Dan Harmon is returning to “Community” for season 5 and all is right again in TV Land. The season will contain 13 episodes, and features the return of series creator Harmon as show runner. “Community” will debut on January 2, 2014 on NBC on Thursdays.
Season 5 will not feature original cast member Chevy Chase, who left the series near the end of the fourth season by mutual agreement between the actor and network. Donald Glover, who portrays Troy Barnes, will only appear in five of the thirteen episodes. However, “Breaking Bad” actor Jonathan Banks will appear in 11 of the season’s 13 episodes as criminology professor Buzz Hickey. Corddry will reprise his role as lawyer Alan Connor in the season premiere. Walton Goggins will guest star in an episode as a mysterious man named Mr. Stone, “with a dangerous accusation, a tantalizing offer and a devious plan that will change the group forever.” John Oliver, who played Professor Duncan throughout the first two seasons, will reprise his role in season 5, for a nine episode arc.
Other guest stars in the season will include Vince Gilligan, Mitchell Hurwitz, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Brie Larson, Nathan Fillion, Robert Patrick, Paget Brewster, Kumail Nanjiani, Katie Leclerc, and Ben Folds. David Cross will guest star in an episode that serves as a sequel to season 2’s “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons”, he will play Hank Hickey, the estranged son of Professor Hickey.
In honor of the upcoming season 5 premiere, watch this amazingly epic Lord of the Rings/Hobbit-inspired extended trailer:
