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Season Three

  
Community season 3 dvd
  Season Three  

Premiere: September 22, 2011 — Finale: May 17, 2012 — DVD: Community The Complete Third Season    
Summary: The Study Group's third year at Greendale is their darkest year yet.
“
Season Three is about the price that you pay when you figure out that you love a group of people. That's it in a nutshell. It's about the high cost of valuing people other than yourself, and that's the path that Jeff has been on. The third chapter for him is going to be the toughest of all. When you love people, their pain is your pain. Nobody likes having to deal with hassles more than Jeff Winger, and nobody's going to have to deal with more this year.
”
Dan Harmon
The third season of the television comedy series Community premiered on September 22, 2011 on NBC, and airs on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. In this Season, Jeff is in therapy, Britta has chosen her major, Annie finally moves out of Dildopolis, Troy is pressured to join a powerful secret society, Abed's grip on reality becomes tenuous, Shirley experiences a major change in her personal and professional life, and Pierce deals with issues related to his father and his family's company. NBC announced on May 10 the show was renewed for a fourth Season and Season Three concluded a week later on May 17.



Community-emmy-nominations-banner-01
An example of Dan Harmon's self deprecating humor.

Production[]

Return[]

On March 17, 2011 NBC officially renewed the series for a third season five days after Season Two concluded. In a TV Guide interview, creator Dan Harmon promised a more serialized approach to the storytelling in Season Three, fewer "themed" episodes and hinted at the personal struggles each character would have to face. Filming began on July 25, 2011.

Cast and crew[]

Steve Basilone and Annie Mebane joined the writing crew. Writer/producers Hilary Winston and Emily Cutler left the show and moved on to other projects.

Recurring actor Jim Rash ("Craig Pelton") was promoted to a series regular. Actors Michael K. Williams ("The Wire") and John Goodman ("Roseanne") signed on to play recurring roles. Williams was cast as the study group's new biology professor "Marshall Kane" and Goodman portrayed Vice Dean Robert Laybourne, the head of Greendale's air conditioning repair school.

Guest stars included Martin Starr ("Party Down") as Professor Cligoris, Saturday Night Live regular Taran Killam as Glee Club director Cory Radison and Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad") as Gilbert Lawson an employee of Pierce's father with whom he shares a personal connection.


Returning actors included Larry Cedar, who reprised his role as Cornelius Hawthorne, Pierce's father. Cedar had briefly appeared as Cornelius in the Season Two episode "Celebrity Pharmacology 212". Comedians Jerry Minor and Rob Corddry also returned; Minor as Troy Barnes' mentor Jerry the janitor and Corddry as Jeff Winger's nemesis Alan Conner. Behind the scenes Community producer and consultant Dino Stamatopoulos again portrayed the character of Star-Burns who seemingly was killed off setting up events on the last half of Season Three.

List of cast[]


Starring

Recurring

Hiatus[]

On November 14, 2011, NBC announced their mid-season schedule and it was revealed that "Community" would not immediately return and was instead put on hiatus to come back sometime at a later date. This was done to make room for the returning "30 Rock" to take its 8:00PM EST time slot and to also move the new show "Up All Night" to Thursday from its Wednesday slot. A PSA was created by the online comedy site College Humor featuring the cast of Community. Joel McHale and Jim Rash would later appear in a NBC promo poking fun at the show and the hiatus. Despite not airing for several months, production continued as scheduled.

Fans of Community immediately began to refer to the hiatus as "The Darkest Timeline". Many of them began internet campaigns championing the show and demonstrating their support on social network sites with the rallying cry being #sixseasonsandamovie. On December 22, 2011 and January 20, 2012 flash mobs were organized by fans through facebook and other Community fan sites appearing in front of NBC studios at Rockefeller Center.

The show returns[]

"COMMUNITY_RETURNS"_Trailer!-0

"COMMUNITY RETURNS" Trailer!-0

Filming of the season concluded in mid-February 2012. On February 21, 2012, NBC made the announcement that "Community" would be returning March 15th to its regular time slot at 8:00PM. A trailer was released to promote the show's return. The shows first episode back, "Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts", earned it a 2.2/7 ratings among the 18-49 demographic. This was its highest ratings since Season One. The show finished airing the final three episodes on May 17 2012.

Promotion[]

Season Three trailer[]

On September 2011, NBC posted a trailer promoting the show called "The Darker Side of Community". Using footage from previous Seasons it presented the comedy in a dramatic fashion teasing the darkness to come in Season Three.


"The Brotherhood of Man"[]

While still on hiatus, The Community cast took part in a NBC promotional video called "The Brotherhood of Man". They appeared in a musical number alongside other NBC shows "30 Rock", "The Office" and "Parks and Rec". It aired during Super Bowl XLVI pre game show and the segment seemed to have been shot during the filming of the episode "Curriculum Unavailable".


TV Guide cover[]

During the Community's hiatus, TV Guide ran a fan poll on Facebook to determine which of the ten fan favorite shows selected would get the cover of an upcoming issue. On November 29, TV Guide Editor-In-Chief Debra Birnbaum contacted the cast via video that "Community" had won. Three variant covers were produced for the December issue of TV Guide as seen below.
Community!_Your_Fan_Favorites_Cover_2011!_savecommunity_sixseasonsandamovie

Community! Your Fan Favorites Cover 2011! savecommunity sixseasonsandamovie

Outtakes[]

Community_-_Season_3_Full_Outtakes

Community - Season 3 Full Outtakes

Renewal[]

Dan Harmon is fired[]

On May 10, 2012, NBC announced Community would be back for a fourth season but it was uncertain if Harmon would return as his contract with Sony was up. On May 18th, 2012 Sony Pictures Television made the official announcement that Dan Harmon would not return as showrunner and instead be made a consulting producer. He was replaced by the team of David Guarascio and Moses Port whose work included the ABC sitcom "Happy Endings".

List of Season Three episodes[]

B101 Ax    "Biology 101" September 22, 2011
Directed by: Anthony Russo - Written by: Garrett Donovan and Neil Goldman

The study group enrolls in a new class while dealing with the return of Pierce as well as Jeff's increasingly erratic behavior. Meanwhile, Dean Pelton decides to assert his authority over Vice Dean Laybourne and the Greendale Air Conditioning Annex.

GOGC-Earth 2 is visited by Earht 1    "Geography of Global Conflict" September 29, 2011
Directed by: Joe Russo - Written by: Andy Bobrow

With the help of Jeff and the study group, Annie faces off against a new rival in a model UN showdown. Meanwhile, newly appointed security guard Chang must deal with Britta, who has returned to her activist ways.

RCT-Norwegian troll    "Remedial Chaos Theory" October 13, 2011
Directed by: Jeff Melman - Written by: Chris McKenna

The study group is invited to Troy and Abed's apartment for a housewarming party, and six different scenarios unfold based on the roll of a Yahtzee die.

3X4 Chang fire    "Competitive Ecology" October 6, 2011
Directed by: Anthony Russo - Written by: Maggie Bandur

The study group spends the entire night trying to decide their lab partners while Greendale's newest campus security guard Ben Chang investigates a vast conspiracy.

Horror Fiction 1    "Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps" October 27, 2011
Directed by: Tristram Shapeero - Written by: Dan Harmon

When Britta discovers that an anonymous personality test suggests that one of them is a homicidal maniac, she convinces each of the study group members to tell a scary story in order to determine who the possible killer is.

3x06-Gay Bash    "Advanced Gay" November 3, 2011
Directed by: Joe Russo - Written by: Matt Murray

Pierce discovers that Hawthorne Wipes have become very popular in the gay community and decides to capitalize on it with a new product and a "Gay Bash" event to be held at Greendale. Meanwhile, Troy finds himself having to choose between being a plumber or an air conditioning repair man.

3X7 Puppet show    "Studies in Modern Movement" November 10, 2011
Directed by: Tristram Shapeero - Written by: Adam Countee

The study group helps Annie move her belongings into Troy and Abed's apartment. Meanwhile, Jeff is blackmailed by Dean Pelton into spending time with him at the mall.

Documentary Filmmaking Redux Dean Pelton    "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" November 17, 2011
Directed by: Joe Russo - Written by: Megan Ganz

Dean Pelton is asked by the school board to film a new commercial for Greendale Community College; Abed films all the activities for a documentary.

3X9 Foosball players    "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism" December 1, 2011
Directed by: Anthony Russo - Written by: Chris Kula

After Jeff challenges three transfer students to a Foosball game he asks Shirley to train him for the game. Annie accidently breaks Abed's new special edition of The Dark Knight DVD.

RHM-Inspector Spacetime holiday special    "Regional Holiday Music" December 8, 2011
Directed by: Tristram Shapeero - Written by: Steve Basilone and Annie Mebane

After the Greendale Glee Club is sidelined, Abed falls under the influence of its musical director Cory "Mr.Rad" Radisson and gradually recruits the other members of the study group to replace them in the upcoming the Holiday Musical.

Hallie Berry 1999    "Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts" March 15, 2012
Directed by: Kyle Newacheck - Written by: Vera Santamaria

Andre re-proposes to Shirley and Britta and Annie quickly begin making arrangements for the wedding. Jeff must write a speech, and Troy and Abed attempt to become "normal" for the wedding. Pierce and Shirley try to get a sandwich shop installed in the cafeteria.

CI JEFF SMASH    "Contemporary Impressionists" March 22, 2012
Directed by: Kyle Newacheck - Written by: Alex Cooley

Jeff begins experiencing extreme narcissism. The group helps Abed get out of debt by impersonating various celebrities at a Bar Mitzvah.

DEOID main image    "Digital Exploration of Interior Design" March 29, 2012
Directed by: Dan Eckman - Written by: Chris McKenna

A new Subway shop opens in the cafeteria, and Shirley, Pierce, and Britta attempt to sabotage it. Meanwhile, Troy and Abed build competing blanket forts.

PAB Former best friends    "Pillows And Blankets" April 5 2012
Directed by: Tristram Shapeero - Written by: Andy Bobrow

What started as a casual disagreement about blankets and pillows blossoms into all-out war on the Greendale campus.

OOVM You are a lying junkie    "Origins of Vampire Mythology" April 12, 2012
Directed by: Steven Tsuchida - Written by: Dan Harmon

Annie, Troy, and Abed try to help Britta avoid an old flame who has returned to town while Jeff and Shirley set out to catch a glimpse of the mystery man. Elsewhere, Laybourne turns to Dean Pelton for help with his pursuit of Troy.

VSA    "Virtual Systems Analysis" April 19, 2012
Directed by: Tristram Shapeero - Written by: Matt Murray

Annie and Abed spend some quality time together in the Dreamatorium for a simulation of "Inspector Spacetime." The exercise takes a turn toward the serious, however, with examinations of the study group and insight into Abed's personality.

Law and order    "Basic Lupine Urology" April 26, 2012
Directed by: Rob Schrab - Written by: Megan Ganz

In an homage to "Law & Order'", the study group investigates a crime when someone sabotages their Biology lab experiment. When they discover the perp, Annie plans on prosecuting them to the fullest extent of Greendale's Code of Conduct.

RIP Starburns    "Course Listing Unavailable" May 3, 2012
Directed by: Tristram Shapeero - Written by: Tim Saccardo

As the study group comes to terms with the death of a classmate, Britta acts as grief counselor to the study group. Meanwhile, Chang is on a mission to increase his policing powers at the school.

CA Asylum    "Curriculum Unavailable" May 10, 2012
Directed by: Adam Davidson - Written by: Adam Countee

After the study group's expulsion from school, Abed becomes convinced that Dean Pelton is an impostor. When he is caught on the Greendale campus investigating him, he is forced to receive psychiatric treatment from Dr. Heidi or face trespassing charges.

Digital Estate Planning    "Digital Estate Planning" May 17, 2012
Directed by: Adam Davidson - Written by: Matt Warburton

Pierce and the study group pay a visit to Hawthorne Enterprises after Pierce is summoned to discuss his inheritance with his deceased father's former right-hand man, Gilbert Lawson. The study group goes with him for moral support and must all pitch in to play the video game of their life on Pierce's behalf - or risk losing his inheritance.

FCD Changs throwing a party    "First Chang Dynasty" May 17, 2012
Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar - Written by: Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson

The study group mobilizes to save Greendale and rescue a captive Dean Pelton from Chang who, along with his security force, has taken over the school. Meanwhile, Troy turns to the Air Conditioning Repair Annex to get assistance for their plans.

Photo (80)    "Introduction to Finality" May 17, 2012
Directed by: Tristram Shapeero - Written by: Steve Basilone and Annie Mebane

'Shirley and Pierce have a disagreement over their sandwich shop leading to a showdown between their lawyers Jeff and his former colleague Alan Connor in the "Greendale Summer Fun Court". Meanwhile, Vice Dean Laybourne tells Troy about his destiny at the Air Conditioning Repair Annex.

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