Community's Sinking Ratings Led To Some Bizarre Suggestions From Network Execs
"Community" was one of those shows that seemed to have a thousand in-jokes. When you watched it, you felt like part of a select group. That was partially because it was so twisty and deliciously odd that there was really no good way to describe it accurately. It's about a group of people who end up in the same study group at Greendale Community College, sure, but it's also full of improv, a monkey named Annie's Boobs, wild character twists, Ken Jeong living in a heating vent, and Betty White (RIP) rapping with Donald Glover and Danny Pudi.
Look, the show is weird and absolutely wonderful (I say from the middle of my fifth rewatch). That said, while you felt like one of the cool kids because you knew what the "gas leak year" was, a lot of people just didn't get it while it was on the air. The network certainly had some strange ideas about how to get ratings up. The show was incredible and something different for once, but as you know, if you look at the number of sequels and franchises out there, it can be hard to get people on board in time to keep a new and unique show on the air.
In a 2022 interview with MSNBC, creator Dan Harmon spoke about some of the suggestions that the network came up with to boost the series, and they are pretty bizarre.
' ... no I don't want to cast The Situation from Jersey Shore'
Dan Harmon spoke about some of the reports of his "fighting" with Sony and NBC, but disputes that this was what was actually happening on his end. In fact, he said he often didn't take their calls because he "knew what it was gonna be." He said:
"I would just put my assistant on the call or something, because the phone call I knew was gonna be, 'We looked at the ratings, and they're still going down, have you reconsidered our pitch about doing a 'Three Amigos' reunion with Marty Short and Steve Martin as janitors with Chevy,' or something like that ... I was never a prude or a snob, but there was a certain point where I felt like Venice is sinking, broadcast TV is dying, the Nielsens are measuring a simple decline, the numbers are not gonna go up, no I don't want to cast The Situation from 'Jersey Shore' in an episode of Community on the off chance that that's somehow gonna cause a spike that's going to keep someone from getting fired."
I'm sure Harmon would have made The Situation work in some very goofy way, but let's just say I'm glad it didn't happen. (I feel differently about the "Three Amigos" reunion, though.) Some of their ideas might have been able to be integrated, but ultimately, the thing that made "Community" so great was how different it was from other shows. It makes me wonder how it would have done had it premiered deeper into the streaming heyday when ratings were calculated differently.
' ... just sort of deal breakers on an almost I would call it religious level'
Harmon was asked if his confidence was due to his understanding of the business or if he disagreed that ratings were the thing to be chasing. He said that it was a bit of both and that from his research, he knew that stunt casting, for instance, doesn't really affect ratings. He said:
"Things that do affect your ratings, according to the research back then, were things like weddings — wedding episodes — holiday episodes, special events that actually create more of a feeling of family on the show. There were other things that maybe I agreed with on a technical level but were just sort of deal breakers on an almost I would call it religious level."
He also mentioned that Sony didn't love the idea that he was having actual time pass with the seasons rather than just a sort of blurry continuous school year. It's an odd request, considering that school is very much dictated by time; bells to signal classes, schedules as storylines, and seasons and holidays sort of built-in, etc. He joked that with animation, for instance, "'Rick and Morty' can stay 14-years-old for a thousand years, and that's more part of the medium."
May I suggest another rewatch? It's the perfect time with the movie reportedly on the way.
"Community" is currently streaming on both Netflix and Hulu.