Community season 5

Community
Season 5
DVD cover
Starring
No. of episodes13
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseJanuary 2 (2014-01-02) –
April 17, 2014 (2014-04-17)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 4
Next →
Season 6
List of episodes

The fifth season of the television comedy series Community premiered on January 2, 2014, and concluded on April 17, 2014. The season consists of 13 episodes and aired on NBC on Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET as part of the network's "Comedy Night Done Right".[1][2] The season features the return of series creator Dan Harmon as showrunner, as well as the exit of cast members Donald Glover and Chevy Chase from the series. John Oliver returned as Ian Duncan after a two-year hiatus. Jonathan Banks made his introduction to the series as Buzz Hickey, a criminology professor.

NBC announced the series' cancellation in May 2014,[3] but in June 2014, Yahoo! announced it had commissioned the show's sixth and final season to be streamed online on Yahoo! Screen.[4]

Cast

See also: List of Community characters

Starring

Recurring

Guest stars

Episodes

See also: List of Community episodes
Season five episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code [5]		U.S. viewers
(millions)
851"Repilot"Tristram ShapeeroDan Harmon & Chris McKennaJanuary 2, 2014 (2014-01-02)5013.49[6]
Jeff returns to Greendale a year after graduation to research a potential lawsuit after his practice goes under. While doing this, he finds out what has happened to his friends within the study group since his departure.
862"Introduction to Teaching"Jay ChandrasekharAndy BobrowJanuary 2, 2014 (2014-01-02)5023.49[6]
Jeff begins his teaching job at Greendale and is shown the ropes by Professor Hickey, with whom he shares an office. While Jeff learns to adjust to the expectations of being on staff, Abed convinces the rest of the study group to take Professor Garrity's new class on whether Nicolas Cage is "good" or "bad".
873"Basic Intergluteal Numismatics"Tristram ShapeeroErik SommersJanuary 9, 2014 (2014-01-09)5053.58[7]
Jeff and Annie try to solve the case of the Ass Crack Bandit, who drops coins into people's pants. Though the suspect is quickly caught, Jeff believes that perhaps the real Bandit is still at large. Meanwhile, the team receives bad news about Pierce Hawthorne.
884"Cooperative Polygraphy"Tristram ShapeeroAlex RubensJanuary 16, 2014 (2014-01-16)5033.07[8]
The study group undergo a polygraph test as part of the conditions of Pierce's will, but it soon turns sour as the group's secrets come to light, and Troy makes a major decision in order to satisfy the conditions of the bequeathing.
895"Geothermal Escapism"Joe RussoTim SaccardoJanuary 23, 2014 (2014-01-23)5043.02[9]
To honor Troy's last day at Greendale, Abed organizes a campus-wide game of "The Floor Is Lava."
906"Analysis of Cork-Based Networking"Tristram ShapeeroMonica PadrickJanuary 30, 2014 (2014-01-30)5063.01[10]
Annie and Hickey embark on a mission to start improving Greendale, but it soon turns into a labyrinthine chain of favors. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang help set up a dance, and Abed connects with a fellow student.
917"Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality"Tristram ShapeeroDan GutermanFebruary 27, 2014 (2014-02-27)5072.56[11]
Jeff helps Dr. Duncan try to win over Britta's affection. Abed and Hickey face off after Abed accidentally ruins some of Hickey's drawings, and Chang finds himself in the middle of a ghostly mystery.
928"App Development and Condiments"Rob SchrabJordan Blum & Parker DeayMarch 6, 2014 (2014-03-06)5082.79[12]
The introduction of an app that allows people to rate others causes the campus to devolve into a caste-based society.
939"VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing"Tristram ShapeeroDonald DiegoMarch 13, 2014 (2014-03-13)5092.77[13]
Jeff, Shirley, and Hickey discover a large stash of unused textbooks, but soon turn on each other when deciding the best way to sell them. Meanwhile, Annie and Abed decide they need a new roommate, and play an old-west themed VCR game to decide between Annie's brother Anthony or Abed's girlfriend Rachel.
9410"Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons"Joe RussoMatt RollerMarch 20, 2014 (2014-03-20)5103.32[14]
The study group organizes a game of Dungeons & Dragons so that Prof. Hickey can reconnect with his estranged son, Hank (David Cross).
9511"G.I. Jeff"
"Government Issue Jeff"		Rob SchrabDino StamatopoulosApril 3, 2014 (2014-04-03)5132.50[15]
The entire group becomes part of the cast of a classic "G.I. Joe" cartoon from the 1980s.
9612"Basic Story"Jay ChandrasekharCarol KolbApril 10, 2014 (2014-04-10)5122.56[16]
When Greendale is appraised to be an asset instead of a liability, the school board immediately decides to sell it to Subway. Abed, Annie, and the Dean find a secret that may save the school, and Jeff must decide where his allegiance lies.
9713"Basic Sandwich"Rob SchrabRyan RidleyApril 17, 2014 (2014-04-17)5112.87[17]
With Greendale hours away from sale, the group searches for the hidden lab of the school's first dean, believing there is a treasure there which can save the school.

Production

On May 10, 2013, NBC announced it had renewed the series for a fifth season, to consist of 13 episodes.[18] The season does not feature original cast member Chevy Chase in a regular role, as he left the series near the end of the fourth season by mutual agreement between the actor and network.[19] Chase does appear in a guest role during the first episode of the season, and the character's exit from the show is finalized in "Cooperative Polygraphy." Donald Glover, who portrays Troy Barnes, only appears in five of the thirteen episodes.[20] Jonathan Banks appears in eleven of the season's thirteen episodes as criminology professor Buzz Hickey.[21] John Oliver, who played Ian Duncan throughout the first two seasons, reprises his role in season five for seven episodes.[22] Rob Corddry reprises his role as lawyer Alan Connor in the season premiere.[21] Walton Goggins guest stars in "Cooperative Polygraphy" as a mysterious man named Mr. Stone, "with a dangerous accusation, a tantalizing offer and a devious plan that will change the group forever."[23] Other guest stars in the season include Vince Gilligan, Mitchell Hurwitz, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Brie Larson, Nathan Fillion, Robert Patrick, Paget Brewster, Kumail Nanjiani, Katie Leclerc, and Ben Folds.[24] David Cross guest stars in an episode that serves as a sequel to season 2's "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons", playing Hank Hickey, the estranged son of Professor Hickey.[25] B. J. Novak has a cameo in the second part of the two-part season finale.[26]

Season 5 began shooting on August 19, 2013.[27]

The fifth season marked the return of series creator Dan Harmon as showrunner and executive producer after he was fired from the show after the end of the third season. Former writer-producer Chris McKenna also returned as an executive producer. Season 4 showrunners Moses Port and David Guarascio did not return for season 5, as their contracts were for one year.[28] The only other returning writers are Andy Bobrow and Tim Saccardo. Meanwhile, Annie Mebane, Steve Basilone, Maggie Bandur, and Ben Wexler all departed to join The Michael J. Fox Show, while Megan Ganz joined Modern Family.[29][30] Writers who joined for the fifth season include Parker Deay and Jordan Blum (American Dad!), Alex Rubens (Key & Peele), Ryan Ridley (Rick and Morty), Dan Guterman (The Colbert Report), and Matt Roller (Funny or Die).[31] Other writers include Carol Kolb, Briggs Hatton, Clay Lapari, Erik Sommers, Monica Padrick and Donald Diego.[32][33]

Reception

The fifth season received strongly positive reception from television critics and is considered an improvement over the previous season. The season received a Metacritic score of 80 out of 100 based on 15 reviews, signifying "generally favorable reviews".[34] On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 93% with an average score of 8.5 out of 10 based on 42 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "With Dan Harmon back as its show runner, Community returns with a familiar new energy and more fun, exciting adventures for the Greendale gang."[35]

Verne Gay of Newsday gave the back-to-back episodes an "A" grade, remarking that the first of the two ("Repilot") was funny, while the latter ("Introduction to Teaching") was "simply hilarious."[36] Alan Sepinwall, writing for HitFix, remarked that the show "is back, and back to being itself."[37]

DVD release

The fifth season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 5, 2014 (2014-08-05)[38] and in region 2 on July 21, 2014 (2014-07-21).[39]

References

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  3. ^ Goldman, Eric (May 9, 2014). "Community Cancelled by NBC". IGN. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
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