Ken Levine is a TV writer that has worked on some of the most acclaimed sitcoms there are: M*A*S*H, Cheers, The Simpsons, Frasier, and Becker (just kidding about the last one). He took over as showrunner of M*A*S*H when creator Larry Gelbart left. This gives him a unique perspective on the whole Dan Harmon situation so he wrote a must-read blog post about it. He still has hope for the show as he writes:
Shows tend to survive without the original creative force. Even WEST WING when Aaron Sorkin was sacked. Even MASH when Larry Gelbart quit. MASH is a perfect example. If they could replace the genius [...]
I don't know if it's a good or bad sign for him returning to Community, but Dan Harmon is producing a 30-minute animated pilot for Adult Swim, as one of the eight new pilots they're considering. The show, Rick & Morty, is about "A genius inventor grandfather and his less than genius grandson, and the journeys in life they share." It sure sounds like an Adult Swim pilot. Also, the writers (Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg) and stars (John Cho and Kal Penn) of the Harold & Kumar series are all signed to make an animated show out of the mini-hamburger-built film franchise. Below are the other six [...]
Vulture is reporting Community Executive Producers Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan have signed a big deal to create television for 20th Century Fox. Goldman and Donovan have been Dan Harmon's number twos since the premiere (and the namesakes for Fat Neil and Garrett, respectively) so the loss is significant. This doesn't reveal anything about Community's renewal future but let's all just agree to pretend that it's definitely great news, for some reason. It does reveal that Fox is making a hard push towards live action sitcoms, something that before New Girl hadn't been their strong suit for a while. First The Office's Mindy Kaling then 30 Rock's [...]
Oh, Jesus. Here's a newly leaked voicemail from Chevy Chase to Community creator Dan Harmon in which he goes on at length about how the show sucks and can only be saved by them leaving in all of his hilarious on-set ad libs. At least I think it's a voicemail — at one point you can hear Harmon sort-of respond to Chevy, but he isn't acknowledged. It's not clear if this is another part of a voicemail played by Harmon at the Harmontown show in LA or if it's something different entirely. It is over a year old, however, so it's clear that there's been tension between the [...]
Despite the improving ratings, things aren't all paintballs and imaginariums in the world of Community. Series creator Dan Harmon and Chevy Chase are in the middle of a relatively public feud, one that involved Chevy walking off set on the last day of shooting, Harmon insulting him in a speech during the wrap party in front of his family, and Chase leaving an expletive-filled voicemail for Harmon that Harmon then played in front of an audience at a show in LA. It's a mess!
Both Harmon and Chase have reputations for being difficult to work with, so it's not entirely surprising that the two would butt heads [...]
OK, here’s what we know: Dan Harmon, the creator of Community, won’t be returning to his baby next season because…well, that’s the question, isn’t it? On his Tumblr (I love 2012), Harmon wrote, "A few hours ago, I landed in Los Angeles, turned on my phone, and confirmed what you already know. Sony Pictures Television is replacing me as showrunner on Community…Why’d Sony want me gone? I can’t answer that because I’ve been in as much contact with them as you have. They literally haven’t called me since the season four pickup, so their reasons for replacing me are clearly none of my business." So, really, like [...]
First, let me say, I love what NBC is trying to do. They could have easily cut costs by surrounding The Voice with reality and competition shows, but they are going with real television shows, some with very distinct voices. And I love them moving Community to Friday, at least I do conceptually and only if the bring Dan Harmon back, who currently/ominously remains unsigned for next year.
Though, it's hard to get a sense if the Friday move should be interpreted with a dread or enthusiasm. Currently, there are conflicting messages behind the decision. NBC bossman Bob Greenblatt told Deadline:
Diehard comedy fans surely know the origin story of Community creator Dan Harmon, but for the uninitiated, I present you with this overview of his early career and a detailed rundown of the shows he created for Channel 101, the live monthly short film festival he started up with friend and frequent collaborator Rob Schrab back in 2003.
Harmon and Schrab first began working together as members of ComedySportz Milwaukee, a short-form improv organization, in the late 80s. In the 90s, they formed the improv and sketch group the Dead Alewives with some friends, performing live shows in Milwaukee and recording a comedy album. More importantly, however, they started [...]
Dan Harmon took to his Tumblr last night to address the public feud he and Chevy Chase got into, which involved Chevy walking off set, Harmon insulting him in front of his family at the wrap party, Chevy leaving Harmon an angry voicemail, and then Harmon playing said voicemail to audience members at a show in LA. And Harmon feels terrible about that last part: It was in that venue, months ago, that I made the horrible, childish, self-obsessed, unaware, naive and unprofessional decision to play someone’s voicemail to me. He didn’t intend for 150 people to listen and giggle at it, and I didn’t intend for [...]
And the clouds parted, and word came down from on high that yes, Community is coming back, and coming back in a mere three weeks. And there was much rejoicing. I mean, sure, there'd be more rejoicing if they got a better time slot, but beggars cannot be choosers. Just what is happening with the rest of the Thursday night lineup isn't clear, but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as those clouds part again and give up some more details. But yes: Community lives!
Late Friday night, Vulture reported that Sony Television (the company that produces Community) had hired David Guarascio and Moses Port (previously of Happy Endings) as the new showrunners of Community, leaving Dan Harmon with a diminished role. Their justification was partially about creative differences (Sony and NBC wanted Community to at least try to appeal to more people) and partially about what it was like working with Harmon. A person close to the show explained, "Dan is brilliant at ideas, but he's terrible at [management]." Specifically, Harmon is given a lot of the blame for much of Community's writing and production staff turnover. The flipside of course is that Harmon [...]
Vulture caught up with Chevy Chase this weekend and asked him very point blank questions about Community. Chase obviously didn't want to talk about, but luckily he did talk about it, albeit fairly dickishly:
I don't want to talk about that. Why would I? We don't know if the show has been picked up. Even if it had been picked up, I haven't made a deal. I have to go through all that stuff before I can give you my opinion on the character. It's not easy to answer that, because I haven't made my deal yet.
When asked what he doesn't like about being on the [...]
This morning, while guest co-hosting Live with Kelly, Joel McHale broke his long silence over the whole Dan Harmon-Chevy Chase ego contest. In response to Kelly’s prodding, McHale answered by cracking some jokes and smiling some smiles – it was everything you’d hope for and more. McHale smirked, “It's impossible because there's no way Chevy could figure out voicemail.” He continued, in his best Jeff Winger impression, “He hibernates for nine months out of the year and when you wake someone up, they're very disoriented and a lot of the time, they don't know what they're saying." This is a great point and also great advice for the [...]
We're told … many people on set feel the "dispute" that took place between the two men during the taping of the season finale was blown out of proportion by Harmon … because Chevy was "very respectful." …
One source tells us, "What Dan did was embarassing and left a sour taste in all of our mouths … [...]
