Breaking News! Dan Harmon Replaced As Showrunner For 'Community'

[Brian Damage]

Greendale Community College has a new pair of headmasters. Just Shoot Me! alums Moses Port and David Guarascio have been tapped to step in and replace Dan Harmon as the new showrunners of NBC's Community. Harmon has been given a consulting producer title, but that doesn't mean he'll be actively involved on the show.

Even though NBC pleased fans by giving Community a 13-episode renewal last week, Harmon hadn't yet struck a deal with producer Sony Pictures TV to return as showrunner next season. That's because Sony had been looking to make a change at the top. Initially, Port and Guarascio (who more recently consulted on Happy Endings) turned the offer down — but Sony came back and sweetened the pot. The duo's credits also include Aliens in America; this season they wrote the Fox pilot El Jefe.

According to insiders, Harmon signed just a one-year deal last year, with no option that would force his return this season. With no new deal on the horizon, Harmon prepared a farewell message to run as a vanity production card during Community's season ender, but the idea was later nixed.

Sony is said to be looking at ways to broaden Community and attempt to extend the show's life on NBC — and it's no secret that studio and network execs have clashed with Harmon in the past. Insiders warn that Harmon is so closely identified with Community that squeezing him completely might alienate the show's small but fiercely loyal fan base. Not to mention most of the show's cast: "Dan's the creator of the show, the voice of the show, so I don't know how that would work without him," says star Joel McHale.

On Sunday, NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt said that he expected "Dan's voice to be a part of this show somehow. I'm just not sure if that means him running it day to day or consulting on it." (Harmon himself has said he's not interested in a consulting role.)

The decision to tap outside producers to join the show was also borne out of necessity, as Harmon's key producing partners are all exiting the show. Former exec producers Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan (who signed a deal at 20th Century Fox TV to create new shows) have already been hired to run Fox's Ben and Kate, while coexecutive producer Chris McKenna has set up a deal at Universal TV to develop new shows — and insiders said he wouldn't have taken the showrunner job without Harmon's involvement. The seeds of this week's showdown were planted long before Harmon's public feud with star Chevy Chase, but it likely didn't help. "It's hard to imagine that Dan will be back on the show," one source said earlier this week. "And it's hard to imagine that Dan won't be back on the show."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Community-Dan-Harmon-Replaced-1047797.aspx?rss=breakingnews&partnerid=popeater&profileid=breaking

[EmoJoe]

This sounds pretty bad. Community is clearly Harmon's vision and I can't imagine the show without him.

[Brian Damage]

Shortly after news broke that he will be replaced as showrunner on his NBC comedy Community by David Guarascio and Moses Port while he was becoming executive consultant, Dan Harmon took to his blog to clarify the circumstances around the switch. In brief: he says he was fired and doesn’t mince words about his employers. Here is his post:

HEY, DID I MISS ANYTHING?

Kids:

A few hours ago, I landed in Los Angeles, turned on my phone, and confirmed what you already know. Sony Pictures Television is replacing me as showrunner on Community, with two seasoned fellows that I’m sure are quite nice – actually, I have it on good authority they’re quite nice, because they once created a show and cast my good friend Jeff Davis on it, so how bad can they be.


Why’d Sony want me gone? I can’t answer that because I’ve been in as much contact with them as you have. They literally haven’t called me since the season four pickup, so their reasons for replacing me are clearly none of my business. Community is their property, I only own ten percent of it, and I kind of don’t want to hear what their complaints are because I’m sure it would hurt my feelings even more now that I’d be listening for free.

I do want to correct a couple points of spin, now that I’m free to do so:

The important one is this quote from Bob Greenblatt in which he says he’s sure I’m going to be involved somehow, something like that. That’s a misquote. I think he meant to say he’s sure cookies are yummy, because he’s never called me once in the entire duration of his employment at NBC. He didn’t call me to say he was starting to work there, he didn’t call me to say I was no longer working there and he definitely didn’t call to ask if I was going to be involved. I’m not saying it’s wrong for him to have bigger fish to fry, I’m just saying, NBC is not a credible source of All News Dan Harmon.

You may have read that I am technically “signed on,” by default, to be an executive consulting something or other – which is a relatively standard protective clause for a creator in my position. Guys like me can’t actually just be shot and left in a ditch by Skynet, we’re still allowed to have a title on the things we create and “help out,” like, I guess sharpening pencils and stuff.

However, if I actually chose to go to the office, I wouldn’t have any power there. Nobody would have to do anything I said, ever. I would be “offering” thoughts on other people’s scripts, not allowed to rewrite them, not allowed to ask anyone else to rewrite them, not allowed to say whether a single joke was funny or go near the edit bay, etc. It’s….not really the way the previous episodes got done. I was what you might call a….hands on producer. Are my….periods giving this enough….pointedness? I’m not saying you can’t make a good version of Community without me, but I am definitely saying that you can’t make my version of it unless I have the option of saying “it has to be like this or I quit” roughly 8 times a day.

The same contract also gives me the same salary and title if I spend all day masturbating and playing Prototype 2. And before you ask yourself what you would do in my situation: buy Prototype 2. It’s ****ing great.

Because Prototype 2 is great, and because nobody called me, and then started hiring people to run the show, I had my assistant start packing up my office days ago. I’m sorry. I’m not saying seasons 1, 2 and 3 were my definition of perfect television, I’m just saying that whatever they’re going to do for season 4, they’re aiming to do without my help. So do not believe anyone that tells you on Monday that I quit or diminished my role so I could spend more time with my loved ones, or that I negotiated and we couldn’t come to an agreement, etc. It couldn’t be less true because, just to make this clear, literally nobody called me. Also don’t believe anyone that says I have sex with animals. And if there’s a photo of me doing it with an animal – I’m not saying one exists, I’m just saying, if one surfaces – it’s a fake. Look at the shadow. Why would it be in front of the giraffe if the sun is behind the jeep?

Where was I? Oh yeah. I’m not running Community for season 4. They replaced me. Them’s the facts.

When I was a kid, sometimes I’d run home to Mommy with a bloody nose and say, “Mom, my friends beat me up,” and my Mom would say “well then they’re not worth having as friends, are they?” At the time, I figured she was just trying to put a postive spin on having birthed an unpopular *****. But this is, after all, the same lady that bought me my first typewriter. Then later, a Commodore 64. And later, a 300 baud modem for it. Through which I met new friends that did like me much, much more.

I’m 39, now. The friends my Mom warned me about are bigger now, and older, bloodying my nose with old world numbers, and old world tactics, like, oh, I don’t know, sending out press releases to TV Guide at 7pm on a Friday.

But my Commodore 64 is mobile now, like yours, and the modems are invisible, and the internet is the air all around us. And the good friends, the real friends, are finding each other, and connecting with each other, and my Mom is turning out to be more right than ever.

Ah, ****, I still haven’t called my ****ing Mom.

Mom, Happy Mother’s Day. I got fired.

Yes, Mom. AGAIN.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/dan-harmon-reacts-to-his-dismissal-as-community-showrunner/#more-275233

[Dr. Thong]

If the new producers can't capture the the tone that Harmon established, the show is in trouble, because the hardcore fans who lobbied to save the show will exit in droves if they don't get it right.

Just my take on it...

[Brian Damage]

If the new producers can't capture the the tone that Harmon established, the show is in trouble, because the hardcore fans who lobbied to save the show will exit in droves if they don't get it right.

Just my take on it...


Excellent post

[Guy Incognito]

Sony is said to be looking at ways to broaden Community and attempt to extend the show's life on NBC — and it's no secret that studio and network execs have clashed with Harmon in the past.

This is the key to the whole situation. I love Community, but much like 30 Rock it is definitely a niche show with a limited audience. Harmon had a great deal of power and influence over the show, but he didn't have clout of a Lorne Michaels (or the ratings of a Chuck Lorre) behind him, so he was doomed. You got to admire his refusal to compromise his vision, though.

I shudder to think what the next 13 episodes will look like.

[EmoJoe]

This situation should anger anyone who is a fan of TV, even if you don't care for Community. A man who created a TV show was kicked out of it without any chance of defending himself or negotiating. It's sort of disgusting that its even allowed.

[Dr. Thong]

This situation should anger anyone who is a fan of TV, even if you don't care for Community. A man who created a TV show was kicked out of it without any chance of defending himself or negotiating. It's sort of disgusting that its even allowed.

Agreed. But this isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened and probably won't be the last.

[TMC]

Why Firing Dan Harmon From 'Community' Was Stupid And Very NBC (Analysis) (http://www.imdb.com/news/ni28532946/)

[70s show watcher]

Agreed. But this isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened and probably won't be the last.something like this happend in 1985 when steven bochco was fired from hill street blues for pretty much the same reason

[Stuck In The '70's]

something like this happend in 1985 when steven bochco was fired from hill street blues for pretty much the same reason
Also Don Bellisario who created NCIS was forced out by CBS after he got into a public feud with star Mark Harmon. That show only got stronger after he left though.

[Brian Damage]

In the wake of Community creator Dan Harmon’s firing from the NBC comedy, studio Sony Pictures Television is taking steps to minimize backlash in the media.

The Hollywood Reporter has obtained a talking-points memo sent from the studio to cast and show representatives over the weekend. The memo, titled "Community Message Points," includes point-by-point suggestions for how to deal with the inevitable deluge of questions surrounding Harmon's abrupt departure from the low-rated critical darling. The studio confirmed Friday that David Guarascio and Moses Port would be replacing Harmon as showrunner when the series returns to NBC’s schedule for its fourth season in September.

Harmon, known for his erratic behavior, took to his own blog later that night to blast both the studio and network for what he characterizes as a mishandling of the situation. After noting that he wasn’t contacted by either, he says: “Community is [Sony’s] property, I only own 10 percent of it, and I kind of don’t want to hear what their complaints are because I’m sure it would hurt my feelings even more now that I’d be listening for free.”

Here's the memo:

Team Community:

With last night's news of David Guarascio and Moses Port as new showrunners/EPs on "Community" running in the press, and since we know that cast members have interviews coming up this week, I wanted to forward some messaging we hope our cast will find helpful as they navigate questions that will undoubtedly come up. I know that David and Moses are reaching out to them all directly but I've also heard from some of the actors that they'd like some guidance on the topic.

I saw some of the tweets that went out and wereglad they all addressed their own sentiments quickly, and we're hoping that the news will lose some steam over the next day, especially if we're not perpetuating the topic in any way

We're tracking the coverage and conversation and will circle back if we feel the need to reshift our plan or messaging. Please let me know if you have questions.

Why did Dan get let go from the show?

We're not made aware of why staffing changes take place but I will always be grateful to Dan for his great work on the show and wish him only the best. We're also excited that we'll be back on NBC's schedule in the fall and are looking forward to working on those episodes.

Were you aware that Dan was going to be let go?

No, that's not something we're consulted on. I'm sad to see him go but I am looking forward to starting our next 13 episodes of "Community."

Did the studio or network consult with you about these changes?

No they didn't but we're looking forward to working with David Guarascio & Moses Port on a new season of Community.

What are their plans for the new season?

It's a little early to say at this point but we're looking forward the stories our characters will find themselves in come Sept.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/leaked-memo-dan-harmon-community-studio-talking-points-nbc-328815

[Dr. Thong]

Also Don Bellisario who created NCIS was forced out by CBS after he got into a public feud with star Mark Harmon. That show only got stronger after he left though.

Even though he's not involved with the show, his name still appears at the end of show credits as executive producer. I believe Bellisario owns the show.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Even though he's not involved with the show, his name still appears at the end of show credits as executive producer. I believe Bellisario owns the show.
Yea I've noticed that. I think I also read that Bellisario was suing CBS because he claimed he wasn't getting any money from NCIS:LA and he was supposed to because it was a spinoff.

[TMC]

http://kenlevine.blogspot.ca/2012/05/dan-harmons-firing-my-take.html

Other networks now may label Harmon as "too much trouble."