NBC renews 'The Office,' 'Parks and Recreation' and 'Community'
With '30 Rock' already renewed, NBC's top sitcoms will all return
Troy and Abed from "Community" - and the gangs from "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" - will all be back next season after the three comedies got renewed today by NBC.
Two pieces of fantastic news and one piece of wait-and-see news: NBC has just announced that it's renewing "Community," "Parks and Recreation" and "The Office" for next season.
"The Office" renewal was the least surprising of the three, as it's the only one of NBC's comedies (including "30 Rock," which was already renewed earlier this season as a salve for being moved to 10 p.m.) to actually be successful on its own. So it was almost certainly going to come back. But nobody knows what the show will be like once Steve Carell is gone. (Of late, I've been of the opinion that things might actually get better, as the show has mostly been in a rut the last couple of seasons.)
"Parks and Rec" (which, as I noted this morning, has a fantastic episode on tonight) was a decent bet to come back, but not a lock, as its retention of its lead-in audience from "The Office" has been acceptable but usually not much more. But it's been great all season (and last season), and should get a bump from the overall interest in Carell's farewell episodes of "The Office." A new audience is coming slower to it than I would've liked, but I still think it's NBC's best long-term bet to succeed "The Office" if the post-Carell era is bumpy.
"Community," meanwhile, has been getting clobbered on the left by "The Big Bang Theory" and now on the right by "American Idol," but its own audience hasn't fallen off as much as we might have feared going into this season. Its audience is its audience, and as Bob Greenblatt looks to rebuild NBC, it makes sense that he'd bet on a quality show with a steady (if small) audience rather than bank on lots and lots of unknowns for next year.
Excuse me while I go do a dance of joy. "The Office" is a rerun tonight, but all the other NBC Thursday comedies (including the unrenewed "Perfect Couples" and "Outsourced") are new tonight.
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March 17, 2011 at 3:54PM EST Reply to CommentWhat is the wait-and-see news?
sepinwall The Office. Lots of people think the show should end when Carell leaves.
March 17, 2011 at 3:56PM ESTBen I think the cast and crew have earned an 8th season without SC. If it's great, they can either end on a high note or extend it to S9, etc. If it's not great, they'll be able to gracefully conclude on a victory lap for everyone who's stayed. I'll watch either way.
March 17, 2011 at 4:03PM ESTJoe How have they earned an 8th? The last few seasons have been unwatchable. They should have ended it after 5 and definitely after 6. Gervais knows what he is doing with his formula - get out before people even truly discover the show. That guy is a legend.
March 31, 2011 at 7:28PM ESTBrian
March 17, 2011 at 3:54PM EST Reply to CommentPop pop!
Oaktown Girl Ha! Pop pop, indeed! Couldn't be happier about the renewal of "Community" - I was getting worried about that. (I was never worried about Parks and Rec not getting renewed).
March 17, 2011 at 4:05PM ESTUnfortunately I'm going to have to wait and catch tonight's episodes on Hulu or On Demand because I won't be home. But at least they are usually available the next day, not like FX;s Justified which makes you wait over a week for On Demand, and isn't available online this year. (No DVR at the house where I live).
Nah Mean Wasn't worried about any of them being canceled but great to see confirmation. POP POP!
March 17, 2011 at 4:21PM ESTZach L Well said sir, but if I may take the Leonard rebuttal...Pphhht Pphhht!
March 17, 2011 at 4:59PM ESTTausif Khan Justified is on Hulu. They posted the first episode of the season last week. Therefore we have to wait a while to catch up to this weeks episode but it is good to catch up on the old ones.
March 17, 2011 at 5:40PM ESTchuchundra NBC may be last in the ratings battle, but they're streets ahead in my book.
March 17, 2011 at 6:18PM EST
March 17, 2011 at 8:21PM ESTAl Am I the only Community fan that's beginning to loathe the phrase "Pop Pop"? It's become Community's "I didn't do it". I liked it the first time it was uttered, think it would be fine if used sparingly, but feel any likeability of it was destroyed in the election episode. Oh, well...just my opinion.
March 18, 2011 at 12:04PM ESTAl ...and that being said, even if I don't like "Pop pop", I'm glad we'll get the chance to hear it again for at least another season
March 18, 2011 at 12:11PM EST
March 17, 2011 at 3:59PM EST Reply to CommentParks and Rec coming back makes me smile.
Ace
March 17, 2011 at 4:00PM EST Reply to CommentHooray!! :) (Well, honestly, I would have been okay with The Office ending, but yay for Community and P&Rs.)
Louie
March 17, 2011 at 4:02PM EST Reply to CommentSo does that mean that Perfect Couples is finished? I know you didn't like it, but I thought it was pretty decent.
sepinwall I would say odds aren't good for PC or Outsourced, but they're not dead yet.
March 17, 2011 at 4:04PM ESTLouie Damn, thanks. Disappointing, but I guess it's overshadowed.
March 17, 2011 at 4:56PM ESTTausif Khan Alan are you going to check into Outsourced again?
March 17, 2011 at 5:41PM ESTErika Herzog LOUIS CK, please go back to working on your awesome show! we need you!
March 17, 2011 at 9:18PM ESTMrHamill
March 17, 2011 at 4:03PM EST Reply to CommentSo glad that Community and Parks will be back next season. Yay! :)
loosmi
March 17, 2011 at 4:03PM EST Reply to CommentYes!
March 17, 2011 at 4:07PM EST Reply to CommentGood news, everyone
Steve
March 17, 2011 at 4:07PM EST Reply to CommentBob Greenblatt is definitely streets ahead.
klg19 HA! Indeed.
March 17, 2011 at 4:36PM ESTHannah Lee I've never wanted to hug a TV executive before, but Greenblatt giving us more Community and Parks & Rec has brought me to that.
March 18, 2011 at 12:20PM ESTNow, if he'd renew Parenthood too, that would make this the best week ever.
AL Looks like Pierce's campaign is a success! I couldn't resist commenting on this, as I just watched that episode a few days ago on DVD (first time seeing "American Poultry" since it originally aired)...THIS was the episode that put Community on the map for me. The moment Abed launched into his mafia movie fantasy I literally sat up and took notice and realized "holy cow, I FINALLY have a new TV program that I can actually look forward to watching."
March 18, 2011 at 12:22PM ESTI LOVE EVERYONE IN THIS THREAD
March 17, 2011 at 4:08PM EST Reply to CommentDay (week? month?) made.
March 17, 2011 at 4:10PM EST Reply to CommentThe more interesting question is scheduling. Personally, I'd like to see a Community-30 Rock-Office-Parks two hour block, but I'm wondering if we won't see them split up on the theory that particularly for Community and 30 Rock, their audience is loyal and will follow to other slots.
Looking at development, NBC seems to have a bunch of interesting pilots, and certainly launching something like "Playboy," "R.E.M.," or "17th Precinct" at 10 Thursday out of a two hour comedy block makes sense.
Finally, wonder to what degree this got accelerated due to football issues. NBC's already in a world of hurt, and if they don't have football in the fall (or have a reduced schedule of football in the fall), they've gotta have programming in reserve.
March 17, 2011 at 4:14PM EST Reply to CommentJoyous news!
Now I just have to worry about Chuck and Fringe.
March 17, 2011 at 4:16PM EST Reply to CommentTHIS NEWS MADE ME JIZZ MY PANTS
biff865
March 17, 2011 at 4:17PM EST Reply to CommentAlan - is that same logic (the Community logic) going to help Chuck?
sepinwall Couple of months ago, when its audience was a consistent 2.0 in the 18-49 demo, I would have said absolutely. Since then, its dipped to a new normal of around 1.7 and mostly stayed there. That's still better than The Event, The Cape and other stuff that definitely won't be back, and Greenblatt might figure it's better than a new show would do. I'd still say the odds are better than 50-50 that it's back, but I'm not nearly as confident as I was back when we did that podcast with Schwartz and Fedak.
March 17, 2011 at 4:19PM ESTMax Hopefully Greenblatt will pull a "Lost" on "Chuck" and give it one more season to wrap everything up. Give the team a known end-date so they can work towards that.
March 17, 2011 at 4:34PM ESTFoundNemo I really hadn't even considered that Chuck wouldn't be renewed; here we go with the agony again. Wouldn't it be nice if Chuck could go through renewal season even once without being chained to the bubble.
March 17, 2011 at 8:43PM ESTGraham I'm sorry but is anyone else completely bored with Chuck? I used to love it but now I'm totally apathetic towards it's renewal.
March 19, 2011 at 7:03PM ESTbelinda
March 17, 2011 at 4:23PM EST Reply to CommentSNOOPY HAPPY DANCE!
KarenX BALKI DANCE OF JOY!
March 17, 2011 at 4:34PM ESTGraham I applaud you for this Buffy reference sir.
March 19, 2011 at 7:05PM ESTChas Which, in itself, was probably a Perfect Strangers reference... no?
March 21, 2011 at 2:07PM ESTCrap. I've been trolled... haven't I. Pish Posh.
LJA
March 17, 2011 at 4:28PM EST Reply to CommentParks! Community! Yessssss! I'm joining you in that dance of joy, Alan, all the way here on the left coast.
Dante
March 17, 2011 at 4:32PM EST Reply to CommentYay!! My two favorite comedies will be back for another year!! Community and Parks & Rec!!
I feel bad for being negative, but I don't care about The Office anymore. I'm about six episodes behind in my watching, but last season and this season so far haven't been doing it for me. I hope Community lasts for as long as it's great, and then goes away quietly. I'm starting to forget how much I loved The Office a few years ago, and that's sad.
Jason Potapoff
March 17, 2011 at 4:36PM EST Reply to CommentI have to say i'm honestly surprised I thought for sure that Community wasn't going to be renewed.
ZacharyTF
March 17, 2011 at 4:39PM EST Reply to CommentMy reaction:
Victory is mine, victory is mine. Great day in the morning, people, victory is mine. I drink from the keg of glory. Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land. :)
Mark
March 17, 2011 at 4:43PM EST Reply to CommentI've been a pretty big fan of the Office since the beginning, but after last season, and most of this season, it's seems to me they have just run out of episodes to do. If it wasn't renewed, I'd be fine with it, but I suppose it will just slip lower down on my priority of shows to watch.
Great news about Community and Parks and Rec, both my favourite comedies right now.
ItsNotMe
March 17, 2011 at 4:51PM EST Reply to CommentAny word yet if P&R's coming back in the fall? Or is it too soon?
John W
March 17, 2011 at 4:53PM EST Reply to CommentYay!
Zach L
March 17, 2011 at 4:58PM EST Reply to CommentPhew. I needed this news after Louisville just ruined my bracket. Great to hear, we all need more Leonard, Magnitude, Fat Neal and Dean Pelton in our lives
March 17, 2011 at 6:08PM ESTjobert
March 17, 2011 at 4:59PM EST Reply to CommentDo we know if it's a full-season order for P&R this time?
Blaze Domingo
March 17, 2011 at 5:02PM EST Reply to CommentFantastic news! Hurray for Parks and Community!
Stacy
March 17, 2011 at 5:24PM EST Reply to CommentSo, so happy and I REALLY needed happy news today (I hate basketball sometimes...)
March 17, 2011 at 5:39PM EST Reply to CommentMore fish for Kunta!
theholyavenger
March 17, 2011 at 6:06PM EST Reply to CommentYes. More community. I can't wait for the "clip show" episode later this season. It's sounds amazing.
velocityknown
March 17, 2011 at 6:46PM EST Reply to CommentNBC is streets behind in ratings, but streets ahead in quality programming.
March 17, 2011 at 6:49PM EST Reply to CommentI was at the office (er...) when I heard the news, and I immediately got up and started pumping my arms to the ceiling in victory. Sadly, no one else here much watches these shows, so thank god for the internet where I can exult with likeminded folk such as yourselves!
"Jabba the Hutt, Jabba the Hutt, Jabba Jabba Jabba..."
Adam You're dope.
March 17, 2011 at 8:12PM EST
March 17, 2011 at 10:41PM EST- 1
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