Joel McHale and Jim Rash Helped Dan Harmon

An expansive New York Times article about Dan Harmon and Community season 5 has revealed that stars Joel McHale and Jim Rash are largely responsible for Harmon’s re-hiring.

It must be baffling for anyone who doesn’t watch Community to one day open up a copy of the New York Times and read a profile that analyzes the once-fired showrunner of a low-rated NBC sitcom like Mozart.

But Community lovers understand, especially after a Harmon-less and underwhelming fourth season, that one showrunner can make all the difference. Now we know from the aforementioned and very-worth-reading article, that actors Joel McHale and Jim Rash are mostly to thank for Harmon’s return.

For several months, Mr. McHale and Mr. Rash lobbied Sony and NBC to reinstate Mr. Harmon and spoke with him and Mr. McKenna about returning. Finally, Mr. McKenna and Mr. Harmon convened at a West Hollywood cafe to cement their partnership for a fifth season of 13 episodes.

McHale and Rash were also quoted extensively, and subtly made their disappointment with season 4 known.

“The scripts don’t just come out of stories and jokes,” McHale says, referring to season 4. “They come out of real meaning, and real characters that crazy stuff happens to.”

“We had a great map to work off, but you still don’t have a person at the helm who’s taking us on those adventures,” Rash adds.

The article also reveals that NBC, while still not on completely perfect terms with Harmon, at least understands what they have in Community and why bringing back the showrunner was necessary.

No new details regarding the fifth season, which premieres January 2, emerged, but more importantly, we now know that Dan Harmon sleeps in his office with an embroidered pillow that reads “Make Community.” Awesome.

- hypeable