Save the date, Community fans. On May 17, NBC will air the final three episodes of the low-rated, passionately loved comedy. The first episode will air at 8 p.m., as usual, followed by an episode of 30 Rock. Then, strangely, the final two episodes of the Community season will air back-to-back at 9 p.m. What does it all mean? Critics are divided. Community is among several NBC series that has yet to be renewed for next season, and the decision could still go either way. Is this odd bulk scheduling an auspicious sign of renewal, or the precursor to a death sentence?
It's good news: May 17 is right in the middle of the lucrative, ultra-competitive TV sweeps season, when networks try to juice their ratings so they can sell ads throughout the year based on those higher numbers, says Drusilla Moorhouse at E! Online. Clearly, NBC has faith in Community, as networks typically save the best episodes of their best series for sweeps.
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