It is a Grantland article about the creator and former showrunner of "Community", Dan Harmon.
I hate "Community". Just hate it. Completely don't get it. Never have. I've tried. It's not like I haven't tried. But there is nothing good to me about that show. And guess what? America agrees with me. Cause America doesn't watch that show.
And yet, there is this small, annoying, very loud, tiny fan base for this show. They are terrible people. It's not just that they think it's the greatest show ever, it's that they think you must think it's the greatest show ever. They're kind of like Mormons, or Scientologists. They feel the need to convert all of us. But we just want to be left alone.
And they felt some kind of personal slap in the face when their messiah, this Dan Harmon fellow, was fired and replaced.
But I think they would feel very differently if they ever had to work for Dan Harmon. If they ever had to sit in a writer's room 'till 4 in the morning, every morning, waiting for his genius to be done. Moreover, they would feel differently if Dan Harmon was working for them. Wasting their money. Not listening to anyone. Delivering low ratings.
That being said, I'm not disputing the notion that the guy is a genius. He seems to be. He certainly can do things I can't do. But the problem is, in television, the showrunner can't just be a genius. The showrunner also has to be the boss of a company. And this guy should not be the boss of any company. If any other network gives him the keys to another series, it will end in disaster. And I think this article sort of explains why.
I don't think it's that great of an article, personally. But everyone else seems to be linking to it. I guess you have to believe in this guy to enjoy it. But all I can think of is how pissed I would be if I had to hang out with him.
5 comments:
I've heard this a couple times in the past week. That Community has annoying, very loud fans. Is this what you've experienced in real life or online? I enjoy the show, and so do many of my friends, but we don't talk about it any more than any other shows we love. Guess I'm just lucky.
Usually when I say things like this, I'm talking about online. I try not to actually talk to people.
But yes, the folks on twitter, and the TV critcs - Sepinwall, Van Der Wuerff, and the rest.
#Sixseasonsandamovie. I am one of the people who loves this show. But it is a show that rewards people who pay attention to minutiae, even though the specific minutiae is lame. But hey, I like Cougartown, too. Penny can! (Maybe I just like shows with catchphrases.)
I agree with all your reviews - except this. I love Community, but don't try to convert any non-watchers. And it's not the greatest show ever, just a fun 22 minutes. Dan Harmon sounds impossible to work with based on that article.
But he also seems to recognize that he kinda sucks as a boss.
Do you ever worry about posts like this one or the one about Lena Dunham hurting you professionally? Maybe I just know a lot of ass kissers, but the comedy writers I know would never trash a showrunner if there was a chance it would get back to them.
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