'Community' Returns Jan. 9 As NBC Cancels Two New Shows

NBC’s cult-classic sitcom “Community” will return January 2014, the network announced this weekend. In addition to “Community’s” return, NBC has canceled its two lowest-rated new shows, “Ironside” and “Welcome to the Family.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Community” will premiere with two back-to-back episodes at 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 9. After its inaugural week, it will settle into the 8 p.m. timeslot weekly, leading in to “Parks and Recreation.”

Ousted “Community” creator Dan Harmon will also be returning on Jan. 9, taking back over the show’s executive producer position once again after spending a season away from the show. Though Harmon was fired for his overbearing management style at the end of the show’s third season, fans and critics reacted negatively enough to “Community” season 4 that production company Sony decided to rehire Harmon.

While NBC has seen its overall ratings jump dramatically thanks to Sunday Night Football and reality TV singing competition “The Voice,” many of its scripted shows have performed poorly this season. “Ironside,” a remake of a 1970s drama about a wheelchair-bound detective, underperformed more than most other shows, and has been canceled by NBC as a result.

While the original iteration of “Ironside” ran for eight years and 199 episodes, NBC’s 21^st century revival lasted only three episodes before it was canceled due to low ratings. “Dateline” will take the place of “Ironside” starting Oct. 30 at 10 p.m. ET.

NBC also canned the sitcom “Welcome to the Family,” citing its 0.8 performance in advertiser-favored demographics. “Welcome to the Family” was NBC’s lowest comedy debut for the 2013 season and was a clear choice for cancellation. It will be replaced by back-to-back episodes of “Parks and Recreation” on Thursday nights from 8-9 p.m. ET until “Community” debuts in January.