For four seasons, the hit NBC series "Community" has delighted fans with a quirky take on life at a community college in the fictional town of Greendale, Colorado. Creator Dan Harmon took creative control of the show for the first three seasons, but passed the reigns off for its fourth. However, in recent news, it looks like he may be returning for the show's fifth season, which NBC renewed on May 10.
During a recording of his "Harmontown" podcast, Harmon revealed that he has been called back to join the "Community" community for its fifth season, TV Line reports. During the recording, Harmon initially asked the crew to edit out the slip, however, then shrugged, saying "Ah, f*** it. I don't care who knows." There's the attitude fans want to see resonated in the next season of "Community."
It's unclear whether Harmon will return as the showrunner or serve in some other production role. When NBC let him go in May 2012, the network offered him a position as a consulting producer, an offer that he declined. Harmon left last year at the close of the show's third season, as NBC wished to "broaden" its appeal.
"Their reasons for replacing me are clearly none of my business, and I kind of don't want to hear what their complaints are because I'm sure it would hurt my feelings even more now that I'd be listening for free," Harmon said at the time. Once again, there's that witty and boarder line offensive attitude that can only benefit the show.
Perhaps the network reached out to Harmon in order to curb the show's declining ratings. In its peak, the show received between 4 and 6 millions viewers per episode, an average that has now dropped to roughly 3 million.
Whether or not Harmon's return will offset the downward trend in ratings is unclear, but it is clear that NBC is doing all it can salvage its 'formerly' popular comedy sitcom.