Watch the latest 'dark' trailer for Community season 5

Now with less Chevy Chase.

Cult NBC sitcom Community will return to screens for its fifth season on 2nd January under the guidance of creator and original showrunner Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty), after he was removed for season four. It's no coincidence that was the programme's weakest year.

As Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) graduated at the end of the last season, Harmon has essentially reset the show, bringing him back as a teacher. In Community's typically meta style, this 'revamp' is constantly alluded to its latest trailer - a semi-parody of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - which you can watch below.

Another production in-joke comes when pop culture nerd Abed (Danny Pudi) compares the new start to season nine of Scrubs, in which Zach Braff only appeared for the first six episodes. Troy (Donald Glover) then rants against Braff, arguing that quitting disrespected the medical series that made him. Glover, of course, will be leaving Community half way through season five.


Taking over the 8pm slot Parks and Recreation currently fills, season five of Community will debut with a double-bill, while NBC's other leading comedy Parks and Recreation will move back half an hour. The fifth season of Community welcomes back Jeff Winger and the gang without the recently departed Chevy Chase. Guest stars include Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad), Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Much Ado About Nothing), and Walton Goggins (Django Unchained).