Community and Parks and Recreation are both critical darlings that draw a fraction of the eyeballs of dreck like The Big Bang Theory or 2 Broke Girls on CBS. They both started around the same time as each other. They both endured a few creative shakeups in their time, only to earn season renewals at the last possible second each year. Both are the only shows on NBC worth watching. Both are losing pretty significant actors during their next seasons, and both I think will be ok.
Donald Glover’s Troy Barnes, will be departing Community after the fifth episode of this season. Dan Harmon, the showrunner, who was once ousted from his show, only to return this season, has gone on to say that while it stinks, he’s not going to drag Troy’s exit out. He said he will simply “pull the bandaid off” and address Troy’s leaving head-on. I think that’s totally the right move. It was weird last season knowing Chevy Chase left the show already, but they had to explain away his absence in each episode. I didn’t care for his character, but I got by. With Troy, and his significant other Abed, I feel like a show that is about the conventions of TV would finally collapse on itself if Abed had to continually make excuses for the whereabouts of Troy. Dan Harmon is more than able to write Troy’s exit in a way that is smart, makes sense, and maintains the Community rebel-streak. I don’t think it’s going to be easy, but I do think it might be time to end the show, before it loses Alison Brie or some other cast-member poised to become a bigger star.
Over on Parks and Recreation, Rashida Jones’ Ann Perkins and Rob Lowe’s Chris Traeger, are both leaving the show after the thirteenth episode of this season. They’ll at least make it to the half-way point. The way I see their exits is simple: it’s not really a big deal at all. I love both of them as actors, but Parks has an embarrassment of riches to the degree that they could drop these guys and not miss a beat. Ann unfortunately never really got the opportunity to really shine on Parks. She was in far more of a central role early on, but once the show realized it was going to be about small town politics, she didn’t have a place on the show, without it feeling forced. She was oddly working for the city somehow and was only prominent if it had to do with who she was dating. She eventually just became the glorified best friend to Amy Poehler’s Leslie. Not necessary to be there.
Chris Traeger, I think might be missed a bit more, but even then I doubt he’ll be missed that much. He always seemed like a tertiary character, who got more time because he was Rob Lowe. Even when his character along with Adam Scott’s Ben became regulars, it always seemed like the writers were fishing for something for him to do, or some way for his peppiness to be contrasted with Ron Swanson. It was always pretty funny, but when a show is as deep as Parks, you can lose a character like Chris. The most significant thing he’s done really is date Ann, so them leaving at the same time will probably have a lot to do with their attempt to have a baby. It will be a nice midseason finale when they leave together, and the show can get back to Ron dealing with becoming a first-time father, Tom’s Rent-A-Swag, April going to vet school, Andy being awesome, Ben and Leslie’s relationship, whatever Donna is up to, Jerry being a loser, and Jam being the worst. See? There’s too much going on for me to care they are leaving.
Donald Glover is young, and full of talent. He’s deciding to focus more on music. I work on a college campus, and the college demo love this guy, so if he wants to get more serious, he’s got an army of support between the ages of 18-22. He also has a development deal at NBC, so he can get his own show if he wants. If I were him I’d leave too. Rashida Jones is an excellent comedic straightwoman. She is beautiful, and can be starring in way more movies if she wanted to. You could argue, she’s missed out on some great roles, just by sticking to TV. She’s done film, but not nearly to the degree she could. Rob Lowe leaves every show he’s been on after five year or so, so we should come to expect this from him. He’s also got a development deal at NBC, so why sit back and be the 6th best person on a show, when you can have a series centered around you completely. The dude is Rob Lowe. At the end of the day he’s never losing.
I’ll be sad to watch the fifth and thirteenth episodes of these shows this season but I’ve learned the sooner you become ok with your TV shows changing, the better off you will be. You will be ok I promise. Also, go outside!
About Russ Stevens
Russ Stevens is an editor and writer at Rookerville and a guidance counselor at Nyack HS. He mostly writes about either loving or hating things. In his spare time, he performs Improv comedy with his troupe Priest and The Beekeeper and is a co-producer of their monthly variety show Pig Pile. He loves all the New York sports teams that are historically bad, and he hates lateness more than anything in the world.