Is NBC Killing—or Saving—Community? Finale Switch-Up Offers Clues

Network confirms it is bumping quirky comedy's season finale to air during May sweeps, with three 30-minute episodes. Is this good news or bad news?

By Drusilla Moorhouse Apr 30, 2012 6:10 PMTags
Alison Brie, Joel McHale, Yvette Nicole Brown, Gillian Jacobs, CommunityLewis Jacobs/NBC

Community fans are in for a triple-treat on May 17!

Originally scheduled for May 24, NBC confirmed that Community will close out the season with not one, not two, but three episodes.

The 90-minute bonanza—airing 8-9 p.m. and concluding at 9:30—will bookend 30 Rock's season finale.

So is this good news or bad news for the quirky comedy?

Pessimists could argue that the supersize serving of Joel McHale & Co. could indicate that the network is actually burning off its last episodes in advance of a cancellation announcement, rumors of which have plagued the show since it was originally bumped from the midseason lineup.

But by moving up the Community to air during May sweeps, hopeful fans can interpret this as a sign that the network is renewing the fan favorite for a fourth season.

But that's not all: Community's revised time slot is replacing what NBC had originally scheduled as a two-hour season finale of Awake, the critically acclaimed but low-rated drama. This suggests that the network has more confidence that the comedy will attract a larger viewership.

NBC isn't commenting on the fate of Community and will announce its new fall lineup next Monday.

So what do you believe? Is the new schedule a sign of faith—or Greendale Community College's death knell?

(NBC and E! are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)