Movies - TV
Joel McHale Saw Rehiring Dan Harmon As Community's Only Hope
By JEREMY SMITH
Executives at Sony, which produced “Community” for NBC, didn't get or like the show and wanted to be rid of it. When the perfectionism of showrunner Dan Harmon frayed the nerves of his collaborators and his corporate overlords, he was fired from “Community” after Season 3; however, actor Joel McHale advocated for Harmon as integral to the show's creativity.
In a 2014 Reddit AMA, McHale said, “Dan was the only way I believe we would get to a 6th Season since the show is in his head. Like J.R.R. Tolkien had Middle-earth in his. And I have to thank NBC and Sony for being open and willing to bring him back. And I'm as excited as a little schoolgirl.” McHale's support of Harmon was also bolstered by fellow cast member Jim Rash.
Sony let Harmon return to the helm of “Community,” though this meant losing staff writer Megan Ganz who was mistreated by Harmon during her tenure on the show. Harmon apologized to Ganz on his podcast “Harmontown,” and Ganz forgave him. Peacock has also greenlit a “Community” movie, and if Harmon can finish the film, fans will get one last day at Greendale.