Oh, screw this. Today, Yahoo TV published TV Guide’s list of ten “bubble shows” — that is, low-rated shows that risk cancellation — and the first show they mention is NBC’s brilliant “Community.” Here are Yahoo’s pros and cons:
The Good News: Thanks to healthy DVD sales, the show has gained some new fans and good word-of-mouth, particularly about last season’s paintball episode. It’s nestled in a comedy block that does well among the younger 18-to-49 demographic that advertisers love so much.
The Bad News: Comedians call it taking the bullet when you’re the first act of the night, and that’s what “Community” is doing as it tries to warm up the Thursday audience. It’s currently hovering around 4.8 million viewers, far fewer than the new show “Outsourced,” which has benefited from following “The Office.” “Community” is a lot funnier than “Outsourced,” but since when has that ever counted for anything?
First of all, a big caveat: this is the first I’ve heard — at all — of “Community” being a bubble show, so far all we know this is the work of Jamie Mottram’s evil SEO robots.
That said, if — IF — “Community” is under the gun, it’s a goddamn crying shame. This is the best network ensemble comedy since “Arrested Development,” but unlike “AD,” “Community’s” humor is broader and less dependent on awkward moments for laughs. In other words, it SHOULD have an audience. I swear, if NBC cancels “Community,” I’m gonna be so mad that I’ll… I’ll… write a REALLY ANGRY BLOG POST! That’ll show ‘em.
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RESPECT THE CAPS LOCK!
What the hell are you talking about, Matt? Check tvbythenumbers. Community pulls a 2.0 (or less) in the demo on television’s most watched night. That’s just enough not to get cancelled if it’s lucky. But NBC just renewed a bunch of its other bubble shows, including Outsourced, which means there is a good chance Community is getting squeezed out.
Jesus Christ…fewer viewers than “Outsourced?” Are you friggin’ kidding me? How does that happen?
And how does a show as shitty as “The Office” stay popular years after it stopped being funny back in Season 3?
“Community” is absolutely awesome, and it contributes to my dream of a full 24-hours of Allison Brie viewing.
“Ow! My balls!” has been testing really well with NBC focus groups.
What the hell are you talking about, Matt?
What I’m talking about is there hasn’t been a single source from INSIDE NBC that has said anything about rumored cancellation of “Community.” Furthermore, “Outsourced” was picked up for a full season, not renewed.
And don’t get a fucking attitude with me, boy.
It’s been a bubble show since it’s inception like trippdup says via that website. Outsourced got picked up for a full season so that means it comes down to Community or Parks and Rec for that spot on thursday? Community and Parks are my 2 favorite comedies, this sucks. Why can’t Parks go on another night? Also I’ve never watched Outsourced and never will. Also what percentage of America has dvrs? I haven’t watched a show live and sat through commercials in years, why would you if you had the choice? They account for dvr ratings, I hope.
Maybe FX could pick it up and air it next to Archer, Sunny, and the League. Now that would be must-see TV.
Also why so many questions? Also where are my pants and why is there a severed giraffe head covered in hobo diarrhea under my hammock? Also why is there a hammock in my bathroom?
Yes, Matt, what the hell were you talking about in that middle part that’s in a block that appears to be some sort of quote?
@Jetski: I have heard that same day DVR viewings are counted by nielsen.
@ OP: This does suck. I follow some of the people involved with the show on twitter and there were rumblings of this a while back. I guess NBC just enjoys preserving a tradition of shitty management.
I wonder how many people have itunes season passes (like me) and whether that counts for anything.
Allison Brie needs to show off her tits more. I’d watch the show then. On mute, of course.
Go figure that the idiots who still watch The Office would also prefer Outsourced.
Also, this show is no where near as good as Arrested Development.
I used to watch “Big Bang Theory” when it was on Monday nights (yeah, yeah, stow it). But when it moved to Thursday, I made the manly, executive decision under the “My TV, My Rules” statute that we (GF and I) would be watching “Community” Thursdays.
Maybe to save it they can set the next season in some sort of work study office where humor can be mined from all the common frustrations of the working world. People seem to like that.
Why in the world are Neilsen Ratings still used as a valid way of determining audience numbers? The system distribution isn’t random or representative. It seems like, since all TV is digital now, it would be really easy to get a record of every single TV in the country and compile it into actual ratings. I mean, it’s possible to go online and get a signal sent from DirecTV to my box telling it to record a show, so why can’t the same kind of thing be sent the other way telling DirecTV what I’m watching?
@Josh: I have wondered the same thing. I think it is mostly inertia. Nielsen has built an entire system that the networks can use. To replace it a new system would need to be built with new infrastructure and analytics. Also, there may be perceived privacy issues with your tv telling people what you watch on its own (I know this is stupid but that has never stopped people from complaining in the past).
@Andrew: So, you helped make ‘The Big Bang Theory’ (and it’s bile-inducing laugh track) popular, and now you want props for being “manly” and throwing ‘Community’ a bone? Die in a fire, fuckstick.
It’s so manly to watch “The Big Bang Theory” on Monday nights. Fuck Monday Night Football.
Big Bang Theory IS GOOD!!! @ WayneJetski: hobo dookie!!>!>!??!? It never ends with the crimes committed by Asshat Douche Bag TV managerial types…I need to lay down now
oh, I forgot…I need to hug Alison Brie!
This is one of the best shows on TV. The cast is outstanding. And Allison Brie alone makes this show worth keeping. I guess american needs a laugh track to think something is funny nowadays. If they cancel this i will send a bag of pubes to the NBC president
If this means Alison Brie’s shirts get tighter then this is the Lord’s work.
FUCK. OUTSOURCED.
This is my comment.
Also, a hearty ‘Fuck you’ to NBC. I remember when The Office was a shitty, low-rated sitcom in season one that had a group of us in a dorm common area perplexed as to how it even got on TV… then Season Two came along, the show got awesome, and surprise! Now it pumps up the floating turd of a show that is Outsourced.
Oh and it just so happens another show that was rough in Season 1 and then awesome in Season 2 – Parks and Rec – gets shelved when it SHOULD be in the Outsourced time slot pulling big ratings.
It’s too bad terrorism isn’t cool anymore, or else I’d do some of it to NBC’s entertainment division.
I like Community but I hate that every episodes ends with everyone “learning a valuable lesson” about whatever the theme of the show was that week. It’s so afterschool special, and I hate that about a show.
Does anyone remember when NBC fired Conan and put Jay Leno back on the air? I don’t think the people over there should be kept to a standard of making good decisions.
I miss better off ted
First, Parks and Rec and a mid-season premire and now this. Why do good TV shows have to die a horrible death?
Alison Brie needs to show her tits to save the show.
I’m sorry, but the first few episodes were so bad I couldn’t stick with it. Maybe I’m missing out on something but I’ll just catch it when it reruns on TBS.
OK, Community, that is now two bad eps in a row. We need more hustle.
Last year I forced myself to watch “Community” and I thought it was barely passable….
…somehow this year….it is as fucking funny as hell..
For any of you who DON’T watch “Outsourced”….you really should try it…
It is one of the WORST shows I’ve seen on TV in a long long time…
It is sadly embarrassing…..I DVR it to see the end of “The Office” (which I never watched until November 2009 when I DVRed every repeat episode and caught up with it entirely)
It is stunning how bad Outsourced is…..you should watch it for a few episodes……but don’t let any advertisers know…
@EnPallazo. really? i thought last night’s episode was brilliant. but maybe i’m just a sucker for episodes that are premised on “this is abed. he is strange and wonderful.”
but yes matt. what the hell are you talking about!? referencing a researched news article to make a valid point! stop your nonsense, sir.
They better not cancel this show! FUCK, I’m so tired of having to worry about awesome shows getting the axe while FUCK-tarded Shows continue! They need to put Community in a slot without sooooo much Competition from other Channels. i.e. Big Bang Theory, etc…. If NBC cancels this show then I will cut all ties with NBC programming and start the movement of boycotting from there!!!!!!