Going into the season, things looked bleak for NBC’s “Community.” The cult favorite was picked up for only thirteen episodes–rather than the usual 22 or 24–and relegated to the Friday “death slot.”
Things were no better on the set, with the series parting ways with showrunner Dan Harmon and housing tension involving supporting player Chevy Chase, who ended up departing the show before production of the fourth season’s final two episodes.
This was not a show on the cusp of renewal.
But speaking at the TCA Winter Press Tour, NBC’s Bob Greenblatt says he is “absolutely hopeful” the show is en route to a fifth season.
“I’d love nothing more than to see it continue,” noted the NBC executive.
Thanks to some fall scheduling shakeups, the acclaimed series will return on February 7 in its old Thursday at 8PM timeslot. While that technically means the ratings standards will be higher than if the show had been airing on Fridays, NBC’s Thursday performance has been weak enough this season to give the series a chance of keeping pace.
