Community thread

[Popinjay-Z]

To be fair the showrunner still has final say over EVERYTHING, from the words in the script to the color of their clothes. Everything goes through the showrunner regardless of the fact that the writers room changes. Not to mention as it was eluded to above, many showrunners re-write the hell out of scripts, without crediting themselves.

It should be "alluded to" not "eluded to." I am now your showrunner mezmorized. I like your post a lot. Solid work throughout, but I'm changing your avatar to a more recent Glaser reference, and I'm gonna give you bigger boobs, even if you're not a woman. Bigger boobs for all!

Okay, I lied. I'm the guy from the network, not the new showrunner. But still, try to make the new boobs work. Ratings are in the toilet.

[ErikNielsen]

To be fair the showrunner still has final say over EVERYTHING, from the words in the script to the color of their clothes. Everything goes through the showrunner regardless of the fact that the writers room changes. Not to mention as it was eluded to above, many showrunners re-write the hell out of scripts, without crediting themselves.

Oh, I'm not saying that the showrunner doesn't apply the final coat of paint or whatever to the script. And trust me, I know Harmon was re-writing or authorizing rewrites -- in fact, a lot of rewrites, during production, to the point that production was regularly delayed in Season 3. The rewrites are one of the main reasons the show went over budget.

But yeah, I'm not saying any of this to criticize Dan Harmon or diminish his role in the series. He did about as much as it is possible for a head writer to do in the American television format (as opposed to something like Louie -- which I know some of you like, and I like Louis CK's stand-up, so I don't want to argue over it or anything -- or a British comedy where it's plausible for the same person or two-person team to write an entire six-episode season). But that still amounts to... maybe 25% of the day-to-day writing? And, of course, the vast majority of the original premise. (But the premise was developed from that sketch in the writer's room by a bunch of people. And they still have the premise now -- they don't suddenly lose the groundwork of the first three seasons.) Either way, most of what got on the screen was things that Harmon polished a little or just signed off on.

This is not even taking into account what happens to the scripts after they get out of the writer's room -- on Community, the credited writer for an episode is sent to set to supervise production, but they tend to stay pretty hands-off in my experience. (Sometimes, they might correct a line reading or offer an alternate scene ending. That kind of thing.) And I am given to understand that Harmon supervised the editing to some extent, though who really knows what happens in post-production?

I mean, what I'm saying is, television -- especially 22-episode network television -- is not a medium where auteur theory has any place or makes the slightest bit of sense. You can go on believing that your favorite shows spring fully formed from the brain of a single person, but that is kind of a dumb thing to think, and you shouldn't be surprised when people who actually work in television point out that it's kind of a dumb thing to think. Not even saying you're a dumb person -- I'm sure you're not. I'm sure I think some things that are pretty dumb too, and I don't even know they're dumb.

[Monty]

edit: i meant m. albie, not a. sorkin.

Although Sorkin is one of the guys who claims that he wrote every word of his shows, no matter whose name appeared on the credits. He specifically got in a public argument with Rick Cleveland (a West Wing writer) on the subject, when Rick Cleveland had the temerity to claim to have written part of the West Wing episode "In Excelsis Deo" (which won Sorkin and Cleveland an Emmy). This MAY have resulted in the hack writer character on Studio 60 being named Ricky Tahoe.

[mezmorized]

Oh, I'm not saying that the showrunner doesn't apply the final coat of paint or whatever to the script. And trust me, I know Harmon was re-writing or authorizing rewrites -- in fact, a lot of rewrites, during production, to the point that production was regularly delayed in Season 3. The rewrites are one of the main reasons the show went over budget.

But yeah, I'm not saying any of this to criticize Dan Harmon or diminish his role in the series. He did about as much as it is possible for a head writer to do in the American television format (as opposed to something like Louie -- which I know some of you like, and I like Louis CK's stand-up, so I don't want to argue over it or anything -- or a British comedy where it's plausible for the same person or two-person team to write an entire six-episode season). But that still amounts to... maybe 25% of the day-to-day writing? And, of course, the vast majority of the original premise. (But the premise was developed from that sketch in the writer's room by a bunch of people. And they still have the premise now -- they don't suddenly lose the groundwork of the first three seasons.) Either way, most of what got on the screen was things that Harmon polished a little or just signed off on.

This is not even taking into account what happens to the scripts after they get out of the writer's room -- on Community, the credited writer for an episode is sent to set to supervise production, but they tend to stay pretty hands-off in my experience. (Sometimes, they might correct a line reading or offer an alternate scene ending. That kind of thing.) And I am given to understand that Harmon supervised the editing to some extent, though who really knows what happens in post-production?

I mean, what I'm saying is, television -- especially 22-episode network television -- is not a medium where auteur theory has any place or makes the slightest bit of sense. You can go on believing that your favorite shows spring fully formed from the brain of a single person, but that is kind of a dumb thing to think, and you shouldn't be surprised when people who actually work in television point out that it's kind of a dumb thing to think. Not even saying you're a dumb person -- I'm sure you're not. I'm sure I think some things that are pretty dumb too, and I don't even know they're dumb.

Putting your inelegant way of calling me dumb aside, I still think it would be dumb to think nothing is going to change. DUMB!

I guess I'm saying I trust the man who's been at the helm of the show for the past 3 years over someone else. I guess that makes me dumb. DUMB!

How's that popinjay-z?

[Popinjay-Z]

I wouldn't change a word, though I'd appreciate it if you capitalized my name properly next time. It's Popinjay-z, not popinjay-z. Show me some respect. After all, I AM YOUR FUCKING BOSS!!!

P.S. I'm putting my name on your post and collecting all the Emmy's for it. That's showbiz kid. Deal with it.

[mezmorized]

I wouldn't change a word, though I'd appreciate it if you capitalized my name properly next time. It's Popinjay-z, not popinjay-z. Show me some respect. After all, I AM YOUR FUCKING BOSS!!!

P.S. I'm putting my name on your post and collecting all the Emmy's for it. That's showbiz kid. Deal with it.

Aww shucks POPINJAY-Z. Better?? Remember I'm dumb.

[Popinjay-Z]

I didn't say ALL CAPS for my name, dummy! Pay attention or you gonna see so much red ink on your next post!

I'm stopping this gag now before a moderator scolds me for getting things off topic. I like "Community" very much and look forward to its return. And mezmorized is my favorite staff writer, even if he's getting too big for his britches.

[aenemaTron]

I'm stopping this gag now before a moderator scolds me for getting things off topic.

Hahahahahahaaahhh!

mez- I don't think anyone would disagree about things changing.

[nathansmart]

(as opposed to something like Louie -- which I know some of you like, and I like Louis CK's stand-up, so I don't want to argue over it or anything

This sounds exactly like someone who wants to argue over Louie.

[ErikNielsen]

No, I actually don't. I watched a couple episodes, decided it wasn't my kind of thing, nor was it trying to be my kind of thing, and that's all. I may go back to it at some point if I ever feel like I'm in a mood for the kind of thing that it is, because I'm sure it's a very good example of that kind of thing. I'd have to watch a lot more of it to have an informed opinion on it -- and I'm not nearly self-centered enough to presume that, because an artist has done some things that I love, he's under any obligation to keep doing those things, especially when (as in this case) he is clearly doing what he wants to do, and it seems to be connecting with a lot of people. I saw his stand-up special from last year, and really liked that, so it's not like he's suddenly become unfunny to me or anything... he's just doing some things with pacing etc. that don't fit with my personal taste. That's all -- nothing to see here.

(Huh. Titusville. I grew up in Palm Bay.)

[stevenac]

I'm disappointed that the repeated use of the phrase "kind of thing" didn't continue throughout that post.

[nathansmart]

No, I actually don't. I watched a couple episodes, decided it wasn't my kind of thing, nor was it trying to be my kind of thing, and that's all. I may go back to it at some point if I ever feel like I'm in a mood for the kind of thing that it is, because I'm sure it's a very good example of that kind of thing. I'd have to watch a lot more of it to have an informed opinion on it -- and I'm not nearly self-centered enough to presume that, because an artist has done some things that I love, he's under any obligation to keep doing those things, especially when (as in this case) he is clearly doing what he wants to do, and it seems to be connecting with a lot of people. I saw his stand-up special from last year, and really liked that, so it's not like he's suddenly become unfunny to me or anything... he's just doing some things with pacing etc. that don't fit with my personal taste. That's all -- nothing to see here.

(Huh. Titusville. I grew up in Palm Bay.)

Even more stuff that sounds exactly like someone who wants to talk about it.

I just moved to Titusville in August for work so I don't know a ton about the surrounding areas. I've heard some of my students talk about Palm Bay but I can't remember why they mentioned it. So, ErikNielsen grew up in Palm Bay and became a cult favorite star on an NBC sitcom and Daniel Tosh graduated from Astronaut High School in Titusville (the school I'm a teacher at) and has a hit show on Comedy Central. What's in store for the student in my class that thinks Chris Brown's neck tattoo is romantic? The Tonight Show?

[isoS]

That, or their very own neck tattoo at least.

[ErikNielsen]

I did not know that about Daniel Tosh. I knew Carrot Top was from Cocoa, and Darrell Hammond was from Melbourne. So, you know, a pretty... varied range of comedians from that county.

And no, I really don't want to get into a discussion about Louie. I have a lot of experience saying, "hey, this isn't what I like this guy to do, but it's what he wants to do, and I'm sure he'll get back to doing what I like at some point." I mean, my favorite musician is Elvis Costello. If you're reading any deeper feelings into it than that, I assure you I did not intend them.

[BillBrasky]

NBC announced their midseason schedule. Community will return Thursday, February 7th at 8 PM.

[Barmy Man]

Sure it will.

[Natalie Portmanteau]

Today is not the same without a halloween episode to look forward to.

[MJEH]

I'm sorry, but will someone please tell me exactly why Chevy Chase is on this show?

Fill in the blank:

"Chevy Chase is on 'Community' because he adds so much _______ to the show."

[simpgeek]

[metal2000]

Today is not the same without a halloween episode to look forward to.

C'mon, a Halloween episode in February makes PERFECT SENSE!!! Now you just have 4 months more to look forward to it.