NBC sitcom Community moved one step closer to its much feared cancellation today after it was announced that the show has been pulled from the network’s mid-season line-up, presumably due to its less than stellar numbers.
The critically-acclaimed-but-inexplicably-low-rated sitcom will be replaced by new episodes of 30 Rock starting January 12th. 30 Rock‘s traditional 9:30 PM slot will be filled by Will Arnett/Christina Appelgate/Maya Rudolph vehicle Up All Night.
Meanwhile, critically-maligned-but-inexplicably-popular sitcom Whitney will move to Wednesdays, where it will air in an 8-9 PM “comedy block” with the Laura Prepon-starring Chelsea Handler book adaptation formerly known as Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that it spoke with sources who claim that Community will return to NBC “at a date to be determined,” but the New York Times‘ Brian Stelter says that while the show has not been formally canceled, “its chances of being renewed next year are painfully low.”
There may however be a silver lining to the story if the decision to hold the show back is a conscious effort to try and keep it on the air by having it not return until the summer where it would face much less competition.
