We give an enormous amount of crap to NBC for its treatment of “Community” and the way it is often promoted the show, and perhaps the crap is deserved. But on the other hand, this is a show that has no business being on NBC or any other network, for that matter, and yet it’s been renewed for a fourth season. If you stop and consider it, and compare it to any other show on network television — even “edgier” fare like “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23″ or “Happy Endings” or even “30 Rock” — it’s clear as day that “Community” is not like the rest. It’s a show that goes on manic, obscure half-hour genre riffs with inside jokes piled on top of inside jokes. This season alone, there was an Apocalypse Now episode, an episode built around a fake show (“Inspector Spacetime”) based on a niche geek show (“Doctor Who”), and a clip show that used fake clips essentially to make more inside jokes. Alison Brie’s boobs? That’s universal, that’s been the draw for some, but “Community” is not a mainstream show. It wouldn’t even be popular on cable. It’d be a mid-rated Adult Swim show that dorks would get together in their college dorms to talk about over Tastykakes and joints.
So while it’s fun to hate on NBC for almost canceling “Community” three seasons in a row, they should get a little credit for keeping it alive. The Friday time-slot next year does seem more appropriate, but I do worry that without next day GIFcaps and reviews (who is going to do those on a Saturday?) the buzz may eventually fade. It is up to the audience to keep the fires lit next season, to keep the tumblr accounts going, to keep producing fan art, and to keep generating interest in what’s already a dismally-rated show. There’s still an opportunity for six seasons and a movie, but it’ll be up to the Internet to keep the pressure on NBC to renew. After all, there were at least 12 shows with, sometimes significantly, higher ratings than “Community” that were cancelled this year. Those include:
Desperate Housewives
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
The Finder
GCB
A Gifted Man
Harry’s Law
Pan Am
Rob
Terra Nova
Unforgettable
How to be a Gentleman
CSI: Miami
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But only two of those shows were half-hour comedies, and they were on CBS. The Office (even with Steve Carell) would have been canceled if it were on CBS. Sometimes we’re just lucky that NBC shows rate so piss-poorly that Community, P&R, etc. get much longer lives than their ratings could justify. It’s the Chuck Paradox.
I think it’s important to note however that the “rating” system itself is flawed. It is true that that is still the advertising and thus industry standard, but a show like community’s fan base is not just going to be near the TV all the time. Unlike CBS viewers, Community viewers are college kids who leave the house Thursdays and Fridays and tend to watch the show online (both legally via Hulu or illegally stream/download) during free time on the weekends. I think NBC may be starting to recognize this and that’s why a show like Community has a chance to survive even with terrible ratings. I’m not a Neilson box owner, but still, I know I am rarely near my TV when Community is on, especially now that it’s summer, and I try to catch it on Hulu the next day.
It’s not summer yet
Good point and good post. I always felt the same way about Arrested Development; FOX did cancel it, but in no way did its ratings justify 2.5 seasons. Purely by ratings it would have been fone in six weeks. FOX should get a little credit for letting it stay on, instead they just get derision for canceling it. Community’s going to hit 80-90 episodes now. How many episodes do you expect to get of anything quality?
This show is too pedestrian for Adult Swim.
I’d agree, though “pedestrian” might not be the exact right word. Adult Swim majors in psychotic and unexpected edgey weirdness. Community is a “network” version of that.
If it started on Adult Swim it probably would be edgier and weirder. NBC, like any network, reigns the crazy in somewhat.
I just don’t get how you can base show success on nielsen ratings anymore. With Smart TVs and cable/satellite receivers in every home basically I would hope there would be a more accurate way of the country’s viewing habits not just a tiny percentage of the population.
Loki: I have an army.
Internet: We have Annie’s Boobs.
I disagree that the show would fail on a cable network. I think the humor (obscure jokes/references) is in a similar vein to Archer. I admittedly don’t know what Archer’s ratings are like, but I would think a cable network that knows what it’s doing could at least promote the show better.
Whether people stick around after that is another story, but NBC doesn’t even promote Community. Other than before the series premiere, I don’t think I have ever even seen an ad for the show during NBC programming. They should have promoted the shit out of the Law & Order episode because that was far more accessible to a new viewer than pretty much any episode of the entire series, because EVERYONE has seen Law & Order.
There are other factors involved in renewing a TV show. First is profitability.
I propose that while the cast has a few names (Chase and McHale mostly), these players aren’t raking in big bucks compared to the others. It’s a fixed location show with a limited number of sets. And it does well in other distribution markets besides TV!
A lot of these others are over-priced dramas with no built-in audience.
Community is going to live on in syndication on virtually any channel because it has wide appeal. Desperate Housewives will appeal to Lifetime and OWN, thus lower bidding for rights to air it.
I’ll be interested to see how this plays out, and I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. I just wonder if there is enough money in advertising to the fan base. The Subway comments below also factor into this.
Am I the only one to reluctantly admit that I don’t particularly care if Community stays on the air or not if it’s at the same standard season 3 has given us? A few decent episodes aside the jokes have become really weak and the character development seems to have taken most of the characters in the wrong direction I feel. Troy and Abed in particular have become unbearable at times. Troy was the cool jock with the nerdy side but now he’s just overly stupid, not cool at all and embarassingly dependant on Abed.
Abed is still a solid character except for the new gimmick where he squeals for long periods of time. This has happened because a show he likes was put on hiatus which is ridiculous as someone who’s entire bit is his encyclopaedic knowledge of television and film…has he never encountered a show ending before? It didn’t make sense. Also when the clocks go forward…for a man who meticulously maps and charts insane details in peoples’ relationships, their hair colour, periods and I’d assume his TV guide we’re meant to believe that he has never encountered daylight savings.
And Jeff has gone from doing a manipulative speech at the end of the episode for his own advantage or just to shut everyone up he now does soppy, moral speeches like how sewage Joe literally doesn’t feel shame which is a crutch we all have and blah blah.
Sorry to rant but seasons 1 and 2 are up there with Arrested Development in terms of quick witted, intelligent comedy with brilliant references you have to watch a few times over to get. Season 3 has been like a shitty fan interpretation of what would have happened next.
Oh and Senor Chang > student Chang > Getting your balls caught in a train door > Detective Chang.
I enjoy season 3.
And man… way to over-think the daylight savings gag.
I’ve loved this season. I actually think it’s better than the previous two seasons.
I guess we all have different opinions. I know about 6 people irl who watch Community and none of us have had much good to say about the majority of this season. It just doesn’t feel clever anymore.
I see what you’re saying Liam. Seems like out of three episodes one of them is really good with the other two being in the eh to dull range. I’m thinking the shorter season will help it out in that they will have to trim a lot of boring,time filler stuff and just focus on the good.
I’m quite certain the amount of time you spent thinking about the daylight savings issue would dwarf the time spent on writing it.
Aside from that I agree to an extent. This has not been a strong season but I’m still looking forward to next year.
I like Troy being dumber than rocks because it reminds me of his character from the Mystery Team, which is incredibly stupid/funny.
I *loved* the first half of season 3, but the post-hiatus stuff has been largely underwhelming so far. I don’t honestly know for sure whether that’s a problem with the show itself, or if the hiatus did something to my expectations. I guess both are probably true to some degree. Community was my favorite comedy before the hiatus, but it’s since fallen behind P&R and Veep.
I agree that Season 3 is the least of the seasons. However it’s better than any other show I watch so I get past the fact that it’s not as good and am just happy that actors and writers I like have jobs.
Not trying to over think, I just think it’s an irritating new gimmick they seem to have thrown in for no particular reason.
I appreciated the analysis because the gag bothered me, but I couldnt put my finger on why.
It was the Subway product placement that saved the show. That’s how they sell it to advertisers. I’d be willing to make a bet that well see more of that next season.
Co-sign Liam.
I agree completely with how you feel about season 3. I was on the IMDB board and everyone there seems to be gaga over the overly meta episodes we have gotten from season 3. Then someone brought up a great point, people who have watched the show from the beginning and/or got into the show early seem to prefer season 1 whereas people who took up watching the show after season 1′s initial run seem to prefer the wackiness Community is known for now.
I don’t hate Season 3, how can anyone who is truly a fan of the show. But aside from RCT, the laugh-out-loud component of the dialogue that made Season 1 & 2 hilarious has disappeared. I personally think they need to go back to mostly Jeff-centric episodes.
Yeah- you articulated perfectly what I’ve wanted to say about Season 3.
I was watching it the other night and my fiance (who is not a fan of the show) just looked and me and said, ‘You haven’t even laughed once.’ I just sit there with a glazed over happy look on my face because I love the show but it’s just hasn’t been laugh out loud funny this season.
I miss the study room. So much of the bonding (between the characters and with US) happened around the big table. They made a conscious decision to “open it up” this year. Points for trying something new, but it IS a different show now. Still a big fan, but not nearly the evangelist I used to be.
More bottle episodes yes.
Blah Blah Blah Blah ‘ROB’ WAS CANCELED Blah Blah.
Good point. Perhaps Satan fell asleep during the Upfronts.
My only concern with the show is how unlikeable Abed has gotten. The Inspector Spacetime schtick was funny for a second but it’s getting tired.
I’m not going to be over critical of Community. I have loved every season. I do feel they are getting to be a bit too “inside.” But, considering I’m on that inside, it just makes me love it more.
That said, if the 4th season is the last one, that’s fine with me…as long as Alison gets more work.
NOT “ROB” !!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Don´t be a dramaqueen….at least “Whitney” is safe….
nbc does give a shit how many tumblr blogs exist for community. they care about is if they’ll be able to make money off it. those other shows with higher ratings were canceled because they cost more money than they were worth, not because they lacked a thriving online community. so go buy the dvds if you want to actually make a difference, because blogging about it doesnt shit.
Good post. I typically don’t get made at NBC for how they’ve treated Community, I get mad at them for pretty much everything else they do.
I think if NBC would have cancelled it, you’d definitely see a deal like TBS gave Cougar Town. Cable has lower ratings standards and would kill for the dedicated, hardcore audience Community would give them, particularly if the earlier seasons were included, like CT’s.
I’m definitely grateful to NBC for giving us such good comedies on Thursday (and also Awake); I just wish they could figure out how to promote and schedule them such that those shows could be as successful as they deserve to be.
They cancelled Harry’s Law???
I’ll gladly do Friday night reaction posts.
Fan art is worse than cancer. Please don’t encourage it, dude. Let’s just enjoy Community like adults and stop turning into a meme. That’s why the old bigwigs at the networks think it’s flailing…they perceive all this buzz as mockery.
No! you give them way too much credit…
And “Panther Joe” I don´t think they´re CSI:ing the www THIS close
Hate to see that list if it was for Fringe instead…
Also: “Unlike CBS viewers, Community viewers are college kids who leave the house Thursdays and Fridays and tend to watch the show online (both legally via Hulu or illegally stream/download) during free time on the weekends”
The networks do in fact get that data and I’m sure it plays a part in their decision making process, but advertisers still overwhelmingly pay for the 18-49 demo for the live airing, hence why things like DVR, online viewing, purchasing single episodes online, dvd sales, etc. all play roles but aren’t the main focus point.
The difference between Community and most of those shows is that most of those shows SUCK! They are fort he most part critically reviled.
mmm tastycakes
Okay I’m seriously getting really tired of people complaining about season 3, because you didn’t get 1 or 2 episodes. If that makes the season bad for you because you now think it wasn’t or isn’t funny enough for you, then find something else to watch.
There has been massive character development in this season (which shows like this completely lack), while also maintaining the same sense of humor the show has always had, but somehow you people completely miss that. Here’s a fact, the show without promotion from NBC is earning Mass appeal not only in the states but in Canada and Overseas. And since community has come up with so many of it’s own pop culture references, or brought old ones to a wider fan base, it’s now selling tons of products be it mugs or t-shirt off the brand, that Community has created. So the reason that Community hasn’t been cancelled is because beside advertising NBC found there are other ways to make money off of this show that will last far longer then it has aired on television because it has a cult following and that cult is only getting larger.
That picture isn’t from Community but it is a good picture to objectify Alison Brie, who is on Community, and to make others assume Community is kept one because of tits.
Some of those shows listed have been on the air for years now and have reached the end of their rope. I do agree that NBC isn’t handling their juggling act of comedy shows well but to demean all the fans of one show (which numbers in about 5 million per episode) as horny nerds in college is offensive.
As if Desperate Housewives, Terra Nova, and CSI: Miami is the pinnacle of television programming worthy of praise.
Perhaps the fans notice that this show is a smart comedy that shouldn’t be shunned by traditional viewership measurement that doesn’t even look at DVR and internet viewings.
Congrats on your flame baiting article that is less a journalistic effort to examine NBC’s decisions or an examination of the enigma that is Community and more a lumped together paragraph of opinions no wants to hear.
Fuck you haters. Community is amazing. You clearly have no sense of humour. Go back under urnfucking rock you bitches.
We should be giving NBC credit? For what, ruining the show? It would be better off cancelled. Now we have to watch it be extinguished. You think it has bad ratings now. Think about it after it is moved to the Friday graveyard, with Whitney as a sorry lead in, having alienated fans by firing the show runner Dan Harmon. A shortened season of what will surely be a ratings disaster that will give a bad rap to a great show. NBC has bad ratings for a reason. Ineptitude. And what about all that snide talk that the it “is show that dorks would get together in their college dorms to talk about over..whatever.” FU! If you don’t like the show don’t fucking watch it! It sounds like this guy watched every single episode just to dismiss it as being too niche.
Wow fuck the author of this article. First off the picture of Annie’s boobs are not even from Community. Shows what a piss poor writer you are Dustin Rowles, at least do some research before you pile crap into an article. This is just a slam article because Dustin doesn’t like the show, yes Community is not for everyone, but don’t judge it based on NBC’s shitty rating system, many people do watch the show and it is one of the more viewed on Hulu.
Dustin switch back to Mtv and keep watching the Jersey Shore and masturbating in your parents basement. Oh, and find a new day job because your one of the shittiest writers I have ever came across on the internet, and I read Yahoo News so that is saying something!
Community! #SixSeasonsAndAMovie