‘Community’ Cancellation Update: Dan Harmon Clarifies Interest In Continuing the Series
Whether or not 'Community' fans found themselves surprised by NBC's recent season 5 cancellation, few would argue that series creator Dan Harmon's subsequent ambivalence toward another revival attempt proved somewhat unnerving. Now, in his usual fashion, Harmon has gone on the record in his own blog to set straight his feelings on continuing 'Community,' and the bizarre system of TV green lights around it.
Where previously Harmon was quoted with a blithe "eh" to the prospect of finding 'Community' a new home with which to fulfill the "six seasons and a movie" mantra, a lengthy post on Harmon's blog clarified that his apparent disinterest stemmed not from any lost love for the show, but rather not for fans to waste their effort on a cause beyond any of their control.
Harmon admitted that his own enthusiasm, as well as that of the fans, wouldn't inform the studio system anything about 'Community''s enduring popularity that hadn't already been made clear, but that he certainly wouldn't decline the opportunity if Sony managed to work out the rights to continue 'Community' elsewhere.:
When Sony called me on Friday with the news, there was brief discussion at the end of the call about the concept of the show living elsewhere, and I was definitely in the “eh” column...it doesn’t matter right now WHY I’d be lukewarm or if my reasons would be valid, what matters is, I won’t be lukewarm. I’ll heat up. I said “eh” on a Friday afternoon, I will change it to a “sure, let’s talk” on Monday morning and Sony can do their thing. I’m not going to be the guy that recancels cancelled Community.
I’m scared to tell you how little a difference I think my enthusiasm will make. I know fandom, when it gets this deep for this long, becomes almost religious, including the urge to stone the less than faithful. But there are lots of reasons a Community resurrection could be difficult. So be prepared for that...
If you want to know the God’s honest truth, part of my “eh” was coming from the unsettling thought of your passion for campaigns being once again exploited by this rather unfair, somewhat backward system, one that now treats you like it’s your responsibility to keep a show alive...I love you guys, and at its best, Community is me saying that over and over again, saying let’s get less mad at ourselves and each other and more mad at the inhuman systems that keep us down and divided.
We haven't heard much in the way of positive developments on either Hulu, Comedy Central or any other outlets looking to continue on, but keep us in the column that believes we've not seen the last of the Greendale gang, however long it takes to get the band back together, or at least get the Koogler spinoff, trilogy, second trilogy, reboot and further reboot it so rightly deserves. Until then, we'll enjoy the 'Community' we had and see if anything changes for Harmon or the franchise in the immediate future.