Anna Daniels
While it somewhat paved the way for future quirky NBC comedies like Brooklyn-Nine-Nine and The Good Place, Community was seen during its run as the network’s awkward stepchild. Its viewership was never very high, but its fan base was intensely loyal, even when Community endured serious troubles. In 2011, NBC dropped Community from the schedule mid-season in favor of 30 Rock – the show Glover had actually previously written for. As promised, Community did return later in the season, but it was an ominous sign that the network could easily toss Community to the side. Then in May 2012, after the series’ third season, Sony Television fired creator Dan Harmon, supposedly for being “difficult.” And after a rocky season 4, actor Chevy Chase was fired from the show for his increasingly aggressive and reportedly racist antics on set.
Given all this turmoil, it’s not all that surprising that Glover decided to take the star power he gained from Community and try something new on a show that was decidedly calmer behind the scenes. In August 2013, it was announced Glover was doing just that: he was creating the half-hour comedy Atlanta for FX. Though Harmon eventually returned for Community season 5 and even managed to persuade Glover to appear on five episodes before truly calling it quits, he admitted that Glover had outgrown the series and that Community suffered greatly without Glover on board. Harmon told The Hollywood Reporter in August 2017, “I needed to convince myself that Donald leaving wasn’t the death of the show, but now that it’s all over, I think we can agree that it was.”
Written by: Looper
