THE SKED: A Greendale Holiday – Dan Harmon Returns to “Community”

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It’s still not officially true– in fact, Deadline reports that the deal has hit “a snag”–but all signs are that the once and future king of Greendale Community College, Dan Harmon, is returning to COMMUNITY for its 5th NBC season.  More than that, despite prior rumors that he might come back as a glorified consultant, it appears now that he’ll be showrunning his creation.  This is surprising on many counts.  For one thing, without Harmon, Community did well enough in the ratings last season to score an unexpected midseason renewal (whatever one may think about its creative quality under last year’s showrunners David Guarascio and Moses Port).  Also, Harmon was, by his own admission, no day at the showrunning beach.  The assumption here is that while Harmon will be creative showrunner, someone else will quietly be appointed to hold some of the financial and production reins on behalf of studios Sony Pictures Television and Universal Television.  Still, this is great news for Community fans–unless, of course, to use a pop culture reference he’d know all too well, Community Season 5 turns out to be Harmon’s The Godfather Part III.  (Also reportedly returning:  senior writer/producer Chris McKenna.  Not reportedly returning:  Chevy Chase.)

In less happy postseason news, USA Network has apparently passed on a resurrection of the late great HAPPY ENDINGS, although the studio (Sony again) is still plugging away at other potential outlets.