Community reboots
It’s a good day to be a human being. Fans of Community — and its creepy asexual “human being” college mascot — can breathe a sigh of relief. The NBC comedy returns Thursday night with original showrunner Dan Harmon back at the helm for Season 5.
And thank goodness. Fans bemoaned Harmon’s muchpublicized exit at the end of the third season, and Season 4 lacked the rhythm and feel that first attracted viewers to the show.
“It’s just nice to have Dan back, because there’s a little bit of ‘we’re starting again from the beginning,’ ” Danny Pudi, who plays Abed, told website IGN.
There are some other changes. Donald Glover, who played Abed’s bromantic partner Troy, will only appear in five of this season’s 13 episodes. Jonathan Banks, of the 1980s series Wiseguy, joins the cast as criminology professor Buzz Hickey, and former The Daily Show correspondent John Oliver will return for six episodes as Professor Duncan.
Original character Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase) is now officially gone from the series, and Castle star — and proud Canadian — Nathan Fillion will guest-star as Bob Waite, the head custodian of Greendale Community College.
“It’s the fifth season, and instead of things getting a little dry and worn out, it’s sort of like everything’s been shaken up. And it keeps us all on our toes just having all these new people here,” Alison Brie (Annie) told IGN. “I think we’re all on our best behaviour.”
Thursday, 9 p.m. City/NBC