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Don’t write off Community just yet.
After NBC canceled the cult comedy after five seasons on Friday, there was speculation over whether the series would live on in some form to fulfill its “#SixSeasonsandaMovie” motto.
In a lengthy blog post Sunday, creator Dan Harmon spoke out about the prospects of a sixth season, admitting that his “silence on the issue of a hypothetical sixth season” may have been “frustrating” to some.
COVER STORY: ‘Community’s’ Dan Harmon Reveals the Wild Story Behind His Firing and Rehiring
Harmon admitted to feeling “eh” at first when studio Sony TV floated the idea last week about Community living elsewhere: “For a million reasons, some selfish, some creative, one logistic, five sexual, three racist (in a good way) and, oddly, nine isometric.” But after several days, Harmon promised that he “won’t be lukewarm” about it should it become a serious conversation. “I said ‘eh’ on a Friday afternoon, I will change it to a ‘sure, let’s talk’ on Monday morning and Sony can do their thing,” he wrote. “I’m not going to be the guy that recancels canceled Community.”
Harmon, however, was careful in tempering fan expectation over the likelihood of Community returning. “I’m scared to tell you how little a difference I think my enthusiasm will make. I know fandom, when it gets this deep for this long, becomes almost religious, including the urge to stone the less than faithful,” he continued. “But there are lots of reasons a Community resurrection could be difficult. So be prepared for that.”
PHOTOS: Dan Harmon: TV’s Most Controversial Showrunner
One of the main reasons Harmon was initially hesitant to support the fans’ renewal campaigns was “the unsettling thought of your passion for campaigns being once again exploited by this rather unfair, somewhat backward system, one that now treats you like it’s your responsibility to keep a show alive, like a corporation is doing you a favor by feeding you low grade opiate through a regulated tube.” Harmon continues in his post: “Like you owe them an apology when they can’t measure or monetize you to their satisfaction. You deserve better.”
Harmon says that he “will not be standing in the way” if season six comes to pass, apologizing to those who haven’t accepted that Community is done at NBC: “I’m sorry to anyone that’s really taking this cancellation hard… Ninety-seven episodes. Over eight pretty good ones. Mission accomplished.”
Email: Philiana.Ng@THR.com
Twitter: @insidethetube
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