New 'Community' producers Moses Port and David Guarascio preview season 4
On losing Chevy Chase, preparing for senior year and whether, in hindsight, they'd have chosen to succeed Dan Harmon
The "Community" producers are new, but the faces in front of the camera remain the same.
Credit: NBC
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And the finale was actually shot as the eleventh episode, right?
David Guarascio: Yes.
How and why did that happen?
David Guarascio: You know, it just sometimes you’re just going, we knew what we wanted to do for the finale a little sooner. And we went through some like re-story breaking on one of the episodes.
Moses Port: It was production thing.
David Guarascio: Yeah, it was a production thing of…
Moses Port: The 13th.
But given that you filmed the finale first with Chevy and then you had to do other stuff without him, how much did that complicate your lives for those last one or two?
Moses Port: It complicated it a little bit, but not crushingly so. He wasn’t so integral to the story that it affected major changes. So we were able to sort of really keep them intact.
David Guarascio: One story we are able to seamlessly take him out and put Ken Jeong in it. And it worked character-wise for the story.
So it’s not like you have another actor playing Pierce in these or something.
David Guarascio: No.
It’s just Pierce is not in them.
David Guarascio: But he’s also in them because we sort of shot him out in some things even though he was no longer here at some point in time. And it was part of the mutual parting of the ways: we needed stuff from him and we got it.
But you’re already coming into this fraught situation and then on top of that, Chevy leaves. What's your reaction at that point to it?
Moses Port: To seem par for the course.
David Guarascio: Yeah. It seems like it made sense somehow that it would go down that way. I mean everything from the first three years that we weren’t involved with somehow it seems like, of course he and Dan leave both through the same season.
Moses Port: I’ll say this: it was unfortunate, but the work he did, he was great this year. He was really funny. Then we got everything we wanted from him. It was actually, it was…
David Guarascio: For us, he was very easy to work with.
Moses Port: Yeah, he did really well this year.
Let’s start with Pierce then, because I wanted to get your takes both when you started the job and then by the end of the season of what role you feel each of the characters plays on the show. So what was Pierce's role on the show and in the group as far as you were concerned?
David Guarascio: I mean, they’re not that different from fiction and real life, and that’s what Dan really established so well. And always being able to mine what’s going on in the outside reality show and put it into this sort of fictional reality of the show. So there was always something about Pierce and Chevy that feels related to everything else that’s going on. Him and what’s going around. So for that reason it’s kind of like he’s the most modular piece — you could end up not having him in there and not feeling like the chemistry has been changed as much, just because of the way he related to everyone both in real life and the way the character’s written in to the show.
What role did you see Shirley having in here?
David Guarascio: I think that she was already predetermined to be focused on her business. It was tougher, a little more narrow from that perspective. Yvette is a very funny actress and it really is an ensemble in that way, so most scenes even if it’s about one person they all are invested in each other’s stories.
Moses Port: I think maybe because her character also evolved more and matured more. She started with a greater level of maturity than everybody else, and came into this season with more of that. If you think of where the character’s been from the pilot — divorced, lost, no job really — to where she is at the end of season 3 — back together with her husband in a loving relationship, has a small business that’s working. So she’s just more set, and that was the cool way that all the characters evolved at their own pace and mature at their own pace. That allowed her to be a little bit more of a voice of wisdom this year then maybe she could be. She had real evidence behind everything that she said, because her life is working in a way that everyone else has sort of at least realized they wanted to be their goal to be that way as well.
Dan at the end of last season put all the characters in a place where if the show had ended there you would’ve felt, “Okay, well that’s an ending for a lot of them.” And you said it was a challenge with Shirley. Was it tough with any of the others? Troy grew up by the end of season three; he wasn’t like the boy anymore.
David Guarascio: Yes.
So how did you approach writing him this year?
David Guarascio: We were looking that maturation without wanting to really negatively affect the relationship with Abed, because one of the souls of the show is that relationship. It’s so pure and its just joy, so the next step in his evolvement as a man really was to be in a romantic relationship and feel like that. It’s something the shows earned over time. And not feel like we’re just doing it for story’s sake. But there’s someone in the group other than Jeff that can be in a romantic entanglement. And the show had always tapped on that a little bit now and then, so we just found it was time to bring him and Britta to a very clear place. At the end of last year was a little bit like is there something there or isn’t something there?
Moses Port: It felt like he put them in motion though, it felt like we had to address that. I mean, you’re right; they could of ended the series there but there were other things like the search for Jeff’s father, those two being together, that were certain markers that seemed an inevitability for this season.
Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupGail
February 6, 2013 at 11:00AM EST Reply to CommentReally?? Multiple pages??
sepinwall It's a 7000-word transcript. We've run into big problems in the past with long articles like this or some of Drew's Film Nerd 2.0 pieces, and breaking them into multiple pages is the easiest way to get them to load properly for everyone, every time.
February 6, 2013 at 11:03AM ESTAndrew Disagree. Use multiple pages if you want, but include a Single-page or a Print button. The lack of one is just criminal.
February 6, 2013 at 11:07AM ESTsepinwall "Criminal," you say?
February 6, 2013 at 11:10AM ESTThis is maybe the third article in close to 3 years writing for the site where I've had to use this option. It's a rare thing.
Paolo I think Andrew is overreacting a bit, but I do agree that having a Single-Page option would be nice. The New York Times has a lot of paginated articles but there's always an option for one page
February 6, 2013 at 11:19AM ESTAndrew I'm exaggerating for humorous effect! But requiring six clicks without a single-page option does hit a sore spot for lots of people who read long things on the Internet. It makes us feel you just want us for our clicks... :(
February 6, 2013 at 11:51AM ESTGuy Hitfix gets to show us 6 times as many advertisements this way. Duh.
February 6, 2013 at 4:53PM ESTSterling Mallory Archer Boo hoo. Stop being the opposite of Batman. Get a faster device or live with it. I wish all of Alan's pieces were long enough to have six pages.
February 6, 2013 at 9:29PM ESTBen Kabak Multiple pages is awful
February 7, 2013 at 11:17AM ESTRazorback
February 6, 2013 at 11:02AM EST Reply to CommentMy fears increase every time these dudes speak. I don't think they get the show. I don't think they get the fans. They certainly don't get Dan. Oh well, not like I expected this season to not be fan-fiction anyway.
Mahmoud Fayed Agreed. Definitely raised an eyebrow at how Alan had to correct him on it being season 1 and not 2 where they ended up getting 24/25 they made.
February 6, 2013 at 8:10PM ESTWendy's When a show and all it's plots and character development and stories is brought together by the writers and is filtered through one persons brain then if that show is a work of art and is obviously a genius is at work then why change?
February 6, 2013 at 8:25PM ESTThe reason they got rid of Sorkin from West Wing is because he was always behind schedule and never on budget and he was not flexable but he was the guy responsable for 4 DRAMA EMMYS!!!!!! Matt Weiner is the same and was responable for 4 DRAMA EMMYS!!! Dan Harmon is the same and may not get the Emmy's but still he is awesome!
How many times does a network have to do this? How many times does a studio have to do this?
This is so disappointing, I now get why Dan Harmon did that presentation a little while back on why Money is evil, it is not the money but the people who have it and who wield their power to screw up art!
Damn!
Sterling Mallory Archer I have the exact same worries as you guys. But it is the same actors, so i want to try to have an open mind. I just hope the perspective of knowing Dan is gone doesn't cloud my judgement more than it should. But i would still rather have Communtiy-Light than none at all. And maybe we all get super surprised.
February 6, 2013 at 9:31PM ESTGuy
February 6, 2013 at 11:23AM EST Reply to CommentFinished the first page only but the transcription is making my brain hurt.
JM Yeah, there are so many grammatical errors in the transcription that my head hurts as well.
February 6, 2013 at 1:54PM ESTKiran Thirding this, I gave up reading it on page 2.
February 6, 2013 at 8:32PM ESTJoyeful
February 6, 2013 at 11:49AM EST Reply to CommentReally? Multiple pages is that big of a deal? Geez people, talk about first world problems...
I read the whole interview, loved it. I'm a big Dan Harmon fan, but they're right in saying that Community was great because of a lot of people, not just Dan. They sound like they understood what they were undertaking, and they certainly sound like they did the best that they could. I'm looking forward to watching it - I'll reserve judgement until it airs.
Lex I took it as that too. And they're right, Community has grown a lot from season to season, changing with this or that. Nothing ever stays the same with this show and that's why I love it; it's realistic and unique in that regard.
February 6, 2013 at 12:27PM ESTIt sounds like they're focusing on the stories for the characters instead of obsessing over fan feedback or trying to keep just within the status quot, which is nice. There'll always be some that will complain, but people complained even when Dan was running the show. Complainers are expected 'cause you can't please everyone.
I'm keeping my judgement clear until the premiere too.
jenfullmoon Yeah, this still sounds as promising as it possibly can be under the circumstances, and I'll reserve judgement as well.
February 6, 2013 at 1:49PM ESTdave
February 6, 2013 at 11:51AM EST Reply to CommentAlan, on page 1 there is what I believe is a question/comment from you that isn't formatted as one. Starts with "Initially, the order was for 13 (episodes). But I have to assume when you took the job...."
sepinwall Thanks, Dave. Fixed.
February 6, 2013 at 12:03PM ESTLou
February 6, 2013 at 11:58AM EST Reply to CommentWow they really are reopening the Jeff/Britta thing. Completely unnecessary IMO. I wish they'd leave it as it is.
sepinwall I took it in a different way. Britta and Troy will be the romance, but Britta will be functioning as Jeff's therapist (as she did a couple of times last season), and that causes complications for Troy/Britta, just as Troy and Abed's friendship will.
February 6, 2013 at 12:05PM ESTTheir take on Jeff/Annie was the more surprising one, as I felt like the Dreamatorium episode really did put a bow on that idea.
LOU I hope you're right because Jeff/Britta are finally in a place where I like them. Their romance has never been something I've enjoyed watching. But their platonic banter is fantastic and very funny. I thought the opposite about the Dreamatorium episode for Jeff/Annie. I thought it tried to put a bow on that idea but failed because everything I saw on screen contradicted Annie's insistence that there was no feelings there.
February 6, 2013 at 12:12PM ESTI forgot to say thanks for the great interview. Great questions.
John I took it the same way Alan did, which seems like good comic potential to me.
February 6, 2013 at 12:46PM ESTAs for Jeff/Annie and that "bow", well, they did just come from a writer's room that felt like putting Alex and Dave back together, so...
Jon, The Earl of Hamm Sandwich I also didn't get the sense at all that the Dreamatorium episode was putting a nail in the Jeff/Britta relaysh. but any so excited for Thursday! thanks for the interview. on another note, once this leaves, the current state of the network TV sitcom will be somewhere between print newspapers and the original pets.com
February 6, 2013 at 12:59PM ESTstephrenb I never believed the Dreamatorium episode was putting a "bow" on the Jeff/Annie relationship. I just saw it more as a case of unreliable narrator on Annie's part. Either that, or Annie recognizing that her feelings weren't love, but still feelings just the same.
February 6, 2013 at 2:38PM ESTJohn, I don't see any similarities between Jeff/Annie and Alex/Dave. If anything, the reverse is true. The original pairing of Jeff/Britta didn't work so revisiting it would be like putting Alex and Dave back together. Unless I'm misunderstanding you.
Jon, I assume you mean the Jeff/Annie relationship. I don't see the connection between Jeff/Britta and the Dreamatorium episode.
Jon, The Earl of Hamm Sandwich yep, Jeff/Annie. guess I Britta'd that!
February 6, 2013 at 3:20PM ESTKaren PREACH.
February 6, 2013 at 3:29PM ESTLex
February 6, 2013 at 12:21PM EST Reply to CommentGreat interview, thanks :)
Karen
February 6, 2013 at 12:50PM EST Reply to CommentGood interview but I'm more scared than ever. I don't think they understand the show. I do not want a Jeff/Britta/Troy love triangle. No thanks. Can't we just have a romance on the show without the need for a third party? Sick of it. I was excited for Troy & Britta but now I might give this season a miss if all we've got to look forward to is Jeff and Britta getting together. Can't think of anything worse.
stephrenb Agreed. It's the fourth season and the time for jerking around with relationships is over. Draw some lines in the sand. It doesn't all have to be settled now, there can still be conflict, but let's be done with love triangles. There's plenty of story in a romantic pairing on its own.
February 6, 2013 at 2:45PM ESTAnd ITA agree about Jeff and Britta getting together. I do not understand how anyone could think that "Jeff/Britta is one of the most remarkable things that Dan has done." Really? Out of everything that Dan has done on the show, Jeff/Britta is among the most remarkable? smh
Karen Exactly. One of the best things Dan Harmon did was get rid of the Jeff/Britta romance pairing. It wasn't working. It wasn't remarkable. His concept episodes were the remarkable thing!! Picking a ship as the best thing the creator has done is scary to me and also makes me think they are saying it just to keep on his side. I don't see anything remarkable about Jeff/Britta at all. I think I'm done with Community. This is not what I signed up for.
February 6, 2013 at 3:28PM ESTSashaV3 re: Jeff/Britta is one of the most remarkable things that Dan has done."
February 6, 2013 at 4:02PM ESTI kinda agree in that it's refreshing when shows show that men and women (especially the lead characters) can be friends without falling in love with each other. Yes, there might have been feelings in the beginning but the Jeff/Britta relationship developed into an amazing friendship. They'll hookup with each other every now and then but sex doesn't mean true love, especially to thirty-something egomaniacs.
Slam
February 6, 2013 at 12:52PM EST Reply to CommentChevy Chase was always the worst actor and least funny character on the show. Good riddance.
Jon, The Earl of Hamm Sandwich I always enjoyed Pierce. what's better than a punching bag that you don't have to feel sorry for? I hate this idea that every character has to be likable except for clear-cut villains. not that you said that, but I think that view drives a lot of what people have hated about Chevy and Chang
February 6, 2013 at 1:01PM ESTSlam When Chase starred in "Fletch", I thought he was the next superstar comedian/actor; instead he disappeared then resurfaced all bloated and old and weird on Community.
February 6, 2013 at 1:51PM ESTSo maybe that's why I don't care for him.
Jon, The Earl of Hamm Sandwich yeah I hear you there! the falloff after Fletch which I also loved was incredible. although it would have shamed him, he probably should have just gone back to SNL after that LOL
February 6, 2013 at 3:19PM ESTJonas.Left Years ago, Comedy Central did a roast of Chevy Chase, and the highlight was a blistering speech by Stephen Colbert that accrately and devastaingly explained why Chevy Chase is a mediocrity and a has-been. NBC did him the favor of making him relevant again and he spent three years punishing Dan Harmon and his co-stars for it.
February 6, 2013 at 4:35PM ESTIn the first season Chevy Chase was in the first classic scene of the series - the Spanish presentation. Chase did some decent work on the show, especially season two, where he got to do a lot of different things character-wise. He was just too much a hack to see how special the show he was on was.
Slam Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but t seems Community needed a "name" actor to get the series green lit, so they hosed-off Chase ... and he was my least favorite character.
February 6, 2013 at 5:41PM ESTBut yes the Spanish presentation was HILARIOUS I gotta admit
Haik Mendelovich According to Joel McHale, our friend Chevy used racist language, and tried to fight (!) McHale on the set:
February 6, 2013 at 6:00PM ESThttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSaZd-AUzRc
Corbin
February 6, 2013 at 1:37PM EST Reply to CommentThe fourth question on the third page ("There’s been some debate..") isn't formatted as such.
Also, are the the Guarascio and Port "category" page links supposed to be there on the top of the page? It seems a bit random
Rob
February 6, 2013 at 3:47PM EST Reply to CommentOn page six, there's a question without the formatting: 'Do you feel like for those people who are acutely aware of the behind-the-scenes stuff, maybe you’re going to be held to an unfair standard?'
Jonas.Left
February 6, 2013 at 4:13PM EST Reply to CommentAm I the only one who liked season one Britta? I kind of had a crush on her. Sure, part of that is she looks like Gillian Jacobs, but i liked her earnest, if a little insufferable social coscience, too.
Victor I never had a problem with Season 1 Britta and I never understood why anyone would hate her.
February 6, 2013 at 5:12PM ESTCraig I didn't love her or hate her. I think she was maybe just too much of a "straight man." Most comedy troupes need a "straight" figure to balance the dynamic, but COMMUNITY quickly established itself as a show that worked without one (or at least, without a full-time one - various characters can fill the role in different scenarios). So Britta had to either change, or become irrelevant.
February 6, 2013 at 7:01PM ESTOaktown Girl
February 6, 2013 at 5:24PM EST Reply to CommentMy biggest concern for where the show was going when we left off was that the Abed character was becoming *too* awesome. It seemed that no matter what, Abed was always the one in the end who was the smartest, the healthiest (mentally), had the best grasp of the big picture, etc. His "awesomeness" was becoming so predictable I felt I never had a reason to really invest in his character anymore because there was never any reason to be concerned for his outcome.
Craig Did you watch season 3? I certainly wouldn't categorize Abed as mentally healthy (he was ready to saw off Jeff's arm!!! And the season ends with him vanishing into his "Dreamatorium," which the show had set up all season as detrimental to his mental health). If anything, you might complain that Abed's character got too angsty and creepy in season 3.
February 6, 2013 at 6:57PM ESTOaktown Girl Well perhaps "mentally healthy" wasn't the best way to put it. What I meant is that he seems to be always so in control and dominant, even if what he is doing seems a little crazy. We'll see where it goes. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.
February 6, 2013 at 8:16PM ESTMahmoud Fayed Yeah I'm with Craig, I was left scratching my head and wondering if she watched any of season 3 at all.
February 6, 2013 at 8:22PM ESTJonas.Left It still amazes me that they made the Evil Abed storyline work. As crazy as all the concept episodes are, the character arc of Abed being taken over by an imaginary evil twin from another dimension should have broken any semblance of reality, but they pulled it off. I can scarcely believe they had the nerve to try it. True genius.
February 7, 2013 at 2:55AM ESTtossit
February 7, 2013 at 8:11PM EST Reply to CommentHmmm...I'm not sure how I feel about how they approached everything...hopefully I can remain objective as I'm watching. I wish I could watch it without knowing about the showrunner change.
Roy G. Biv
February 8, 2013 at 10:15AM EST Reply to CommentIf Dan Harmon isn't the showrunner, then it's not Community. PERIOD. And after watching tonight's episode, my opinion has only been further confirmed.