Dean Pelton better chose an outfit, because he has got to deliver more bad news to Jeff Winger’s study group.

It has been a tough week for Community fans. After the joyous news of the beloved cult comedy securing a renewal for a shortened fourth season, it was announced that Community would return this fall to a different time period, sandwiched in-between Whitney and Grimm on Friday nights. Besides the weird pairing, (Community goes with Whitney as peanut butter goes with salami) fans felt the sense of unease begin as Fridays are known for being death slots for adored shows. (See: Firefly)

Now Community fans have begun to suspect that this is indeed the darkest timeline as rumors surrounding the fate of showrunner Dan Harmon have been confirmed as true, Harmon will not be returning for the fourth season.

Initially NBC reported that Harmon would return in a much more diminished role, a statement that NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt seemed to support,

“I except Dan’s voice to be a part of this show somehow,” said Greenblatt. “I’m just not sure if that means him running it day-to-day or consulting on it.”

The latest development seems to suggest otherwise. In his blog Dan Harmon discredits Greenblatt, saying that he never once received any kind of phone-call from him,

“The important one is this quote from Bob Greenblatt in which he says he’s sure I’m going to be involved somehow, something like that.  That’s a misquote.  I think he meant to say he’s sure cookies are yummy, because he’s never called me once in the entire duration of his employment at NBC.  He didn’t call me to say he was starting to work there, he didn’t call me to say I was no longer working there and he definitely didn’t call to ask if I was going to be involved.  I’m not saying it’s wrong for him to have bigger fish to fry, I’m just saying, NBC is not a credible source of All News Dan Harmon.”

Harmon also tries to set the story straight about his departure,

“I’m not running Community for season 4.  They replaced me.  Them’s the facts.”

You can read the rest of Harmon’s thoughts here!

Harmon’s creativity was a major factor in making Community the show it is today, but his ousting may be understandable. Community, as die-hard fans are aware of, does not exactly have broad appeal and it is reasonable for NBC to want to try to widen the fan base a little bit. Let’s just hope it can still retain the magic that captured our hearts in the first place

After a strong three-episode season finale, (read our reviews here) it appears big changes are coming for the Greendale seven in the near future.

What do you think TVOvermind fans? How will Harmon’s departure affect the show’s future?

Community Showrunner Dan Harmon Not Returning For Season Four

An unnamed insider at CBS is claiming the network wants Charlie Sheen back on Two and a Half Men, in other news:  the Easter Bunny is real.  But seriously, the Easter Bunny is real.  Frankly I'd find the latter more likely to be true at this moment.  Radaronline is reporting the former, unnamed source and all.

Why it could be true

Winning!  It's more than a catch phrase, duh, it's a way of life for Charlie Sheen.  No doubt what Edgar Allen Poe called "The Imp of the Perverse" is at play here, but there is no denying the public's fascination with all things Charlie Sheen.  Early predictions that Sheen's hyperbolic diva fit would result in an epic crash and burn were quickly stomped into the ground by the Warlock's strangely effective media skills.  Yes, I understand that most of us are watching Sheen waiting for him to implode in some spectacular and gruesome way - but we are watching none-the-less.  Twitter records were set, Sheen soundbites seem preordained with virality, Sheen even sold out shows as an unproven stand up comedian. Who wouldn't want a part of that?  Sheen rejoining CBS and Two and a Half Men would be an event level happening, a headline that would cook at the top of the public consciousness for at least ... well... a week, maybe more.

Why it isn't true

The same reason it would be a great idea is the reason it is probably bogus: it's just so damn unlikely.  The idea that Chuck Lorre would swallow that much pride is ludicrous. Takeru Kobayashi couldn't swallow that much pride.  The epic pride swallowing alone would drive the headline tickers nuts.  Thinking that Sheen's actions could somehow translate into a ratings win for CBS is kind of like predicting what goes on inside a nuclear reaction.  They could be called enablers; they could be accused of hoaxing the whole thing for ratings; the whole thing would have so many sleazy implications it's impossible to predict whether it would be good or bad for anyone involved.  Regardless of the outcome, it seems the decision would be a bad precedent for the industry at large.  It's kind of like setting aside the whole "we don't negotiate with terrorists" thing.

Of course, as we all know, the whose situation isn't really about what CBS wants - it's about what Charlie Sheen wants.  Charlie Sheen will need to swallow pride here as well, can he do it?  To Sheen's credit, he did thank his dad for turning him in for violating his probation way back when.  If Sheen has any desire to recast some 'normalcy' into his public facade sharing a plate of crow with Lorre would certainly be a good start, but he'd need to leave his porn and cocaine infused self image behind if he wanted the public to take him seriously as an actor again - otherwise we'd all still be on the edge of our seats waiting for Sheen to hit the fan.

Update

More unidentified sources are claiming that this is true.  Horribly, impossibly, shockingly true.  This time, it looks like the rumors of the offer are coming from Sheen's camp, according to this report at Huffington Post.

NBC News reporter Jeff Rossen has tweeted:

Per my sources: CBS is happy to have Charlie Sheen back on show...IF Warner Bros, Chuck Lorre, and Sheen can settle differences.

[poll id="42"]

CBS Wants Charlie Sheen Back (?)

Seems like someone isn't "winning" so much after all.

CNN and Deadline just announced that the "tiger blooded" Charlie Sheen has offiicially been axed from Two and a Half Men "effective immediately." Here's the quick statement from Warner Bros. :

After careful consideration, Warner Bros. Television has terminated Charlie Sheen’s services on Two and a Half Men effective immediately.

Wow.

CBS also just contacted CNN to say that they haven't made any decision regarding the future of the hit sitcom, which means that it still may go on, but without Sheen as the star.

Sheen hasn't made a Tweet yet about his firing, but the last Tweet from his account is an employment opportunity to work as his intern. Excuse me, his "winning Intern with Tiger Blood," The Tweet gives a link for anyone who wants to have any part in that madness.

The troubled star has been lashing out at CBS, Two and a Half Men co-creator Chad Lorre, and Warner Bros. (all bosses of his, mind you) in the last couple of weeks and has engaged in a whirlwind of interviews with various news outlets to candidly talk about his position with the show. Sheen recently had a webcast called Charlie's Korner that premiered this weekend and his Twitter account has hit close to two million followers and counting since the account was made last Wednesday.

Despite Sheen's troubles, he's still making dough. It was recently reported that Sheen could make a million dollars a year by tweeting and promoting products through his tweets. So even though he's been fired from the #1 comedy in the nation, the man is still making tons of money.

More on this story as it develops.

UPDATE: Sheen responds to his firing via his #1 mouthpiece, TMZ.com:

"This is very good news. They continue to be in breach, like so many whales. It is a big day of gladness at the Sober Valley Lodge because now I can take all of the bazillions, never have to look at whatshiscock again and I never have to put on those silly shirts for as long as this warlock exists in the terrestrial dimension."

Sigh.

Thoughts?

Sources: CNN, Deadline, TMZ

It's Official. Charlie Sheen Has Been Axed From "Two and a Half Men" - Update: Sheen Responds

Jon Gosselin’s behavior has been sort of an enigma lately, one might say it is the defacto enacting of that great aphorism “biting the hand that feeds you.”  Well, as it turns out that may be truer than anyone would have thought – Jon has every reason in the world to get fired off Jon & Kate Plus 8.  As a matter of fact, I think you should all start getting a feel for the new title: Kate Plus 8.  It does have a ring to it?  Doesn’t it.

Jon’s bad boy behavior, womanizing, and general douchebaggery has puzzled folks.  Why is a guy who became famous as a sort of super-dad suddenly acting like a two bit rockstar in a foot-race to contract herpes?  Well, for starters, life isn’t as rosy for Jon as we may think.  Turns out he quickly blew his share of the show money last season, and this season was cut out of financial control by a court order after he was found to be ‘irresponsible.’  Ouch.

Lately, Jon’s fame-seeking girlfriend Hailey Glassmen has been finishing the job he started, calling TLC “The Lying Channel,” and insinuating that Jon & Kate Plus 8 viewers were morons for not moving on and getting over the breakup.  She also indirectly dissed the plus 8 by saying their happiest times were when it was just the two of them.  Cripes lady.

Jon seems to be working overtime lately when it comes to pissing off TLC by dressing up tip to toe in designer duds, prompting the network to blur 90% of his body.  Now word comes from TMZ that Jon has been negotiating to appear on another reality show – the negotiations themselves are probably a violation of his TLC contract – called “Divorced Dad’s Club.”

At first blush, that may seem like a solid plan for Jon, but what would the legal ramifications be for Jon if he were to willfully break his contract with TLC to the detriment of their show.  I’m no lawyer, but if Jon Diva’d out because he was scheming to pad his bank account wouldn’t TLC have legal recourse?

source: TMZ

Jon Gosselin Wants TLC to Fire Him?!

As many expected, Chima's bad behavior following the eviction of fellow Big Brother housemate Jessie has gotten her canned from the show.  There was all sorts of hoopla after the latest Big Brother eviction, particularly after Chima called fellow housemate Jeff - who had used his Coup de'etat powers to supplant her picks for eviction - a terrorist. Yipes.  More raw nerve antics took place with Chima throwing her mic in a pool and refusing to follow direction from Big Brother producers.  CBS issued a brief statement just hours ago confirming her eviction.

"Chima has been evicted by the producers from the Big Brother house for violating the rules. She will not be part of the show's jury. Her eviction will be addressed on an upcoming broadcast of the show."

Sounds like CBS is looking for a clean break.  Wonder if that means Chima's NDA muzzle will be off as well.  Would be very interesting to here her side of the story.

Chima Booted From Big Brother 11

Hats off to Latina.com for taking the time to get the 'full' story on this latest controversy.  Fringe star Kirk Acevedo, who plays Charlie on the show, announced - in caps - that he had been fired from the show via his Facebook account. "Well boys and girls they done did yer boy wrong! They fired me off Fringe and I've never been fired in my life!!!!" Acevedo declared, setting a blogging firestorm into action.  So far, FOX has said nothing further about the supposed firing of the Fringe fan-favorite (pardon the alliteration).

My gut reaction is:  this sucks.  Charlie is one of my favorite characters on Fringe, and a big part of the chemistry of the show. He is the only face that brings a sense of history to Anna Torv's Olivia Dunham.  That said, though, and after reading what Latina.com got by digging a little deeper, I'm going to have to say that this whole outburst thing is bit too much Acevedo tantruming. Acevedo admitted to Latina.com that his option for renewal was not picked up.  In other words, he was passed over - not fired.   “It’s called not picking up my option. But at the end of the day, you got fired!" Acevedo told Latina.com. Again, a big mistake, but his reaction certainly does no service to the people on the show who will go on without him.

No doubt the production passed on Acevedo because of mounting pressure in the industry to bring budgets down.  Fringe has already moved its production to Vancouver, cutting a cast member or two seems like painfully natural next steps. I'm sure it is an emotional and disappointing time for Acevedo right now - but it is kind of sad that he has fallen into the same celebrity trap as so many others these days by shooting off about it on a social networking site.  Facebook and Twitter seem to be promoting unprofessionalism amongst the celebrities of the world.

Source: Latina.com

Kirk Acevedo Fired From Fringe? The Truth Comes Out