Pop-Pop and Boom! Dan Harmon will not be returning as showrunner of NBC's Community, and whether he'll remain involved at all with the series he created at remains very much in doubt. Sony Pictures Television, which produces the series with Universal Television, has closed a deal with Happy Endings writers David Guarascio and Moses Port to join Community as showrunners and exec producers. The deal comes less than a week after Vulture broke the news that Harmon hadn't been signed on for season four and that no negotiations between him and Sony had taken place. Vulture hears that now that Sony made its deal with Guarascio and Port, it plans to ask Harmon to remain involved as a writer and consultant -- but not as the person in charge of the show. (He's expected to remain a "consulting producer" no matter what). Given Sony's decision to make a deal for Harmon's replacement without telling Harmon directly, it seems a longshot that Harmon will agree to a diminished role. This is a very dark timeline, but for people familiar with the situation, it is not at all a surprising development.
And Dan released a statement on his blog here.
Update:
Nov. '09 I joined my favorite show on TV and today leave my favorite anything ever. Thanks Community, fans, and @DanHarmon. E Pluribus Anus.
— Chris McKenna (@cpmckenna) May 19, 2012
