The very vocal fans of "Community" met their favorite show's new showrunners at the NBC comedy's Comic-Con panel Friday, and David Guarascio and Moses Port reassured the masses that "Community" will "stay weird" in the wake of creator Dan Harmon's firing.
"A couple of months ago, we were a lot like you: just huge fans of the show who thought it was one of the most special things on television," Guarascio said at the panel discussion. "Suddenly we're here, helping to keep it going. The only thing we care about is keeping it this weird, wonderful gem that it's always been. That's not gonna change."
Joel McHale jokingly told journalists in the Comic-Con press room before the panel that he sat through a nine-hour briefing about Harmon's dismissal.
"I got most of the points, I was tested on it," McHale quipped. "As you've probably heard, Dan created the show and gave me the job of a lifetime and I think it's the greatest show in the history of television. It was such a strange time. I wanted Dan back, but obviously a lot of stuff changed and it's different."
McHale said he knows Port and Guarascio from the NBC "IT Crowd" pilot he did in 1997. "They're terrific guys and really good and a lot of the writers are back. So it's definitely like this strange transition time, but I'm still insanely excited to do the show. He will be missed and it's gonna be interesting to see how it all goes, but just talking to the writers -- they're breaking stories and they sound great."
However, the show will be different. "It's like if you have a pool that's chlorine then you switch over to salt water, right? It's different, but it's still the same pool and it's still water," McHale said. "I actually can't really -- of course it'll be different, but we're not back at work yet." "Community" will have a new crew, McHale said, because directors Anthony and Joe Russo will be working on NBC's "Animal Practice."
"I can't really tell you what's different yet, but it's different in that I know that it will be. Maybe I'm speaking too soon in that I haven't read a thing," he said, before ending with a joke. "I know that all the scripts will be in German, which is odd. I don't know why."
Season 4 will finally see the arrival of Jeff's (Joel McHale) father and McHale joked with the panel that Eddie Murphy will be starring in the role.
McHale also told the crowd he hopes to do another anime episode and series writer Megan Ganz said the show has plans to bring back the German group with Nick Kroll.
And fans can rest assured: Britta is still the worst.
Other Season 4 details: Pierce's mansion will be revealed, there will be more animation in the premiere episode and there will be an "Inspector Spacetime" convention. And what about graduation? It could happen.
