I’m sorry to do two columns in a row that are related to “Community” (and nearly all columns about NBC shows).
In the reasons why Donald Glover is the best, there was only a small section of why he’s so good in the show. But with Dan Harmon, the show’s creator, it’s a completely different story.
See, you get the idea that Harmon lives and breathes his show. He cares tirelessly for it. You just know. It’s because of Harmon that “Community” is both consistently one of the best shows on TV and that it never gets stagnant or falls into a routine.
Harmon works harder and cares more than probably every TV producer/writer working today and that’s why …
Dan Harmon: YOU’RE THE BEST.
“Community” has been excellent from its very start, and I think that has a lot to do with character development.
The first season was almost exclusively about building up the personas of the characters in the show, whereas now, the show likes to do themed episodes that turn into homages of classic films and satire.
Both end up working extremely well. But what I was getting at earlier is that Dan Harmon just CARES so much about his show.
Usually, on DVDs of TV seasons, the producers kind of lazily do commentary on five or six episodes, but Harmon (and a rotating group of cast and crew) did a commentary for EVERY SINGLE EPISODE of season one. EVERY EPISODE!
That takes so much time and energy and knowledge that the only way a person could conceivably do this is if they truly loved their show, and they wanted viewers to know everything about it so they love it, too.
Not to mention the complex processes the show goes through to make the episodes work.
In the latest episode (a clear fan favorite), called “Remedial Chaos Theory,” the episode explores six different timelines for how the story could play out. Harmon and company made these intense storyboards (below) for each possible timeline, which had to take days and days and many late nights to figure out.
It’s incredible the amount of time and care that the producers and Harmon, specifically put into this excellent show.
It really pays off because instead of brainless, lowest-common-denominator humor a la Two and Half Men, they produce insanely creative and interesting content with terrific writing and heart.
And that’s why Dan Harmon’s the best.