It’s safe to say that Community will either see a film or nothing at this point, especially after Yahoo’s most recent earnings call. It seems that none of the online offerings from Yahoo managed to bring in cash for the site, including Community and Other Space — the series featuring the very funny AT&T pitch maiden Milana Vayntrub.
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the company is not closing the door on their original programming completely, but with their three initial offerings, things didn’t go as planned:
The company took a $42 million write-down in its video division during the third quarter, CFO Ken Goldman revealed on the company’s third quarter earnings call. He later explained that Community, Sin City Saints and Other Space were to blame, noting that Yahoo “couldn’t see a way to make money over time.”
Yahoo had dabbled in original video in the past with short-form series like The Bachelor spoof Burning Love. But under CMO Kathy Savitt, the company pushed to compete with streamers like Netflix and Amazon by buying a small slate of original TV-length series anchored by Community. Savitt was key to bringing the Dan Harmon comedy to Yahoo after it was canceled by NBC last year, convincing Harmon and Sony that Yahoo was the right home for the show, which Hulu had also explored buying.
Apparently, Yahoo is still committed to their original programming, but Community will likely not be apart of that slate. Past comments from Joel McHale still hold true and most of the cast are out of their contracts:
“All the actors on the show, almost without exception — their stock has risen significantly, and it’s out of the pay rate that is affordable to make the show,” he said during an interview. “So you’re not going to be able to get Alison Brie or Gillian Jacobs at a normal television salary anymore. There is just not enough money to be able to pay for the show.”
If anything, I’d call that a success for the show as a whole. Being able to help launch or move along so many folks from the main cast, with success, is quite impressive. Just enjoy that one season that is running on Yahoo and wait for the movie.
(Via The Hollywood Reporter)
