November 15, 2011 - 4:47pm
Dónde está 'Community' in the NBC midseason schedule?
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
OK, we must exist in the dark timeline. How else can you explain the blatant lack of “Community” from NBC’s midseason lineup? If you just shed a single Britta Bot tear, you’re not alone. The lineup, announced Monday evening, has “30 Rock” replacing “Community” in the Thursday night comedy block. Show creator Dan Harmon has said little about the show’s future since the announcement, but NBC has assured worried fans that all 22 episodes of the third season will still be filmed and will air, though it is unclear when this will happen.
Even if the show finishes out the season, pulling a show at midseason is never a good thing. We saw this happen with “Pushing Daisies” (RIP) and it almost happened to “Parks and Recreation.”
It is true that “Community” ratings haven’t been very high this season, but the cult following it has accrued over the past few years is comprised of passionate and loyal fans who have already sparked backlash to the network’s decision. Within hours of the announcement, petitions began circulating around Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites.
“Whitney” was moved to Wednesday nights, where it will join Chelsea Handler’s “Are You There, Chelsea?” So Wednesday nights on NBC will henceforth be referred to as Worthless Wednesdays. Drink every time you are offended to make it bearable or just change the channel to what I like to call Wednesday Night Wine, ABC’s comedy lineup that includes “Happy Endings” and “Cougar Town.”
There is absolutely nothing cool (cool cool-cool-cool) about this. I don’t even think an eloquent Jeff Winger speech can put a positive spin on the news. Sending excellent shows to television heaven far too soon is nothing new for NBC (see: “Freaks and Geeks,” “Kings” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”), but this decision still comes as a bit of a surprise. I personally reacted the exact same way Abed did when he discovered “Cougar Town” was pushed to a midseason premiere (Six seasons and a movie!).
I think it is time to dress as Greendale Human Beings and occupy 30 Rockefeller Center. Who’s with me? Bring your own paintball gun and a list of colonial burns to use on the network execs.
