NBC has received quite a bit of criticism over the last couple of years. They're ratings have been in the tank, but they made some moves this week regarding the 2012-2013 schedule that are very admirable.
I'm way too biased here, but the network renewed Community for a Season 4, despite it's low ratings. Why would they renew a show that isn't doing a bit of good ratings wise? Well, the ratings system is so flawed that it doesn't give you the full impact that the show actually has. It's the system in place now though, and that's what will be worked with. Community's fanbase is rabid, but they are young. Many don't watch it live. Thursday night at 7PM isn't a great television watching time anymore like it was in the days of Friends and Seinfeld. Community does have decent DVR ratings and even a larger viewership on Hulu. That's a lot of college and early 20's aged kids that make most of that up, and that's why they don't show up as a heavy hitter in the actual weekly ratings. Plus, it's quirky, smart, different, and sometimes so over the top that it's impossible to even realize what's going on. Even some of the cast members have admitted that they didn't really know what the heck they were shooting.
The order was only for 13 episodes, which will put them at 84 total. According to tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com 88 is considered the minimum amount for Monday-Friday syndication. There's no doubt that Community will be one of the first options to get an extended order should NBC sour on one of it's new sitcoms in the fall or spring. This is also not being labeled as a final season, although I think we should probably prepare for that being the case.
I love that NBC is putting faith in the popularity that this show has online. I also love that NBC is trying to make itself the comedy network. Although the ratings don't show it, it has definitely had the best sitcoms as a whole over the last 2 decades. I think they are realizing the rise of cable and understanding the dramas very rarely can compete with the likes of the less censored FX, HBO, SHOWTIME, ETC...
NBC doesn't come without flaws though. They still seem deadset on trying to have an identity in the Multi-Camera genre as they renewed Whitney, one of the more awful shows i've ever seen in my life. This is the first time a multi-camera show has made it to Season 2 on a network other than CBS since 2007. The Tim Allen show Last Man Standing pulled that off on ABC as well. Don't expect Whitney to see a Season 3, but as always I could be wrong.
After NBC pleases me with the renewal of Community, they follow that up by even more good news. Parks and Recreation will be renewed for a 5th season. At first, it was reported that it would only be a 13 episode order, but that rumor was quickly debunked as NBC announced that the Parks and Recreation Season 5 would be 22 episodes!
Parks and Recreation creator Michael Schur admitted that they had to approach the Season 4 finale "Win, Lose, or Draw" as a series finale, because their future was still up in the air. I don't think many people had any doubt about the return of Parks and Recreation, but it's a shady business.
I don't like to pit comedies and dramas up against each other, because it's such a different animal. I've said it before and i'll say it again, Parks and Recreation is my favorite sitcom of all-time. I'm in love with every character on that show. It's brilliant, heartfelt, somewhat original, has a talented cast and writing staff, and it deserves to be on the air as long as the cast and staff want to do it.
Like Community, once this show hits syndication it'll be popular to the masses, but for now it's a show not nearly enough people are viewing.
In closing, great job NBC and thank you for renewing two of my favorite shows. I hope you continue this direction of more comedy and less drama!
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