommate and I sat eating dinner last night, she asked if Community really was coming back. I nodded and affirmed the fact that the show just cannot seem to be killed, even when numerous people stomp on it with the intent to kill. Somehow, the show keeps coming back in the eleventh hour and it’s either stupidly good luck or some divine intervention that it does. But let’s be real for a few moments here: I didn’t like Community’s fifth season. Perhaps “didn’t like” is an understatement. And I wasn’t mad by the time the show wrapped on NBC; I was disappointed. I was disappointed that Community’s fifth season had no trajectory, no common plot thread. I was disappointed that guest stars sucked up the valuable time that could have been spent focusing on the five remaining cast members. I was disappointed that Annie Edison was left as an afterthought and Shirley was glossed over like last month’s copy of InStyle. I was disappointed that characters didn’t grow and instead were written as caricatures of themselves from the pilot and then fizzled into nothingness at the series’ end.

Jaime and I talked extensively about Community’s problems, both in its later years and in particular season five throughout this post. I’ll spare you the majority of the details, but the conclusion we arrived at is this: Community isn’t perfect. It has flaws and faults and hang-ups and we simply cannot ignore those. I told my friend Laura this week that the longer a show runs, the more difficult it is to sustain the quality of the series. Even under the best of circumstances, it is difficult to maintain quality writing, but in the case of Community – with the show’s removal from schedule, firing of Harmon, shake-up of cast members, and now cancellation and reinstatement – it’s been an even more tumultuous journey. It’s important to see flaws in your show if you want to watch the show critically or learn anything from the series as a whole. I’ve learned more about what I look for in a television series from watching this show under a more critical eye than I would if I fawned all over everything the show has ever done. I do love this show, don’t get me wrong. I love its cast and their dedication to us (a dedication that is unmatched across any fandom I’ve ever seen or been a part of). I love the characters. I love the meta humor. But because I love the show so much, I lament when it fails to be all that it CAN be simply because it doesn’t focus on what is important or give weight to certain stories or characters.

With all of that said, Community is returning courtesy of Sony and Yahoo! and that means that we have another thirteen episodes with our beloved Greendale students. Since the show is, indeed, coming back, I thought I might compile a bit of a list of what I feel needs to happen this year in order to bring the show back into my good graces. Some damage is irreparable, which I’ll discuss momentarily, but there are numerous elements that can be fixed in order to make the sixth and likely final season a success and joy to watch. It seems silly to call this a “wish-list,” because I already made one of those for season five and look at how well that turned out. Instead, I’m calling this a task list: it’s a list of things that need to occur and not necessarily just that I want to occur. Whether or not these items are fulfilled is out of my hands, but that’s okay. I simply need to express what I feel the show requires in order to be better and not merely coast in its final season. Because when you think about it, this season? Season six? It’s a miracle. I know of very few shows that are able to find homes after network cancellation. (R.I.P Happy Endings.) And if this season is a miracle – if you are literally or figuratively thanking God for Community’s return – then the show OWES it to not just the fans but to itself in order to prove to the world why it deserved to be revived. Wouldn’t you agree?

So below the cut, let’s just chat. Let’s talk about some of the pitfalls this show has experienced and what can be done writing-wise in season six to improve and bring this show back into all of my good graces.

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Halloween on Valentine's Day? THAT'S October 19th! (Community's Return)

Well, folks, it has been officially announced that Community will return to our lives and small screens on February 7th, 2013 at 8PM.

I know what you're thinking.

You're thinking: "But... wait. That means the Halloween episode will air on Valentine's Day."

Yup.

You're thinking: "But... wait. February 7th is a Thursday. That means we're replacing 30 Rock, right? And that means we'll be back in our old time slot, facing the same competition we have for the last three years."

Yup.

And you're also probably thinking: "But... wait. Thirteen episodes would take us into May, without any breaks. And the middle or end of May if we DID take weeks off. So that means we're not getting a back nine."

Yup.

I am excited for Community to return, of course. Don't get me wrong -- I don't mean, by those previous statements, to undermine my excitement for the show's imminent (well, in a few months' time) return. I am quire looking forward to all of the hyped episodes that have been written and produced and will finally be able to be seen.

If NBC's desire is to beat the fans of this show down until they are no longer excited or anticipating the return of their favorite comedy, then they will have to work a lot harder to bring that goal to fruition. Community fans are resilient and determined, albeit small. We don't sit back and let things happen to our show without first having a say in it. Or a foot. Or a felt goatee. 

8PM on Thursdays is a battle -- it's like, a Hunger Games-style battle for viewers -- and it's one we have fought for the past three years. But even in its hostility, that timeslot still feels like home to me. It would feel strange, I think, for Community to air at any other time (but, you know, not on any other network... TBS, feel free to jump in and pick up more of the show, please!). 

(And really, in that vein, we saw how Scrubs managed to survive in spite of it being dropped by NBC and then picked up by ABC for an eighth season. So it IS possible.)

Regardless, the-little-show-that-could is as resilient as its fanbase, and I encourage everyone to be supportive of our show but not (and PLEASE hear me out on this) negative toward other shows. It's really irksome to me when I read about how people badmouth and belittle other television shows. I may not like Whitney, but it's for content reasons and not because the show returned to the air sooner than our show did. And I may not care about Fringe, but that doesn't mean I sit around and pray that the show gets cancelled either. I don't want other shows to suffer just because OURS had to.

Dearest Community fans: you KNOW how hard you have fought for this show. Some of you have literally taken to the streets in an attempt to save it. We have made every effort under the sun known to keep this show alive and keep it on NBC's radar. So why would you sit and badmouth upcoming shows, hoping that they get cancelled in a vindictive effort to return our show to the air sooner? 

Again -- please just think about, for a moment, if fans of other television shows vocally did that to US. Just because our show suffers in the ratings does not give us a right to slander other shows before they air, no matter how terrible they may or may not be. And that's part of the point -- we don't KNOW what they will be like when they air nor, frankly, can we convince NBC to cancel shows by refusing to watch them or badmouthing them via social media outlets (Lord knows a lot of people tried that with Whitney). I know you all would not let Twitter or Facebook or any other place on the Internet hear the end of it if WE were being attacked by another fanbase, so please... don't do that to others. Especially other fanbases that don't even exist yet. Who knows -- we may even be friends with them. :)

That being said, I still encourage you all to find constructive and helpful ways to benefit the fandom. Still try to get your friends to watch the show. We have PLENTY of time for lots of friends/family members/co-workers, etc. to get caught up before the new season airs. Spread the word about the show, regardless of the fact that it is (99% likely) its last season. TWEET KIND THINGS to the cast members, writers, and crew. The latter two don't get told enough how awesome they are. If you're so inclined, find nice ways to thank them, much like we recently did with the "It's Not a Pen, It's An Award" awards.

And, as always, remember that we are ALL in this together (and please, no one start singing anything from High School Musical because... it's already stuck in my head) and since these are very likely our last thirteen episodes, let's make the time leading up to them count, eh? :)

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The Darkest Timeline Sees The Light (#Darkest401)

How do you really quantify the passion of a group of fans? Recently, Vulture released an article outlining the top twenty-five most passionate fan bases. The frontrunners ranged from artists like Lady Gaga, to movie and book phenomenon Harry Potter, and to television shows like Game of Thrones and Community. Fan power and enthusiasm is often measured in ratings in the television world. An elusive unicorn named Nielsen judges how successful and, conversely, unsuccessful a show is by how many households equipped with a Nielsen box watch.

“But Jennifer,” you might say, “I don’t know of anyone that has a Nielsen box. In fact, I don’t think I know of anyone who knows what a Nielsen box actually LOOKS like.”

To which I reply: “Exactly.”

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Community Is Returning... Wait. What, Now?

When you’re a kid and you act up or misbehave, occasionally your parents will yell at you. They’ll punish you and send you to your room without dessert or take away your favorite toy. But sometimes – on those rare occasions when you actually wince and anticipate a blow-up – they’ll remain quiet. And then, just as you peek to open your eyes and brace for your punishment, they’ll calmly utter six words that make your stomach curl into a knot.

“I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.”

That’s kind of how I feel right about now toward NBC. I’m not mad at you, really. I’m just disappointed. For those of you who have remained blissfully unaware of any sort of news involving Community, I’ll fill you in – last night it was announced that the quirky comedy’s fourth season premiere would not be on October 19th, as was previously scheduled (Whitney, too, will not be premiering that Friday).

Before I explain why I’m disappointed in the network’s decision to further push back the premiere date of Community’s fourth (and likely final) season, I’ll just lift your spirits up a bit. Because I think we’re going to be okay. Yes, you DID just read that correctly. I think we’re going to be okay. And here’s why:

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Six Seasons and a Movie Art Show

"Six Seasons and a Movie Art Show"

Some of you  may be surprised -- this isn't my usual venture (we don't, after all, have any new episodes to review and we won't be covering "Modern Warfare" until Friday), but I was kindly contacted by Mark Batalla of PixelDrip Gallery, asking if I would like to cover the Community-themed "Six Seasons and a Movie" art show. 

(Of course, I said that I would love to!)

Last week, PixelDrip Gallery posted a press release on their website which hosts all of the details of this fabulous venture. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what this is all about, the "Six Seasons and a Movie" art show consists of about 130 artists from all around the world who have dedicated art, in some way, shape, or form, to the television show Community. What's unique about this particular art venture is that it doesn't just host typical art pieces (canvas work, framed pieces, etc.), but extends its artistic reach to dioramas, toys, dolls, and even videos. PixelDrip Gallery prides itself on incorporating traditional art and new-age digital artwork together to showcase to the community. And truly, we live in an era where talented artists are no longer confined to "traditional" mediums such as paint and canvas, but where creativity bleeds into our computer monitors, video cameras, and keyboards. As someone who is friends with both traditional and non-traditional artists, I am amazed at how different and yet fundamentally similar these people are.

And what is wonderful to note, in particular, about the Six Seasons and a Movie art show is that its artistic participants are not merely limited to fans of the show, but to those who have worked on it as well. Rob Schrab and Megan Ganz (among others) will also have their work featured at the show. So not only will fans of the show have the chance to view and discuss the artwork that fellow Human Beings have created, but they will also get the chance to view the work of those who have had an active role in creating the show. I think that one of the most brilliant things about Community as a television show is the relationship that the creators, producers, actors, and writers have with their audience. There is honestly no other show on television where all parties are so tightly  bonded together. Therefore, it is touching to see those who have worked on the show appreciate their fans and for the fans to, in turn, utilize their gifts and talents to give back to the show.

In addition to the plethora of artwork that will be at the show, attendees also have the opportunity to participate in raffles, a costume contest, and a trivia contest throughout the weekend that the show will run. Speaking of that weekend, here are all of the official details for the show:

Where: Monk Space, which is located at 4414 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90004.

When: June 23-24, 2012. The exhibit will be open from 11am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Cost: Admission is FREE to the public. There are plenty of markets and restaurants nearby where you can purchase food. Additionally, a food truck will be present outside of Monk Space during the hours of the exhibit.

If you live in California and are tempted to check out the art show, or even if you just want to fly to Los Angeles for the weekend (if you have that kind of money), I highly recommend that you do so. This event promises to be a wonderful collaboration of artists, and also a fun experience for Community fans to gather together and celebrate a show that they care about and one that cares about them so much.

Check out a sneak peek of one of the artists from the show -- Yasmin Liang -- and be sure to keep your eyes out for more information posted soon! And a special thanks to Mark Batalla for providing me with all of this information!

#sixseasonsandamovie

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New NBC Fall 2012 Schedule (Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes)

This afternoon, NBC announced their new fall line-up for 2012. Here is an excerpt from a New York Times blog:

The other scheduling move that may raise some eyebrows is the attempt to open Fridays to comedy. NBC is shuffling two marginally rated sit-coms, “Community” and “Whitney,” to the ratings wasteland of Fridays, counting on the fact that fans of those shows, especially “Community,” largely watch them on delayed basis anyway.

In the fall, Community will no longer be on Thursday nights in the comedy block -- it will, instead, move to 8:30 on Friday nights, following Whitney. So what does this mean? At this point in time, I am torn between believing this is a good decision and a poor one. There are really two thoughts running through my mind right now, so I'll break them down here:

• The move from Thursday nights to Fridays is a good one for a few reasons. The largest, and perhaps most important is that Community will no longer be competing with The Big Bang Theory and American Idol for ratings. Consistently on Thursdays, we have been squashed beneath these two shows in terms of viewership. It would always be impossible for us to receive decent ratings when the 8PM Thursday night television slot is dominated by Jim Parsons and Ryan Seacrest. So, a move to Fridays would ensure that Community does not have to fight to retain its small, but devoted audience. The second thing about the move that is beneficial is that we have a lead in. In spite of my displeasure for Whitney as a comedy -- and for her, as a person -- the comedy has done better ratings-wise than we have. In spite of the fact that Community is more of a critically-acclaimed show (or at least beloved by television reviewers where Whitney is not), its numbers have never been strong. If the show has a lead-in, there is a potential to increase viewers and ratings from those who will merely keep the television on after Whitney.

• There is, of course, a downside to this move. Personally, I think it's universally known that Friday nights are where shows are sent to die off or fizzle out. Now, this isn't entirely the case -- take, for example, the announcement today that CBS is renewing CSI:NY (a show that was moved to Friday nights) and cancelling CSI:Miami. Shows DO have the potential to thrive in a Friday night time-slot. The concern that I have is that NBC is aware that the viewership of Community falls mainly in the more... youthful side of the spectrum. Grimm is a show that I know has been somewhat "successful" on Friday nights, but the demographic for the show seems to be wider than that of Community. Whether or not that is statistically true, I do not know. What I DO know is that I am a 23-year old college graduate who can be a homebody. But I also enjoy having Friday nights to spend with my college-age and 20-something friends. And a majority of the people who watch this show are probably the same way -- a move to Fridays where ratings weren't a concern because of lack of competition would be moot if, in part, current viewers were lost. I consistently make time on Thursday nights to watch Community because it is Thursdays -- what else am I going to do? I have work the next morning. But Friday nights? Friday nights viewers have a vast majority of options -- clubs, friends, movies, dinners, dates, etc. without the major concern of scheduling their lives around television. And perhaps this is NBC's way of determining whether or not the fans of Community DO watch more on Hulu, nbc.com, etc. than they do live. The second concern associated with this move is the recruitment of new viewers, which seems unlikely to occur. I have friends who watch The Big Bang Theory on Thursday nights and are very devoted to it. However, if I were to try and introduce them to Community, it would be futile since it is on Fridays and they enjoy going out with friends, spending time with their fiances, etc.

So I am torn between this decision being good for the show, or ultimately just a gentle way for NBC to put it to sleep. Given the news of a potential departure (or at least a step back from the show) of Dan Harmon as the showrunner, it seems evident that Community is going through some changes. Whether or not these turn out to better or hinder the show is yet to be seen, but you can bet that I will do my absolute best to continue to stick around consistently on Friday nights. 

And now let's discuss what this means for you all -- for readers of the blog-review. As you are well-aware, I usually post the reviews on Friday mornings (at work, oops). The benefit of the show's move is that I won't have to stay up late in order to write them and post them in the morning. So hooray for a silver lining. ;) Instead, what will likely happen is that I'll watch the episode on Friday nights, do my thorough re-watch and then post the review sometime on Saturday mornings. At least it'll be a nice kick-start to your weekend (I hope!)

As always, whatever happens with this show aside, I cannot thank all of you enough for being such wonderful fans. But it's more than that -- I have to thank a lot of you for being wonderful friends. Community, much like its plot, has brought together an unlikely group of people and chang(ed) them from being passive viewers to active fans, friends, and Human Beings. Whether this season is our last, whether Dan Harmon returns or not, just know that I am thankful for each and every one of you and will be forever altered by your presence in my life. :)

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HAPPINESS ALL AROUND!

In case you haven't heard the wonderful news yet today, it's been officially announced that Community will be returning to NBC on Thursday, March 15th at 8 P.M.!

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this blog throughout the hiatus. You all have been such a blast to write for, and I can't wait to do our last few reviews before some all-new episodes!

I'll see you here though this coming Friday when I review "Beginner Pottery"!

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