NBC has finally confirmed that Dan Harmon will be back as showrunner on Community, the struggling cult sitcom. Harmon will also get to work again with Chris McKenna, who will be back as executive producer.
The move was widely expected, especially after Harmon himself leaked the news over Memorial Day weekend while recording a podcast. A few days later, he tweeted a confirmation and told fans to thank star Joel McHale, who plays Jeff Winger. Other members of the cast also tweeted the great news.
NBC waited until Monday to make the news official. McKenna, who had recently signed an overall deal with Universal TV, notes THR, will also be back, although Community is produced by Sony Pictures TV.
In Sunday, Harmon tweeted that he began reading scripts and that he’d start writing using markers from a gift basket.
Harmon was fired by Sony and NBC after season three and was replaced by David Guarascio and Moses Port for season four. The ratings for last season were just as bad as they were for season three, so it was clear that the new direction the show was going wasn’t working. It was a surprise to hear that the show was renewed for season five, but there’s no word on when it will be back.
In addition to McHale, the show stars Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Donald Glover, Danny Pudi and Yvette Nicole Brown.
image: NBC